Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters. They
all belong to the empress of all authors, the queen of literature, and the
goddess of all things that have to do with HP books.. J.K Rowling! The only
thing I own in this story is the plot, and any characters you don't
recognize.
Hell, I don't even own the Disclaimer, it belongs to Potter/Pikachu. But it sounded funny to write the Disclaimer's disclaimer, so why not?!
Chapter 16: Again Towers
Towers sighed.
"Have you ever written something like this as homework?" he asked. "I wasn't asking for facts, I was asking for imagination. These essays are ok, but you should try to think 'what if', not 'how is it'. Now, some of our dear Slytherins have done a very nice work."
They were again in the Defence class. And Towers had corrected their essays on love and magic that could not be done and brought them back, graded.
Right now, the Slytherins congratulated each other and the Gryffindors groaned.
"Especially if" Towers continued "you want the same essay over and over again, with the same lack of imagination. Congratulations, Slytherins! You just lost 30 points from your house. Warned ya not to cheat!" he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The Slytherins lost their happiness and glared at the Professor and the Gryffindors lifted their heads and smiled.
"Now, there were a few good essays. Mostly Gryffindor ones, but also a Slytherin one, so I'll start with that. 5 points for Slytherin, due to the work of Draco Malfoy!"
The Slytherins cheered the blond boy and he went to take his paper.
"Good one, indeed, although not exactly what I asked. He has proved, however, that love can also draw a person back. We'll talk about that later. Now, for the Gryffindors!"
The ones in that house cheered.
"First, Neville Longbottom! Very good work, my boy! 5 points to Gryffindor!" Neville went and took his paper. Somehow, it all turned a bit festive, as if they were getting prizes. "Also, 5 points to Lavender Brown. Again, not exactly what I had in mind, but a good essay nevertheless. 5 points for Ron Weasley. Good topic you chose, the love within a family. 5 points to Hermione Granger. Best research I had on the topic. I wonder why. Harry Potter, again 5 points for this good adaptation over your own life. And for Amala Wright, also 5 points."
So, 30 points for Gryffindor! Not bad, was it? Towers gave the others their parchments also and then sat on the teacher's desk. Was that normal?!
"So, I've been presented with interesting spells that can't be done: a spell that brings people back from the dead, one that shields against the Avada Kedavra, one that turns the pain in the Cruciatus in happiness, or pleasure, one that can be cast against the Veritaserum -actually, there is one that can do that, but it was a good idea-, one that can destroy a human being, one that can enslave another, one that can determine a certain Quiddich team to win" -he chuckled-, "one that can create portals between different worlds."
He stopped and looked at them.
"Many were said. And what makes you think they aren't all possible?"
The classroom was quiet. And then Hermione raised her arm.
"Yes?"
"The fact that it was never done"
"So it was said that nobody can ever travel through time, that nobody can ever survive the Avada Kedavra, that nobody can overcome the Imperius.And yet they have all been done. What makes you think that you can't do all the others?"
Nobody answered.
"Everything is possible. You can do anything if you have enough power, remember that, young ones."
They all stared at him. Was he crazy or something? Those things weren't possible. There was no way to bring back people from the dead. was there?
The bell rang and Towers said in a way louder voice than before:
"No homework for next class!" Then, he added towards Amala: "I would like to talk to you."
Harry, Ron and Hermione started going with her, but he said, in a stern way:
"Only you"
They understood and left, leaving the girl looking a bit scared behind them.
Later, when they made it to the next class, she appeared and told them that all Towers wanted was to tell her that she should train her psychic skills and trust her intuition.
"He's a weird one" she said, slowly.
"Can't disagree with you there" Ron replied.
"And I wonder how he knew. I never told anybody except you and my parents about my gift."
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Amala had her last detention with Severus that evening. Her last detention. During the previous ones, they'd become closer to each other. In a weird way, but they had. And since Sirius had gone back to Grimmauld Place the day before, there was nobody to piss Severus off all the time. In fact, it had been quite funny. Sirius had gone around the school, doing pranks and playing the responsible adult when somebody came by and avoided Severus. It was amazing how Sirius could act so childish and then suddenly mature. He was childish when talking to Harry, or planning pranks, but when it came to Severus, he acted mature. Especially when it came to the 'Harry issue' -"If I ever catch you doing something bad to him, Severus, I'll make sure I go to Azkaban again and this time for a good reason"-.
She knocked on the door and heard the dark voice saying 'come in'. She entered and saw him sitting at the desk, correcting papers.
"Hello", she said.
"Hello" he replied and let his feather down and even tried to smile. Well, tried.
"So, having fun?" she asked, looking at the papers.
"You have no idea" he muttered darkly. "Tell your fifth year housemates that they are idiots and can't get anything right and that even a first year Slytherin could do what they can't do in their fifth year."
"So, I'll tell them" she said and chuckled "that unlike the Slytherins, who are born with the gift of potion-making, they aren't, and better start studying or the Potion Master will, as always, collect house points from them."
Severus looked at her, a bit amused.
"No, I really meant exactly what I said."
"I just translated" she said innocently.
He glared at her, but lost the glare when she came closer to him and put her hand over his.
