A/N: The elusive Part Two of this chapter. I hope you guys like it. I made some minor changes in the last chapter—namely, I made Harry sixteen again (whoops!) and I also thanked CS Whitewolf for betaing Part One. I can't believe I missed either of those things.
This chapter, special thanks to CS Whitewolf and Virgin Suicide for betaing, and thanks to Virgin Suicide, Dowland, and my roommate for telling me repeatedly to get off my ass and get the next chapter going, already. Hopefully that won't be too long in the waiting.
Peace out, homies.
X
XIX
XIXIX "And So It Begins, Part II" XIXIX
Harry drummed his fingers on the table. Ron looked at him warily.
"I don't see why you don't just talk to him," he said, and Harry knew that he really didn't. He knew that Ron also didn't see why Harry cared so much about Severus anyway.
Ron knew about the night Harry saved his life, and about the Legilimency lessons, and the bond, and the possession. But even factoring all of that in, to Ron it was still just Snape, who, regardless of everything he had done for the Order, was still just an evil bastard and a mean teacher.
"It's his move," said Harry simply. "There's nothing I can do anyway."
"But you're obviously unhappy about it. Why just let it lie?"
"There are a lot of things I'm unhappy about," said Harry matter-of-factly.
Ginny looked up from her homework and asked Ron, "Why didn't you write Percy when he was being such a git?"
"Because he was being a git," said Ron indignantly. "I couldn't have chang… oh."
"Come on, Harry, it's time," said Ginny, closing her books.
"Yeah, don't mind me," said Ron sarcastically. "I'll just sit here alone while you go off doing important things, and Hermione's off in Trelawney's tower, and everyone does something useful except me…"
"Oh, bugger off, Ron," said Ginny.
"Harry!" exclaimed Ron, affronted. "Are you going to let her talk to me like that?"
"Shut up, Weasel Girl," said Harry, grinning.
Ginny and Ron laughed, but then Ron stuck his finger out and said, "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say that that Malfoy bloke is being a bad influence on you."
"It would seem so, wouldn't it?" said Harry as he and Ginny headed out of the common room. Ron grumbled to himself as he began his homework.
"Do you want me to do all the talking?" asked Ginny helpfully as they headed down the tower steps.
"No. Thank you, but no. I'm tired of playing passive aggressive games. This is all on him, you know? I'm not going to make it easier on him by hiding behind you."
"Good," smiled Ginny. "I was trying to make it easier for you, but I didn't actually think it would help anything in the long run."
Harry smirked at her as they covered themselves in the invisibility cloak in the middle of an empty hallway.
On the way to the dungeons, they talked (silently, with direct thoughts) about the promise shown by Harry's recent visit to Voldemort's vacuous mind. Harry had neither gotten lost within, nor absorbed anything. It could either be a sign that his mind was finally growing stronger in itself, or that Voldemort's recent activities had somehow weakened their bond. This practice with Ginny should help them to determine which was the case.
Harry took a deep breath, and they entered Severus' office. Harry opened his mind to him casually, as he would have done prior to the recent rift in their relationship. Severus did not acknowledge in any way that he felt Harry's mind. But after a moment, he gathered his things and swept out of the office.
Harry closed their link again, only then allowing himself to feel any disappointment. Ginny squeezed his hand.
When they reached Severus' quarters, Severus brusquely stated, "Stinky serpent piddle."
Harry barely choked back his laughter, realizing that his practical joke had not ever ended. He quickly let Ginny in on the joke, and Severus had only just closed the door when Ginny burst out laughing. Harry pulled the cloak off, laughing himself. But Ginny was doubled over, clutching her sides.
"When you are quite through," snapped Severus in his most authoritative tone.
Ginny's laugh died and she straightened up. Harry glared at him in annoyance, but not in the way he had ever glared at 'Professor Snape'. He glared at him as though he were embarrassed by the way a friend was behaving.
Severus hesitated only slightly before striding to a locked cabinet on the far side of the room. Harry counted that as a minor victory. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him.
"Hey," he said in their twin language, "I'll take what I can get."
She grinned, but Severus said sternly, "You will not speak in your twin language while you are here. I would like to monitor your progress, Mr. Potter."
"Reconsidering, are you?" said Harry snappishly.
Severus did not respond, nor even look at him, as he carried the pensieve to the table in the sitting area.
'He really can't stand not being in control of a situation, can he?' thought Ginny sarcastically.