"You don't mind, do you?" she asked and Severus was wondering if it was about the translation or her hand. He decided it was about the translation.
He didn't answer, but pulled her down on his knees. Better.
"What if I do?"
She just smiled and pushed her head forwards, to meet his lips with hers. She kept wondering how he got to be the great kisser he was when he acted so horribly towards everybody and probably wasn't too experienced. But then again, she didn't care.
His hand went slowly on her back, pulling her closer to him. He felt great in control and she was abandoning herself to him.
And then, just then, when she was feeling so good, the door had to open. They pulled back, quickly and looked at the person who dared enter. Well, she looked. Severus glared his worst glare at the unfortunate blond boy, with the silver serpent attached to his robes. Draco Malfoy.
"Wha-? Professor? Wright?" he asked, shocked and disbelieving.
"One word to anybody, Mr. Malfoy, and I'll make sure that something dreadful will happen to you." Severus said. "Like make you tell all your deepest secrets to the school and then feeding you to the giant squid."
He wasn't at his usual insult-height, but Draco stood there in shock, gaping, until he finally managed to say an
"Um. No, of course not Professor. Nobody will hear."
Amala waited for him to leave, which he did, stumbling.
"So, I guess I should leave" she said. "See you later?" Gods, she felt weird.
"Yeah" Severus replied and she got up and tried to smile.
"Good night, Severus" she said and went towards the door.
"Good night. Amala" he answered.
She got out the door, wondering how they would see each other later in the future, under what excuses... And then she regretted she had left so early.
"So, Wright, is this how you get good grades in Potions? Snog-"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" she said in a pretty mad tone.
"Well, you must admit it's pretty incriminating."
"Malfoy, I warn you."
He laughed. Obviously, he had gotten over his shocked state.
"Warn me that what? Your curses and hexes are bad enough for me not to care. What will you do?"
"Malfoy!" she said, in a warning and slow tone.
"How does he kiss? Bad, I suppose. And how can you stand the slime in his hair? I."
She suddenly took out her wand and pointed it at his heart.
"One more word, Draco Malfoy and I will have you hexed, yes, with my bad hexes!" she warned in a peculiar voice, lower and more vibrant, somewhat inhuman. He stared at her in shock. Why did her eyes burn like that? Not good.
"Let me see you dare!" he said, braver than he felt.
She flicked her wand a little and started saying something he couldn't understand. But before the movement was done, or the incantation finished, a cry could be heard:
"Accio!"
Her wand flew out of her hand and she followed it with her eyes, as it landed neatly in the hand of a Professor. Towers, to be exact.
"Why do people duel on the halls?" he asked. "And why does a girl attack a defenseless boy?"
She just glared at him and then at Draco.
"Both of you, in my office, now!" he said and stormed in front of them and they reluctantly followed.
Not even ten minutes later, they were in his office.
"Now, Malfoy, what have told you about insulting people?" Towers asked upset and Amala nearly gaped at the scene. Draco let his head down and said in a very guilty tone:
"Not to"
"Correct. And what did you do?" asked Towers.
"Insulted her" Draco said, in an even guiltier voice. Since when was guilt between Malfoy's emotions? Hmmm.
"What did I say I would do if you kept doing that?"
"Take fifty points from Slytherin."
"Correct. But I also said that if the insulted person forgives you, I wouldn't do it. Well?"
Draco looked at him and sighed and turned to Amala, who was surprised by all this.
"I'm sorry" he said. "It's just the old me, always sneering."
She stared at him. Now, something was wrong. Why did he actually seem sorry? Was it normal? And what did he mean by 'the old me'?
"It's ok" she answered and he looked at her surprised. It was?!
"And Amala. I was expecting more of you" Towers said and looked at her full of reproach. "What could he possibly insult to make you hex him, although he had no wand?"
She looked in the ground.
"It was more of a whom", she replied.
"What do you mean a who-" Towers started and then his eyes widened. "Oh. I. Hmm. I'm starting to understand the circumstances. So, Malfoy, you caught her with Severus, haven't you?" he asked casually and both of them looked at him in shock. "Yeah, I know. I put two and two together. You have no idea how much you can see as an insomniac. And Severus was acting weird. Weirder than usual, I mean. "
Amala paled and Draco looked from one to another.
"Snape's gonna have my head for telling you, although I didn't" he said.
"Severus knows that I know, so you needn't worry about that. Free to go, Draco."
The blond boy left and Towers turned to her.
"Don't worry, I haven't seen anything. I just happened to catch Severus under Veritaserum" Towers said. "And he spat out your story. Listen, Amala, keep your temper. I know it's difficult. Now, since nothing technically happened, I'll let you go with no points taken, but please control yourself."
She exited and looked around for the Slytherin, but he was gone.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
They were again in the secret chamber they had found, researching -Hermione and Amala- and doing homework-Ron and Harry-.It was a nice place, very quiet and comfy. From time to time, Hermione read out passages from books. This was the case now.
"Multimagus: Animagus with more than one shape. Very rare, since the transformation is very difficult."
"Whoa, I didn't even know they existed!" Amala said excitedly.
"Yeah, and it says here about a man who could transform in anything, real quick!" Hermione said, grinning. "I didn't know that. And there was another who could do the same, but loved birds way more and was said that could even talk to them."