Harry considered this, thinking back to his conversation with Malfoy about power. He settled onto the couch with Ginny, facing each other.
'Do you think he's upset about the power I have over him? I mean, we're bonded and I have a bunch of his memories, but I'm just a lowly student.'
Ginny wrinkled her nose. 'Maybe. Maybe he's angry that he doesn't have as much power over you.'
Harry shrugged. 'Or that other people have as much,' he thought, referring to Ginny and, more specifically, Malfoy.
"I thought I made it clear that you were to speak aloud and in English," interrupted Severus.
Harry turned to him and abruptly dropped his Occlumency shields. He thought, 'You are a Legilimens and my bondmate. If you want to know what we are discussing, you need only try in order to find out.'
At the same time, he said aloud, "You said the pensieve was mine. I keep it here while I am a student as a favor to you. If you don't like my being here, I can leave and take the pensieve with me so I'll never have to bother you again."
He turned back to Ginny without awaiting a reply and said in their twin language, "Are you ready? I thought I might search for pranks you've played on the twins—I know there have been quite a few."
Ginny was facing Severus. She glanced at him briefly and replied, "He's really pissed now, you know."
"I know," said Harry, his dismissive tone not quite hiding his regret.
Ginny decided it was best to let it slide. "Well, then. Let's go."
Harry dove in and began searching for memories. Within a few minutes, he was relatively certain that he was not absorbing them as his own memories. He remembered them from Ginny's point of view, of course, but he was feeling pretty confident that he could separate what was his and what was hers.
'Can you feel what I'm doing?' he asked, as he sorted through.
'I can feel it, but I don't quite understand it,' she thought back.
'Try to block it.'
She tried. 'I can't.'
'It's different, but not that different, to what you do when you block our connection say… when Malfoy and I are together.'
Ginny giggled. 'Different how?'
'It's more specific. You're not blocking an entire bond, but specific magic. Focus in on the Legilimency, rather than on your twin.'
Ginny tried again. She was beginning to fumble when Harry was inspired to try to both communicate with her through the twin bond and use Legilimency at the same time. Using the twin bond, he showed her how the magic of Legilimency worked, and how she could counter it with Occlumency.
"Oh," she said aloud, and suddenly, Harry felt her countering his Legilimency with remarkable strength.
She sat back and the twins looked at each other in awe.
"Harry, you have an amazingly strong mind," said Ginny.
"It took me weeks to get as far as you just did in two minutes," Harry replied.
Ginny shook her head. "You do realize that you just did Legilimency at the same time as teaching me Occlumency through the bond, and facilitating Occlumency in my head! For the love of Merlin, Harry! If you can do all that…" Her eyes were wide as she searched for the right words. "I don't think a lesser wizard would have survived the magic you've done in the past weeks. I mean, the possession, the magical shock…"
Severus stood up suddenly and retreated through a doorway that Harry had always assumed was the bathroom. A lingering sensation of guilt trailed behind him. A realization hit Harry like a ton of bricks, and he slumped sideways against the back of the couch.
"Oh, fucking hell."
XIXIX
Harry and Ginny moved to the library where they continued to practice Legilimency and Occlumency. Harry was having no problems distinguishing what was his and what came from outside. Ginny picked up not only Occlumency, but Legilimency as well, in the space of an hour and fifteen minutes. She kept crediting her remarkable progress to her bond with Harry, but Harry really wondered about that. He knew that Ginny was truly very powerful, but that evening, he was awed by her amazing control.
After roll call, Harry insisted that Ginny finish her homework. He worried that her grades would falter because she spent so much time helping him with all of his non-academic concerns. She gave in, but before she went to bed, she forced him into a quiet corner to discus whatever realization Harry had had about Severus.
"It's a lot of things," he said. "I thought it was that something had happened, and I was trying to think of what it could possibly be, but I was wrong there, because I'm pretty sure now that it's not any one thing."
And Harry dove in. It probably did have to do with the shift of power in their relationship, but that wouldn't be enough on its own, because Severus trusted Harry. But if you also factored in Severus' apparent inclination toward guilt, it would make sense that he blamed himself for Harry's recent troubles, and felt that their bond was actually putting Harry in danger. Then, maybe, he decided that it was a really bad idea for a teacher to have such close feelings for a student. Even if the student was Harry Potter, and not exactly a normal kid, he was still (physically, at least) nineteen years younger, despite the fact that Harry remembered having lived two lifetimes. Even if Severus was just using that as an excuse to back away, it was a bloody good excuse from a teacher's point of view.