"Cool!" Ron said. "Wish I was a Multimagus."
"You could be" Hermione said "but it's dead difficult to become even an Animagus, never mind the pain, so a Multimagus would be just."
"I was daydreaming, Hermione" Ron said, exasperated and Harry chuckled.
"Oh" came the reply from Hermione. "We should go back to the common room and all. You know, the curfew thing..." she added when she saw that none understood why.
The others nodded and Amala said the password ('light warriors') and the wall opened and they started going towards their tower.
The castle was starting to go silent, few passed the halls. They soon made it to the portrait and gave the password ('Phoenix') and entered the common room.
They all chatted a bit and then parted and went towards their dormitories. Harry collapsed on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly, feeling quite tired.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
A snake slithered towards him and hissed:
*-Masssster, Towersss isss ssstil alive, Masssssster-*
*-I know, Nagini-* Harry hissed himself. *-Ssssomething will happen ssssoon enough. How ssslow can the Minisssstry be?-*
*-They ssssay that Towersss helped too much, he can't be bad. And they don't have enough evidencssse-*
Harry felt anger going through him.
*-Not enough evidencsse?-* He asked, quickly *-What more evidencse can they want? I ssserved it on a sssilver platter-*
*-They sssay it might have been sssomeone elssse-*
*-Sssomeone elssse?-* Harry asked. *-Ssstupid Fudge. And do you know what happened to my connection to Potter?-*
*-No, Massster-* Nagini hissed.
*-Neither do I. I almossst got him and now he sssseemss to have gotten away. Ssssomething'ssss blocking me, Nagini. Although it'sss fading away.-*
*-Try again, Masssster-*
*-I will-* Harry hissed.
Suddenly, Harry widened his eyes, but they didn't feel like his any more.
*-Nagini!-* Voldemort hissed *-He'sssss here, Nagini! He'sssss here!-*
Harry suddenly remembered Dumbledore's advice 'concentrate on your heart' and did that and thought of his mum and dad and friends.
"No!" Voldemort cried.
Suddenly, Harry was pulled out of there and he found himself in his bed, screaming in pain from his scar.
"Harry! You ok, mate?" Ron asked, worryingly.
"Dumbledore!" Harry said. "I must go to Dumbledore!"
He jumped out of bed, a part of him still in pain and rushed out in his boxers.
"Robe, mate!" Ron cried and Harry turned back and threw one on him and then ran out.
He ran through the castle and got to Dumbledore's office.
"Um, donuts?" Harry asked, but the gargoyle didn't move. What a time to find out that Dumbledore had changed the password! "Cherry pie? Cluster pie? Cockroach pie? Sherbet lemon? Smarties? Chocolate? Candy? Help! Ice Mice! Sugar Quills! Please, let me in! I need to speak to him urgently!"
However, the gargoyle didn't move. But a silhouette nearby did.
"Mr. Potter, what are you doing here at this time of night?" he heard a voice and turned towards it. It was Minerva McGonagall.
"I really have to get to Professor Dumbledore, but I don't know the password."
She looked at the desperate boy and said towards the gargoyle:
"Pumpkin pie"
Harry could have slapped himself. Why didn't he think of that? But no time for that, he just ran up to Dumbledore's office, not caring about the cry of 'Potter, slow down' from below. He got to the door and opened it.
"Professor!" he cried. "I had another dream, Professor! And I knew I was there, I realized it and Voldemort knew I was there too and."
"Slow down, my boy" Dumbledore said.
"Professor, he wants Towers dead and he'll."
"I know he wants me dead" said a voice from a person Harry didn't see before. Towers. "Exactly what I was saying to Albus, actually. He wants me dead. I think I should quit my job as a teacher and go back where I came from. So, what's this about the dream?"
Harry sighed and started to tell the story. He talked for a short while and then Dumbledore sighed and said:
"Then, he might be coming in your dreams even more, if a barrier was destroyed. I just wonder what kind of a barrier it was."
Harry looked at Towers and an older dream came back to his mind.
"You know. You know about the barrier" he said. "Who was the man who told you that he can't hold back Voldemort anymore and who told you to watch me?"
Towers looked at him, wide-eyed.
"You were there, then! He let you witness! He was my Master, Harry. My Master, the one whom I always talk about, the one who has enough power to keep many people safe"
Harry looked at him surprised.
"He appeared in my dreams. He did that twice now. Once he was talking to me, the other he was with you. I had no idea he was your Master."
Dumbledore was watching them with curiosity.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"His Master appeared in my dreams once and talked to me and then I saw him and Professor Towers together talking about something. But it wasn't as it is with Voldemort, he was talking to me and I knew I was myself."
"Interesting" Dumbledore said. "Care to explain, Jack?"
The other man nodded.
"My Master is, as I've said so many times, very powerful. He helped keep away Voldemort from Harry for a while, to help, but now he isn't allowed to do that anymore."
"Why isn't he allowed to do it?" Harry asked.
"I frankly don't know" Towers said. "He isn't allowed because his own Master doesn't allow him to, but I don't know the purpose."
"Your Master has a Master?" Harry asked.