"What about Malfoy?" asked Ginny. "Do you think there's jealousy involved?"
Harry nodded, "Quite possibly—which couldn't be a good feeling to have, jealousy of your teenage godson's boyfriend. Merlin, I've been such a prat. He has every reason in the world to want to distance himself from me. And of course the only way he knows how to go about it is to go back to the 'loathsome professor' role. Fucking hell."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked Ginny.
Harry shook his head. "What else can I do? I'll just let it lie. It's only temporary anyway, right? I mean, once he realizes I'm in no danger from the bond, and once… I don't know… he gets over me… Merlin that sounds conceited."
"Maybe, but it's true. He will have to deal with his feelings for you. I mean, hell, even I got over you, and if you listen to rumors lately, half the school thought we were gonna be married for sure."
Harry cut her a look, but when Ginny grinned he laughed.
XIXIX
Harry kept a respectful distance from Severus for the rest of the week. He didn't look at him when they were in the Great Hall during meals. They brushed past each other in the hallways as though they were any other student and teacher. Harry had a feeling, although no proof, that Severus knew Harry finally understood what he was doing, and had accepted it.
Harry tried not to worry about it anymore. He did his homework; he went to the DA meeting; he spent a lot of time playing interference between his friends and Malfoy. And he scoured the Restricted Section looking for a way to send Voldemort to the land of the dead.
'This is my life,' he thought dryly as he closed another dusty tome with no helpful information.
He sighed and looked around at his friends. Ginny and Ron looked similarly frustrated with their reading. Malfoy seemed to be absorbed in something, but Harry doubted it had to do with the task at hand. He had a bad habit of getting sidetracked when he came across interesting Dark Magic.
Hermione was reading through Trelawney's prophecy books again. She had looked perpetually worried for the past few days, but refused to talk about it except to say she had a really bad feeling that she was trying to figure out. They had learned pretty quickly that Hermione had quite a temper when they questioned her Seer 'feelings'. For the most part, they were still really sketchy. Trelawney told her that she would get better with time and practice, but Hermione was really sensitive when it came to obstacles that she couldn't overcome with books and reason.
"Come on," said Harry. "It's nearly curfew."
Malfoy glanced at his watch and rolled his eyes. He closed his book and looked around arrogantly. "Well, it has been an exciting Friday evening of studying with Gryffindors. Same time next week?"
Ron glared at him. "You don't have to come, you know. Just because we care whether Harry lives or dies—"
"Ron," groaned Harry. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. When he opened them, Malfoy was smirking at Ron in a way that reminded Harry eerily of previous Potions classes when Malfoy would get Severus to yell at them.
Harry narrowed his eyes at his boyfriend, who gave him an innocent look that wasn't fooling anybody. As the two left for the Slytherin dungeons, Ron grinned behind Harry's back, knowing that Malfoy was about to be lectured for instigating with Harry's friends.
Harry lay in bed, staring lazily at the ceiling. His brain felt too full with concern. He knew he was going to need a lot of quiet time before he fell asleep that night. The rest of his dorm mates were down in the common room, which gave Harry plenty of time to meditate.
Not long before midnight, Ron and Neville came up to bed.
"What time is Percy getting here tomorrow?" asked Neville.
"Just after breakfast," said Ron. "We invited him to breakfast, of course, but he owled that he'd rather talk to us alone rather than in 'the uproar that is breakfast at Hogwarts'," he said, imitating Percy's pompous voice.
Harry grinned.
"Bet it's nice to have your brother back," said Neville cheerfully.
"Yeah," said Ron. "You know, it really is."
Harry focused on that thought. His curtains had been closed, but he could hear the smile in Ron's voice, and he felt truly good for his friend. Himself, he wasn't particularly looking forward to Percy's visit. He just thought of it as a necessary step for the Weasley family. It wasn't right for them to be split.
And with that, Harry finally drifted off to sleep.
He felt as though he had only just closed his eyes when he opened them again. His curtains were pulled back, and Dumbledore was standing over him.
"Wake up, Harry," he said gently, sadly.
Harry reached for his glasses, fearing the worst. When it was bad news, Dumbledore would send for you. When it was terrible, he would come himself.
Harry sat up, leaving his sleepiness behind. "What is it, sir?"
"Harry, come with me."