"Yes, you could say that."
"And who is he?"
Towers looked at Dumbledore.
"The one who is the Master of everybody, in the end. But the problem isn't Masters here, but you. So, Voldemort started dragging you into his world again, eh? Resist, Harry. That's all I can say. Resist until you can face him and until all will be ready."
"Until all what will be ready?" Harry asked.
"You, my boy, will have to face Voldemort sometime. And when you do and it will be the battle, then either you or Voldemort will be vanquished. And of course the light forces want to help. Until then, though, some are going to protect you from the Dark Bastard. Dumbledore is one of those, I am another. Have you ever wondered why I keep popping up? Besides not having to sleep more than two or three hours a night, which makes me wonder around the castle a lot, I also get orders, or rather suggestions, from my Master who guides me in helping you. He said that it is most probable that I will be there for you in a battle before you're ready."
Dumbledore looked at him curiously, but didn't say anything.
"You'll be there?" Harry asked.
"I will, although I've no idea how, all the things he tells me are said in such a way that they have multiple meaning. But one thing's for sure: if you need me, I'll be there."
"You will?"
"Yes, you can count on that. Even if the Ministry is going to get me, I'll manage and that's a promise."
"Oh, right!" Harry said, realizing he had forgotten his point. "Voldemort was mad with the ministry because they wouldn't believe the evidence he was showing them about Towers. What about it?"
"We made some of it disappear" Dumbledore explained and Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Anyway, he also said something about a block that kept him away from me, but which was fading. And then he. he realized I was there. And I realized I wasn't him. I remembered the advice of concentrating on my heart, Professor Dumbledore, and I did that. He just cried 'no' and I woke up."
Harry stopped and Dumbledore and Towers looked at each other.
"It means it does have an effect on him" Towers said and Dumbledore nodded.
"Go back to bed, Harry. We'll think of something" the Headmaster said and Harry went back to his tower.
As he walked down the corridors, he started feeling angry with everything. Why did all have to happen to him? Why did Voldemort appear in his dreams? Why was he the one who had to defeat Voldemort? Why couldn't he just be normal?
And Towers and Dumbledore! They knew something and they didn't want to tell him! They were going to think about something! Why them? Why not him, too? It wasn't Towers or Dumbledore Voldemort wanted to get, it was him -oh, wait, Voldemort did want to get them, especially Towers, but this was about him, Harry, and not Towers! And they were going to think of something, while he just got into Voldemort's head!
And now, he was sent to bed, like a small kid, with no problems. 'Got to bed, Harry', do this, Harry, do that Harry. Always Harry! And now he was kicked out of the office where they were discussing his matter.
"Couldn't sleep either, Harry?" asked somebody.
"No" he lied and looked at the person in front of him. She had, as usual, a weird appearance: the wand behind her ear, half closed eyes, a night robe with some kind of fairies on it. "Neither can you, Luna?"
"No." she replied dreamily. "Want to join me to the North Tower?"
The North Tower! But that was where couples went.
"Well, um."
"It's a great place to sit when you have problems sleeping" she said. "I go there a lot and sit there by myself. Sometimes I could use company. Would you like to come?"
Harry nodded, thinking it couldn't do too much harm and he couldn't sleep anymore anyway. Not that he would want to, either.
They made their way to the North Tower and Harry was surprised they hadn't run into Filch. They climbed all the way to the top of the tower and finally made it outside, on top of the castle.
"It's beautiful here" Harry said, taking a deep breath.
"Yes, it is" Luna said and sat down on the rock. "Good luck this castle doesn't have any Swedish Rock Palm-Sized Pixies."
Harry realized that those were probably imaginary creatures, but asked kindly:
"And what are Swedish Rock Palm-Sized Pixies?"
She looked dreamily at him.
"They're pixies who live in the stones of old castles, destroying them from the inside and if they can, they even steel shiny things from the inhabitants of the castle. Many people don't believe they exist."
They just stood there for a while and then Harry asked:
"And how's the Quibbler going?"
"Very well" she answered. "Ever since that story you said was proven right, people started buying it even more. My dad's very pleased."
"I'm glad" Harry said and looked at the stars. He never was too good at Astronomy, but he had to admit that it was good to watch the stars and name them in your mind, sitting next to somebody who doesn't ask you what, where, when and who's not obsessed with you.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Harry got back to his common room in the morning and took on some more appropriate robes and some clothes under them -he had no idea how come he hadn't frozen last night. Then, he, Ron, Hermione, Amala, Ginny, Neville and the others who were supposed to go to Towers' private lessons got in one big group and went to his office.
And, boy, did they have a shock!
/*-/*-/*-/*-
There! Another chapter and I'm working on the next. Hope ya liked it! And hope it explains why Towers is always around: he's watching Harry. More of Sirius in the next chapter.
Well, sorry I'm not posting as much as I used to, but school's killing me and I've got a personal project on the move.
And now, to my favorite part: replying to reviewers:
The Red Dragons Order: Whoa, that's one looong review, mate. Not that I'd mind. Thank you!
Babyjayy: Thanks! And, as one of the characters which I most like in a book, I ask: what does soon mean? It could mean 5 minutes to one and one year to another. ;-)
Iniysa: I updated.
Skillz: Thank you! I hope you still like it!
Hell, I don't even own the Disclaimer, it belongs to Potter/Pikachu. But it sounded funny to write the Disclaimer's disclaimer, so why not?!
Chapter 16: Again Towers
Towers sighed.
"Have you ever written something like this as homework?" he asked. "I wasn't asking for facts, I was asking for imagination. These essays are ok, but you should try to think 'what if', not 'how is it'. Now, some of our dear Slytherins have done a very nice work."
They were again in the Defence class. And Towers had corrected their essays on love and magic that could not be done and brought them back, graded.
Right now, the Slytherins congratulated each other and the Gryffindors groaned.
"Especially if" Towers continued "you want the same essay over and over again, with the same lack of imagination. Congratulations, Slytherins! You just lost 30 points from your house. Warned ya not to cheat!" he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The Slytherins lost their happiness and glared at the Professor and the Gryffindors lifted their heads and smiled.
"Now, there were a few good essays. Mostly Gryffindor ones, but also a Slytherin one, so I'll start with that. 5 points for Slytherin, due to the work of Draco Malfoy!"
The Slytherins cheered the blond boy and he went to take his paper.
"Good one, indeed, although not exactly what I asked. He has proved, however, that love can also draw a person back. We'll talk about that later. Now, for the Gryffindors!"
The ones in that house cheered.
"First, Neville Longbottom! Very good work, my boy! 5 points to Gryffindor!" Neville went and took his paper. Somehow, it all turned a bit festive, as if they were getting prizes. "Also, 5 points to Lavender Brown. Again, not exactly what I had in mind, but a good essay nevertheless. 5 points for Ron Weasley. Good topic you chose, the love within a family. 5 points to Hermione Granger. Best research I had on the topic. I wonder why. Harry Potter, again 5 points for this good adaptation over your own life. And for Amala Wright, also 5 points."
So, 30 points for Gryffindor! Not bad, was it? Towers gave the others their parchments also and then sat on the teacher's desk. Was that normal?!
"So, I've been presented with interesting spells that can't be done: a spell that brings people back from the dead, one that shields against the Avada Kedavra, one that turns the pain in the Cruciatus in happiness, or pleasure, one that can be cast against the Veritaserum -actually, there is one that can do that, but it was a good idea-, one that can destroy a human being, one that can enslave another, one that can determine a certain Quiddich team to win" -he chuckled-, "one that can create portals between different worlds."
He stopped and looked at them.
"Many were said. And what makes you think they aren't all possible?"
The classroom was quiet. And then Hermione raised her arm.
"Yes?"
"The fact that it was never done"
"So it was said that nobody can ever travel through time, that nobody can ever survive the Avada Kedavra, that nobody can overcome the Imperius.And yet they have all been done. What makes you think that you can't do all the others?"
Nobody answered.
"Everything is possible. You can do anything if you have enough power, remember that, young ones."
They all stared at him. Was he crazy or something? Those things weren't possible. There was no way to bring back people from the dead. was there?
The bell rang and Towers said in a way louder voice than before:
"No homework for next class!" Then, he added towards Amala: "I would like to talk to you."
Harry, Ron and Hermione started going with her, but he said, in a stern way:
"Only you"
They understood and left, leaving the girl looking a bit scared behind them.
Later, when they made it to the next class, she appeared and told them that all Towers wanted was to tell her that she should train her psychic skills and trust her intuition.
"He's a weird one" she said, slowly.
"Can't disagree with you there" Ron replied.
"And I wonder how he knew. I never told anybody except you and my parents about my gift."
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Amala had her last detention with Severus that evening. Her last detention. During the previous ones, they'd become closer to each other. In a weird way, but they had. And since Sirius had gone back to Grimmauld Place the day before, there was nobody to piss Severus off all the time. In fact, it had been quite funny. Sirius had gone around the school, doing pranks and playing the responsible adult when somebody came by and avoided Severus. It was amazing how Sirius could act so childish and then suddenly mature. He was childish when talking to Harry, or planning pranks, but when it came to Severus, he acted mature. Especially when it came to the 'Harry issue' -"If I ever catch you doing something bad to him, Severus, I'll make sure I go to Azkaban again and this time for a good reason"-.
She knocked on the door and heard the dark voice saying 'come in'. She entered and saw him sitting at the desk, correcting papers.
"Hello", she said.
"Hello" he replied and let his feather down and even tried to smile. Well, tried.
"So, having fun?" she asked, looking at the papers.
"You have no idea" he muttered darkly. "Tell your fifth year housemates that they are idiots and can't get anything right and that even a first year Slytherin could do what they can't do in their fifth year."
"So, I'll tell them" she said and chuckled "that unlike the Slytherins, who are born with the gift of potion-making, they aren't, and better start studying or the Potion Master will, as always, collect house points from them."
Severus looked at her, a bit amused.
"No, I really meant exactly what I said."
"I just translated" she said innocently.
He glared at her, but lost the glare when she came closer to him and put her hand over his.
"You don't mind, do you?" she asked and Severus was wondering if it was about the translation or her hand. He decided it was about the translation.