Harry stared at him in the darkness. He felt heavy with dread. "Who was it?"
"Come with me downstairs," said Dumbledore.
Ron stirred in his bed. "Harry, wuh'srong?"
"Can Ron come?" asked Harry, feeling like a coward for not wanting to be alone when he heard that someone he loved was dead.
Dumbledore paused for only an instant before nodding. Harry followed him downstairs into the common room with Ron stumbling at his heels. He could feel Ron trying to wake up. Harry wondered how early it was.
He started a mental list of who could have died. Lupin was still at Hogwarts, or at least, had been at dinnertime. Nicolas and Perenelle were in Africa with nearly twice as many guards than they had had when they started, as they picked up one or two from every place they went.
He hadn't gotten any further through the list when Dumbledore said, "Harry, the Dursleys have been killed."
For an instant, the dread washed away, and Harry thought, 'Oh, is that all?' But then he was hit with an emotion similar to what he felt for Sirius.
Harry realized that he was sitting on a couch with his hands gripping the cushion underneath him. He wondered when he had sat down. He wondered when he had turned to lead. He wondered how he could be feeling both relief and grief at the same time. He stared at a small tangle in Dumbledore's beard that was lighted by the glow of the fireplace. He wondered if Dumbledore had to brush his beard everyday.
"How?" he said, his voice blank.
Dumbledore shook his head and Harry knew they had been tortured first. "Harry—," he began, but Harry cut him off.
"How?" His voice was hard.
"They were… dissected alive. Vernon and Petunia were taken while en route from a business dinner. Dudley was taken from his dorm room at Smeltings. Their bodies were left in the park near their house."
Harry looked down and remembered Dudley and his friends chasing him around the schoolyard. He remembered Uncle Vernon shouting at him, his face purple. He remembered Aunt Petunia locking him in the cupboard under the stairs.
"Was anyone watching them?" he asked, his voice distant.
"Yes. But a large group of Death Eaters apparated in. Some of them kept the watchpersons busy, while the others took the Dursleys."
"Was anyone else hurt?"
"No."
"So the point was to show that not even the Order could protect people, that the Order couldn't even protect Harry Potter's family. Brilliant." Harry's voice was dry. He could not recognize it as his own.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Ron's sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry, mate."
Harry nodded, noting the weight of Ron's hand, the freckles on his face. He remembered seeing Ron for the first time with all of the other Weasleys, just outside Platform 9 ¾. But he knew he was remembering it wrong, because he saw Ron and Ginny the way they looked now, and not the way they did nearly six years ago.
"Did they leave the Dark Mark in the sky?" he asked, imagining the message to himself.
Dumbledore nodded.
"This will be in the papers," said Harry, and he thought how wrong that was. The Dursleys had wanted nothing to do with the magic world, but now they were killed by magic. They would be splashed across the magic media as a tragic loss for the Boy Who Lived, when Harry had always hated them and couldn't really tell if he was sad they were dead.
Ginny was sitting next to him suddenly. She didn't say anything and she didn't hug him or touch him or try to reach him through their bond. She was just there, and Harry realized suddenly that was really all he wanted at that moment. He wanted Ron and Ginny to be there next to him. And Hermione. And Malfoy. And Severus. And Remus. And Nicolas and Perenelle. And the Weasleys. All of the family he had gathered over the years that had nothing to do with blood.
They sat in silence long after Dumbledore left. Ginny went and woke Hermione and they all sat a quiet vigil in front of the fire until morning came and Gryffindor Tower began to wake. When McGonagall came to open the wards, she hugged Harry and offered her condolences and said if he needed to talk, she was there for him.
Harry wondered why she hadn't been there when Dumbledore came, but knew there must be a good reason, and he really didn't feel like asking. He was afraid he would sound petulant.
He went upstairs and very methodically got ready for the day. He wore some nice, casual robes he had gotten at the beginning of the year. Thinking matter-of-factly, he knew that Percy was pompous and would be more responsive to him if he looked somewhat presentable.
He walked down to breakfast with his friends. They were among the first to reach the Great Hall. Harry sat with his plate empty before him.
It was Ginny who broke the silence.
"You don't have to come to meet Percy," she said.
"I know," said Harry.
"Yeah, mate," said Ron. "It's kind of a bad time for you. You don't have to see him today."
"What else am I going to do?"
"Spend time with Malfoy," said Hermione as she finished her tea. Harry looked at her kindly for suggesting that, but he shook his head.
"No. I want to make amends with Percy. I'm coming, okay?"
Ginny and Ron nodded. Hermione was swirling the dregs of her tea and peering into her cup. She suddenly looked up to the door of the Great Hall, and a second later Malfoy strode in. He came right to their table and sat next to Harry.
Hermione set her cup aside unread, focusing her attention back to Harry.
"Potter," he said lowly, "Are you okay?" He was looking intently into Harry's eyes.
"How did you know?" asked Harry. Owl post had not yet arrived. How had Malfoy heard anything?
"We get an early post in the Slytherin common room," said Malfoy, understanding what Harry meant. "We like to know things before the rest of the school."
"I'm fine," Harry replied belatedly.
Malfoy slung his arm around Harry's shoulder, not really knowing what else to say. Harry leaned his head into Malfoy's cheek, not really knowing how to feel.
Finally, Malfoy shook his shoulder a bit and said, "Come on, you need to eat. You have a big day ahead of you filled with red hair, and I'm afraid you'll have to do without the glory of my company during such a treacherous ordeal." But for once, there was no real malice in his voice, so everyone reacted with polite smiles and began to fill their plates. Malfoy filled Harry's.
Harry pushed the food around his plate with his fork, but didn't actually eat anything. After several minutes of not eating, he felt a worried nudge inside of him and heard Severus' voice in his head.
'Harry, are you okay?'
Harry sat bolt upright and turned to the head table, but Severus was not there. He opened his mind to their link and felt that Severus was having breakfast in his quarters. He had been up half the night with a first year who was having nightmares. He had just opened the paper.
'I'm okay,' thought Harry.
'Are you sure? Do you… need anything?'
Harry was relieved to feel true concern through the link, but was cautious not to get his hopes up that things would return to normal between Severus and him. He thought suddenly how strange it was that he felt more emotion about that than about the Dursleys' deaths.
'You're in shock,' responded Severus to the thought that hadn't been directed to him. 'It's normal.'
'I'm okay,' Harry thought again, and then he felt the link close.
"Was that Snape?" asked Ron, watching him closely.
Harry felt Malfoy stiffen next to him. He nodded tentatively.
"His voice in your head?" asked Malfoy with forced calm. Harry didn't like the sound of that.
"Part of their bond," said Ron, completely innocently.
"I see," said Malfoy. "Part of your bond. With Severus."
"Malfoy, now is really not the time…" began Ginny.
But Malfoy stood up and was gone.
"Fuck," hissed Harry.
"He didn't…?" ventured Ron.
"No," said Harry miserably. "I should have told him, but he was being such a jealous prat. I thought it would make it worse." He poked absently at his uneaten breakfast.
Hermione let out her breath. "He knew something was going on, but he didn't know what. I understand why he was jealous."
Harry finally just pushed his plate away and put his head on the table. Then he sat back up.
"If I don't go after him now, he won't speak to me all week."
Ginny nodded. "Go."
Harry looked to Ron. "I will come find you guys. I'll just be a little late."
Ron nodded too. "You don't have to—"
"Ron, I'm coming," said Harry quickly. "I'll find you guys, okay?"
He left the Great Hall, the leaden feeling of shock falling away as he focused on a purpose that had nothing to do with his relatives' deaths. He thought fast, trying to figure out where Malfoy had gone.
Slytherin common room.
It was the only place he could go to where Harry couldn't follow. He would want to fume. He would want to make Harry worry that he wouldn't get him back. Harry broke into a sprint to catch him. Malfoy would be walking calmly as though nothing was wrong. Never show any weakness. Malfoys have power. The perception of power. Fear. Intimidation. Malfoy didn't use those powers on Harry.
But he still had power over him.
Harry was in the dungeons before he caught up. "Malfoy," he panted, coming up behind him.
Malfoy kept walking.
Harry grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to a stop. Malfoy shrugged him off, so Harry grabbed both shoulders and pushed him against the wall. He hunched forward a bit, catching his breath.
"What do you want, Potter?" he said with his old sneer.
Harry looked in his eyes and said, "I want to go back in time and tell you about my bond with Severus so that you don't hear about it from Ron five hours after I find out my only living relatives are dead."
Malfoy looked away, and for a moment, Harry thought that he was going to get away without a fight.
But then Malfoy asked, "Why?"
"I didn't think you'd understand."
"No," he said, his voice cold. "Why did you bond with him? Why did you bond with Ginny?"