He didn't answer, but pulled her down on his knees. Better.
"What if I do?"
She just smiled and pushed her head forwards, to meet his lips with hers. She kept wondering how he got to be the great kisser he was when he acted so horribly towards everybody and probably wasn't too experienced. But then again, she didn't care.
His hand went slowly on her back, pulling her closer to him. He felt great in control and she was abandoning herself to him.
And then, just then, when she was feeling so good, the door had to open. They pulled back, quickly and looked at the person who dared enter. Well, she looked. Severus glared his worst glare at the unfortunate blond boy, with the silver serpent attached to his robes. Draco Malfoy.
"Wha-? Professor? Wright?" he asked, shocked and disbelieving.
"One word to anybody, Mr. Malfoy, and I'll make sure that something dreadful will happen to you." Severus said. "Like make you tell all your deepest secrets to the school and then feeding you to the giant squid."
He wasn't at his usual insult-height, but Draco stood there in shock, gaping, until he finally managed to say an
"Um. No, of course not Professor. Nobody will hear."
Amala waited for him to leave, which he did, stumbling.
"So, I guess I should leave" she said. "See you later?" Gods, she felt weird.
"Yeah" Severus replied and she got up and tried to smile.
"Good night, Severus" she said and went towards the door.
"Good night. Amala" he answered.
She got out the door, wondering how they would see each other later in the future, under what excuses... And then she regretted she had left so early.
"So, Wright, is this how you get good grades in Potions? Snog-"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" she said in a pretty mad tone.
"Well, you must admit it's pretty incriminating."
"Malfoy, I warn you."
He laughed. Obviously, he had gotten over his shocked state.
"Warn me that what? Your curses and hexes are bad enough for me not to care. What will you do?"
"Malfoy!" she said, in a warning and slow tone.
"How does he kiss? Bad, I suppose. And how can you stand the slime in his hair? I."
She suddenly took out her wand and pointed it at his heart.
"One more word, Draco Malfoy and I will have you hexed, yes, with my bad hexes!" she warned in a peculiar voice, lower and more vibrant, somewhat inhuman. He stared at her in shock. Why did her eyes burn like that? Not good.
"Let me see you dare!" he said, braver than he felt.
She flicked her wand a little and started saying something he couldn't understand. But before the movement was done, or the incantation finished, a cry could be heard:
"Accio!"
Her wand flew out of her hand and she followed it with her eyes, as it landed neatly in the hand of a Professor. Towers, to be exact.
"Why do people duel on the halls?" he asked. "And why does a girl attack a defenseless boy?"
She just glared at him and then at Draco.
"Both of you, in my office, now!" he said and stormed in front of them and they reluctantly followed.
Not even ten minutes later, they were in his office.
"Now, Malfoy, what have told you about insulting people?" Towers asked upset and Amala nearly gaped at the scene. Draco let his head down and said in a very guilty tone:
"Not to"
"Correct. And what did you do?" asked Towers.
"Insulted her" Draco said, in an even guiltier voice. Since when was guilt between Malfoy's emotions? Hmmm.
"What did I say I would do if you kept doing that?"
"Take fifty points from Slytherin."
"Correct. But I also said that if the insulted person forgives you, I wouldn't do it. Well?"
Draco looked at him and sighed and turned to Amala, who was surprised by all this.
"I'm sorry" he said. "It's just the old me, always sneering."
She stared at him. Now, something was wrong. Why did he actually seem sorry? Was it normal? And what did he mean by 'the old me'?
"It's ok" she answered and he looked at her surprised. It was?!
"And Amala. I was expecting more of you" Towers said and looked at her full of reproach. "What could he possibly insult to make you hex him, although he had no wand?"
She looked in the ground.
"It was more of a whom", she replied.
"What do you mean a who-" Towers started and then his eyes widened. "Oh. I. Hmm. I'm starting to understand the circumstances. So, Malfoy, you caught her with Severus, haven't you?" he asked casually and both of them looked at him in shock. "Yeah, I know. I put two and two together. You have no idea how much you can see as an insomniac. And Severus was acting weird. Weirder than usual, I mean. "
Amala paled and Draco looked from one to another.
"Snape's gonna have my head for telling you, although I didn't" he said.
"Severus knows that I know, so you needn't worry about that. Free to go, Draco."
The blond boy left and Towers turned to her.
"Don't worry, I haven't seen anything. I just happened to catch Severus under Veritaserum" Towers said. "And he spat out your story. Listen, Amala, keep your temper. I know it's difficult. Now, since nothing technically happened, I'll let you go with no points taken, but please control yourself."
She exited and looked around for the Slytherin, but he was gone.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
They were again in the secret chamber they had found, researching -Hermione and Amala- and doing homework-Ron and Harry-.It was a nice place, very quiet and comfy. From time to time, Hermione read out passages from books. This was the case now.
"Multimagus: Animagus with more than one shape. Very rare, since the transformation is very difficult."
"Whoa, I didn't even know they existed!" Amala said excitedly.
"Yeah, and it says here about a man who could transform in anything, real quick!" Hermione said, grinning. "I didn't know that. And there was another who could do the same, but loved birds way more and was said that could even talk to them."