Harry searched for the words, but there was no easy explanation. "It's a really long story," he said, knowing Malfoy would never accept that.
"Right," came the drawled response. "Let me go, Potter. Leave me alone."
He pushed against Harry, but Harry pushed him back. "No. Look, Malfoy, you're asking the wrong questions. You don't give a damn why I bonded with Severus and Ginny. You're just jealous and you're angry that I didn't bond with you."
"Who the hell do you think you are, saying that to me?" demanded Malfoy. "I hate to break your ego trip, Potter, but that is not what this is about. You lied to me, you bloody arsehole! You should have told me!"
"But I didn't! Are you just going to—"
"No! You didn't! You prance around with your fucking Golden Boy image, and you two-time your boyfriend," he dropped his voice suddenly, "With his fucking godfather."
"I am not two-timing you, you jealous prat!"
Malfoy snorted. "Oh, I'm sure any bond you have where you can hear each other's voices across the bloody castle is completely innocent."
"You're being a right idiot, you know that?"
Malfoy eyed him levelly. "I have been; you're right. But not anymore. We're through."
Harry felt a surge of anger course through him. He slammed Malfoy against the wall and leaned in, intoning in a very low voice, "You listen to me, Draco Malfoy. I'll be damned if I'm going to let you break up with me after the shit you put me through. You don't really think that I cheated on you with Severus any more than you think I cheated on you with Ginny. It's power you're jealous of. Not romance. Not sex. You're mad that I bonded with them because you think they have more power over me than you do."
Harry was seething. "Well, fuck you, Malfoy," he growled. "Because the thing you don't get is that those bonds aren't about power. And another thing you don't seem to get is that I'm in love with you, you sodding, arrogant bastard. And you're not breaking up with me because that would make my life hell, and I've had quite enough of that for one day."
Harry pushed away from Malfoy and glared at him for a few seconds. Malfoy's eyes had widened slightly, although he was doing a good job of hiding his fear. Harry wondered what he looked like right then. He tried to soften his features, but he knew he wasn't doing a very good job.
"I'm going to go find my twin," he said, stressing the word, "And my two best friends. And I'm going to reunite with someone who might as well be my brother. And I'll see you at dinner tonight, and if you have decided to stop being such a jealous fuck, then after dinner I am going to take you someplace private and shag the daylights out of you."
Harry could feel he was still glaring when he turned to walk away. He hadn't gotten two paces when Malfoy caught his arm. "Potter," he began, but never got further.
An alarm split through the castle, echoing off the dungeon corridor walls. Harry felt a wave of panic sweep over him, and he knew that Ginny was in trouble. He grabbed Malfoy's arm to steady himself and pushed himself into the link as hard and as fast as he could to find out what was going on.
They were walking around the lake, near the Forbidden Forest. Five Death Eaters appeared from the midst of the trees and they were battling. Ginny remembered her older brother's less-than-stellar dueling skills and stepped between Percy and the group of approaching Death Eaters.
And suddenly pain beyond pain ripped through Harry and he crumpled. But that wasn't the worst of it. A sick feeling of the worst emotional pain he had ever felt folded through the last of his consciousness. It was betrayal. The Crucio had hit Ginny from behind.
From somewhere in the depths of his memory, Harry heard Tonk's voice saying, "We think one of the Death Eaters that attacked Lupin is in Percy's department." Harry groaned. His head hit something hard.
"Quit struggling, Potter," snapped Malfoy.
Harry felt the cold stone floor below him as pain ripped through him again. Malfoy was trying to hold him up. He had hit his head on the floor. Malfoy was yelling for help.
Harry slipped back into his memory. "In his department?" barked Moody. "Shares an office with the boy."
'Oh, Merlin, no!' thought Harry. 'Please, no. Please…'
Ginny was screaming. Her screams took up everything, and Harry couldn't help her.
"Harry."
It was Severus' voice, out loud and in his head.
"Block it out, Harry. The curse isn't on you. Block it out. You have to block the link."
"No," screamed Harry, thrashing. "It's Ginny, it's Ginny!"
"I know," said Severus. "But you can't help her if you don't shut her out. If you hold on to her, they have incapacitated you. They have won. You have to block your link to her."
Harry was gnashing his teeth, trying to force his eyes open. Severus was holding him down. He was pressed up against another body that was wrapped strongly around him. It was Malfoy; he knew it.
"Harry, focus on me. Focus on me, Harry."
Harry opened his eyes, locking himself into his link with Severus, trying to put up a wall between himself and Ginny, but he was finding that to be more painful than the Cruciatus curse itself.
"Come on, Potter," said Malfoy into Harry's ear, lending him strength.
Harry held Severus' eye and blocked out the pain as much as he could. Severus decided not to tell Harry that what he was doing was technically impossible, because now he and Ginny had clearly both done it. Harry heard the thought, but decided to ignore it because doubt would certainly not help him at the moment.
"They've broken the wards," said Harry.
"Yes," said Severus, helping him up.
"Where is Dumbledore?"
"Africa. The Flamels were hit with a large-scale attack not quite an hour ago."
"Dark creatures are coming," said Harry, remembering Luna's words, and realizing he was running out of the dungeons. "An army is coming."
The alarm continued. Severus grabbed his arm and doubled over.
"The army is here," he said through clenched teeth. "So is he."
A/N: To be continued. Promise.
Also, I don't think this will ever fit into Harry's POV of the story, but I know a few of you will be wondering—McGonagall wasn't there overnight because she was with her son who was one of the Order members protecting the Dursleys that night. He was not seriously injured, just like Dumbledore had said. It's not really important to the story, but there you go.
Nelia: Well, thank you once again. I'm glad you're digging the H/D interaction, after their fight, and the conversation about power. I find my characters conversing about and doing things that are related to what's going on in my life at the time, which is a neat coincidence that it works so well into the story. But at any rate, hopefully you'll understand more about Severus and what's up with him. I've been missing him a lot myself.
Darkest demon child: Thank you muchly. I hope you enjoyed the second half of the chap too.
Tygressatheart: Draco get over his jealousy? Hmm… don't see that happening any time soon. I love him, but he's a real prat about that, you know? As for the summary—I don't think Harry would have put up with half of the shit that Draco's dealt him if it wasn't for him wanting the "normal life" thing. But that doesn't mean his feelings aren't genuine. The guy does kind of wear his heart on his sleeve. Not good at faking things.
Teira: Wax philosophical? Hmm… maybe instead of a final battle, I'll just have Harry and Voldie argue the existence of God in the wizarding world…. Or maybe not… :)
Draco Spanks Harry: Yeah, Sev will get over himself enough to be there for Harry when he needs him, but pride is such a strange thing. Not to mention guilt. Glad you're liking this.
Lea Black: Hey thanks! I really appreciate that. And ooh, I bet you're hating this cliffhanger. Sorry 'bout that.
Henio41: Thanks!
Libby: No, you got it. Snape isn't so much embarrassed about what Harry might know about him, he just needs some space to figure himself out a bit. He's been in a precarious position here. I'm an H/D shipper myself, but after I got to writing the story and started thinking of all the things that Harry and Sev have in common, I started wondering myself how things would have developed between them if Malfoy hadn't already been in the picture. Oh well, another story for another time. And there's still the future to consider. And I love what you say about Malfoy. As much as these boys try, I don't think either of them are mature enough to just put everything behind them. Not just yet, at any rate. Plus, nicknames have been important to me in my relationships. I just don't see this version of Harry and Draco ever calling each other Harry and Draco, at least not regularly. It works for other stories, but not mine. And Luna, yeah. Strange relationships pop up in highschool that just make you scratch your head, but then after awhile, you kind of see how they work… or don't, as they case may be. And Ginny, yeah, I like her growing up past the crush. It works for me. Oh, and by the way, thank you.
Aki no Yumel: Thank you. Hope you like the Harry/Sev explanation here.
Slice: lol. No, absolutely bad timing for hanky panky, but you know, horny sixteen-year-olds. What are you going to do? But yes, there is more to their relationship than sex. They actually like each other, when they're not being pricks, that is. And Slice, dearie, Running 2 ½ miles is just about the best kind of masochistic to be as far as I'm concerned. But if you do keep running somewhat regularly, do about six every now and again—the first two are the hardest, but then the endorphins start flowing, and by the time you're done you love everyone on earth and life is so beautiful. But, um ahem, it will hurt the next day. :)
Elebereth: Thanks—here you go.
Tsuyuno: Never, sorry. They've known each other far too long as Potter and Malfoy to ever be anything but in my story. Well, maybe when they grow up a bit more. (shrugs)
Curious Dream Weaver: thank you!