"Cool!" Ron said. "Wish I was a Multimagus."
"You could be" Hermione said "but it's dead difficult to become even an Animagus, never mind the pain, so a Multimagus would be just."
"I was daydreaming, Hermione" Ron said, exasperated and Harry chuckled.
"Oh" came the reply from Hermione. "We should go back to the common room and all. You know, the curfew thing..." she added when she saw that none understood why.
The others nodded and Amala said the password ('light warriors') and the wall opened and they started going towards their tower.
The castle was starting to go silent, few passed the halls. They soon made it to the portrait and gave the password ('Phoenix') and entered the common room.
They all chatted a bit and then parted and went towards their dormitories. Harry collapsed on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly, feeling quite tired.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
A snake slithered towards him and hissed:
*-Masssster, Towersss isss ssstil alive, Masssssster-*
*-I know, Nagini-* Harry hissed himself. *-Ssssomething will happen ssssoon enough. How ssslow can the Minisssstry be?-*
*-They ssssay that Towersss helped too much, he can't be bad. And they don't have enough evidencssse-*
Harry felt anger going through him.
*-Not enough evidencsse?-* He asked, quickly *-What more evidencse can they want? I ssserved it on a sssilver platter-*
*-They sssay it might have been sssomeone elssse-*
*-Sssomeone elssse?-* Harry asked. *-Ssstupid Fudge. And do you know what happened to my connection to Potter?-*
*-No, Massster-* Nagini hissed.
*-Neither do I. I almossst got him and now he sssseemss to have gotten away. Ssssomething'ssss blocking me, Nagini. Although it'sss fading away.-*
*-Try again, Masssster-*
*-I will-* Harry hissed.
Suddenly, Harry widened his eyes, but they didn't feel like his any more.
*-Nagini!-* Voldemort hissed *-He'sssss here, Nagini! He'sssss here!-*
Harry suddenly remembered Dumbledore's advice 'concentrate on your heart' and did that and thought of his mum and dad and friends.
"No!" Voldemort cried.
Suddenly, Harry was pulled out of there and he found himself in his bed, screaming in pain from his scar.
"Harry! You ok, mate?" Ron asked, worryingly.
"Dumbledore!" Harry said. "I must go to Dumbledore!"
He jumped out of bed, a part of him still in pain and rushed out in his boxers.
"Robe, mate!" Ron cried and Harry turned back and threw one on him and then ran out.
He ran through the castle and got to Dumbledore's office.
"Um, donuts?" Harry asked, but the gargoyle didn't move. What a time to find out that Dumbledore had changed the password! "Cherry pie? Cluster pie? Cockroach pie? Sherbet lemon? Smarties? Chocolate? Candy? Help! Ice Mice! Sugar Quills! Please, let me in! I need to speak to him urgently!"
However, the gargoyle didn't move. But a silhouette nearby did.
"Mr. Potter, what are you doing here at this time of night?" he heard a voice and turned towards it. It was Minerva McGonagall.
"I really have to get to Professor Dumbledore, but I don't know the password."
She looked at the desperate boy and said towards the gargoyle:
"Pumpkin pie"
Harry could have slapped himself. Why didn't he think of that? But no time for that, he just ran up to Dumbledore's office, not caring about the cry of 'Potter, slow down' from below. He got to the door and opened it.
"Professor!" he cried. "I had another dream, Professor! And I knew I was there, I realized it and Voldemort knew I was there too and."
"Slow down, my boy" Dumbledore said.
"Professor, he wants Towers dead and he'll."
"I know he wants me dead" said a voice from a person Harry didn't see before. Towers. "Exactly what I was saying to Albus, actually. He wants me dead. I think I should quit my job as a teacher and go back where I came from. So, what's this about the dream?"
Harry sighed and started to tell the story. He talked for a short while and then Dumbledore sighed and said:
"Then, he might be coming in your dreams even more, if a barrier was destroyed. I just wonder what kind of a barrier it was."
Harry looked at Towers and an older dream came back to his mind.
"You know. You know about the barrier" he said. "Who was the man who told you that he can't hold back Voldemort anymore and who told you to watch me?"
Towers looked at him, wide-eyed.
"You were there, then! He let you witness! He was my Master, Harry. My Master, the one whom I always talk about, the one who has enough power to keep many people safe"
Harry looked at him surprised.
"He appeared in my dreams. He did that twice now. Once he was talking to me, the other he was with you. I had no idea he was your Master."
Dumbledore was watching them with curiosity.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"His Master appeared in my dreams once and talked to me and then I saw him and Professor Towers together talking about something. But it wasn't as it is with Voldemort, he was talking to me and I knew I was myself."
"Interesting" Dumbledore said. "Care to explain, Jack?"
The other man nodded.
"My Master is, as I've said so many times, very powerful. He helped keep away Voldemort from Harry for a while, to help, but now he isn't allowed to do that anymore."
"Why isn't he allowed to do it?" Harry asked.
"I frankly don't know" Towers said. "He isn't allowed because his own Master doesn't allow him to, but I don't know the purpose."
"Your Master has a Master?" Harry asked.
"Yes, you could say that."
"And who is he?"
Towers looked at Dumbledore.