Dracos hot: lol. No really, lol. Okay, um, let's see… The threats were really unwarranted. I was going to deal with Sev here anyway. No reason to threaten to make things ugly. And as for happily ever after, there will be resolution, but it will be as close to real-life-like as I can make it. Heehee, and I love what a dick Malfoy is too. Such as sweetheart, in that asshole sort of way… Thanks, dahling.
Pal411: (grin) Thank you. Glad to know my fic isn't bad. Glad you're enjoying it. I'm not going to get a yahoo group, though, because I may not be in the country next year, and so I might not be able to maintain it. So I'll just try to finish this story and the sequel before I head off to my next placement next summer. (crosses fingers)
Crimson Colored Cloaked Figure: Thank you!
Rowenna: Thank you.
Lady Silvrene: Hey—check out my Harry/Sev fics and tell me if you like them. I'm digging those too now, and I've also found a whole string of Sev/Sirius fics. They make an awesome couple as well. But of course, current writers have to do AU to make those work, or else set 'em in the past. Oh, and thank you.
Silmarien: Hey, thanks! I'm glad you like Hermione as a Seer, not many people could dig that. And I agree about Ron. He's one of my faves in the books, and it makes me sad when people make him evil. Oh well. And I'll try to bring some resolution with Luna and Crabbe. Thanks for the great review!
Jellycatty: No kidding. Snape was being an ass. But there are more important things now.
Firestar: Yay! Thanks!
Enc87b: Thanks!
Randomnessdotcom: Thanks!
Tessajalynn-cilory: Eep, yeah, you'll be glad to know that Harry is sixteen once again. My bad on that one. I don't know where my mind was. Thanks for pointing that out. And thanks for reading/reviewing!
Paddycake Padfoot: Ooh, I forgot to check out your profile. I'll do it shortly. Promise. Thanks for reviewing!
Shaya68: It's a nickname thing. They've been Potter and Malfoy for six years to each other, and my versions of these characters don't see any reason to change that, so they don't. Thanks for reading/reviewing!
Moonlit Chaos: (grins) Thanks, chica. I'll try to update again soon. I know this is a MAJOR cliffhanger.
Jewelkitten: Thanks, and you know I can't tell you what's gonna happen! ;)
Serenity: Thanks.
Abundant Fear: Yay! I've been reading Tempus Fugit, actually, and you're absolutely right! That Stylophile can write! Ye Gods, I hope I've reviewed… (worries…) Anyway, thank you muchly. And yeah, some malepreg stories work, like um, what was it called? A Moment in Time. It should be in my favorites, and if it's not, I don't know why. But I don't think I could write a mpreg story. Just not in me.
Burnt Kairn: I love philosophy actually. It's one of the many things I do a little bit (I can do almost everything a little bit, but almost nothing really well…) I'm an idealist with existential tendencies. I'm really not sure how that works, but it does. One of my goals in life is to successfully combine religion, philosophy, science, and art into one great work, and make it all make sense and not contradict each other. We'll see how that goes… :)
Dragenphly: I'm sure Voldie and Lucius would love to use Draco, but they handled everything with him so poorly, that they'll have real trouble if they attempt that any time soon. And Luna, creepy… how so? Thanks for the review!
Sweet Suicide 41: Hey, thanks a lot. I've been trying to keep things canon-related, um, I guess as much as a slash fic CAN be canon related…? But thank you.
Chaos-Chick3: you and Draco are clearly birds of a feather, says the pea in the pod.
Atrinoisa: Thanks! And I'm not saying anything about Harry and Sev, I'm just saying, that I think you should read the sequel whenever I get around to finishing this story and writing it.
Omeganight: thanks!
TWiSt3d: Well, we all need a motto, right? And as for Passive!Draco, just keep in mind the difference between words and action, yo.
Ellenos: Nicolas isn't a girl.
Alas, I've transfigured my feet: Oh, thanks on the Colin spelling tip. I'll go back eventually and fix it all. Swear. Thanks!
Vanishing Roses: lol. Thank you! I want to re-read the series too, but alas, my books are several states away. I know what you mean about not knowing whether to feel sorry for Harry or slap him. I felt the same way (especially book five) But I work with fifteen year olds, and I often feel the same way with them, but it always comes down to me just loving them, and you get to love characters sometimes as much as real people, so that's how I justify it all. He really acts like a messed-up fifteen year old.
Amber Fyre Riddle-Snape: Thanks!
Coriander: Thank you, dear!