"The one who is the Master of everybody, in the end. But the problem isn't Masters here, but you. So, Voldemort started dragging you into his world again, eh? Resist, Harry. That's all I can say. Resist until you can face him and until all will be ready."
"Until all what will be ready?" Harry asked.
"You, my boy, will have to face Voldemort sometime. And when you do and it will be the battle, then either you or Voldemort will be vanquished. And of course the light forces want to help. Until then, though, some are going to protect you from the Dark Bastard. Dumbledore is one of those, I am another. Have you ever wondered why I keep popping up? Besides not having to sleep more than two or three hours a night, which makes me wonder around the castle a lot, I also get orders, or rather suggestions, from my Master who guides me in helping you. He said that it is most probable that I will be there for you in a battle before you're ready."
Dumbledore looked at him curiously, but didn't say anything.
"You'll be there?" Harry asked.
"I will, although I've no idea how, all the things he tells me are said in such a way that they have multiple meaning. But one thing's for sure: if you need me, I'll be there."
"You will?"
"Yes, you can count on that. Even if the Ministry is going to get me, I'll manage and that's a promise."
"Oh, right!" Harry said, realizing he had forgotten his point. "Voldemort was mad with the ministry because they wouldn't believe the evidence he was showing them about Towers. What about it?"
"We made some of it disappear" Dumbledore explained and Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Anyway, he also said something about a block that kept him away from me, but which was fading. And then he. he realized I was there. And I realized I wasn't him. I remembered the advice of concentrating on my heart, Professor Dumbledore, and I did that. He just cried 'no' and I woke up."
Harry stopped and Dumbledore and Towers looked at each other.
"It means it does have an effect on him" Towers said and Dumbledore nodded.
"Go back to bed, Harry. We'll think of something" the Headmaster said and Harry went back to his tower.
As he walked down the corridors, he started feeling angry with everything. Why did all have to happen to him? Why did Voldemort appear in his dreams? Why was he the one who had to defeat Voldemort? Why couldn't he just be normal?
And Towers and Dumbledore! They knew something and they didn't want to tell him! They were going to think about something! Why them? Why not him, too? It wasn't Towers or Dumbledore Voldemort wanted to get, it was him -oh, wait, Voldemort did want to get them, especially Towers, but this was about him, Harry, and not Towers! And they were going to think of something, while he just got into Voldemort's head!
And now, he was sent to bed, like a small kid, with no problems. 'Got to bed, Harry', do this, Harry, do that Harry. Always Harry! And now he was kicked out of the office where they were discussing his matter.
"Couldn't sleep either, Harry?" asked somebody.
"No" he lied and looked at the person in front of him. She had, as usual, a weird appearance: the wand behind her ear, half closed eyes, a night robe with some kind of fairies on it. "Neither can you, Luna?"
"No." she replied dreamily. "Want to join me to the North Tower?"
The North Tower! But that was where couples went.
"Well, um."
"It's a great place to sit when you have problems sleeping" she said. "I go there a lot and sit there by myself. Sometimes I could use company. Would you like to come?"
Harry nodded, thinking it couldn't do too much harm and he couldn't sleep anymore anyway. Not that he would want to, either.
They made their way to the North Tower and Harry was surprised they hadn't run into Filch. They climbed all the way to the top of the tower and finally made it outside, on top of the castle.
"It's beautiful here" Harry said, taking a deep breath.
"Yes, it is" Luna said and sat down on the rock. "Good luck this castle doesn't have any Swedish Rock Palm-Sized Pixies."
Harry realized that those were probably imaginary creatures, but asked kindly:
"And what are Swedish Rock Palm-Sized Pixies?"
She looked dreamily at him.
"They're pixies who live in the stones of old castles, destroying them from the inside and if they can, they even steel shiny things from the inhabitants of the castle. Many people don't believe they exist."
They just stood there for a while and then Harry asked:
"And how's the Quibbler going?"
"Very well" she answered. "Ever since that story you said was proven right, people started buying it even more. My dad's very pleased."
"I'm glad" Harry said and looked at the stars. He never was too good at Astronomy, but he had to admit that it was good to watch the stars and name them in your mind, sitting next to somebody who doesn't ask you what, where, when and who's not obsessed with you.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Harry got back to his common room in the morning and took on some more appropriate robes and some clothes under them -he had no idea how come he hadn't frozen last night. Then, he, Ron, Hermione, Amala, Ginny, Neville and the others who were supposed to go to Towers' private lessons got in one big group and went to his office.
And, boy, did they have a shock!
/*-/*-/*-/*-
There! Another chapter and I'm working on the next. Hope ya liked it! And hope it explains why Towers is always around: he's watching Harry. More of Sirius in the next chapter.
Well, sorry I'm not posting as much as I used to, but school's killing me and I've got a personal project on the move.
And now, to my favorite part: replying to reviewers:
The Red Dragons Order: Whoa, that's one looong review, mate. Not that I'd mind. Thank you!
Babyjayy: Thanks! And, as one of the characters which I most like in a book, I ask: what does soon mean? It could mean 5 minutes to one and one year to another. ;-)
Iniysa: I updated.
Skillz: Thank you! I hope you still like it!