Immediately Harry flopped down on the bed that had appeared as soon as they had opened the door to the Room of Requirement. Hermione was soon beside him. She was panting with nervousness.
"I know Hermione. I have no idea how we are to do this." He pulled his arms around her shoulders and held her.
"He could kill us, Harry."
"So could Lucius. And you used to think Tom was going to kill us all, and you dealt with them well enough." Harry replied.
"Yes, but I didn't trust Lucius from the beginning and I'm just starting to trust Tom. Not all of us are as easy there as you are."
"Draco seems to have it easy enough."
"He's Draco!" She could not help but laugh. "Of course he would be seemingly comfortable around the dark lord. He is a Slytherin."
"Are you insulting by boyfriend Hermione!" he faked shock.
"Yes. But what are we going to do now."
"We wait. We have to see what the old idiot is going to come up with. Then we'll plan on what the next move will be."
"I hate this Harry."
"I know."
Hermione got up and looked around at the room. It was simply a room with two beds, two desks, a couch and a fireplace. There was also another door, which she guessed lead to a bathroom.
"I guess the room decided we didn't require much."
"Not really." Harry yawned, and took his glasses off. "I'm going to sleep first. Wake me if something happens."
She first thought to insult him for leaving her on first watch, but then just checked the lock on the door before climbing into the other bed.
Several hours later there was a knock at the door. Harry looked over to the other bed, but Hermione was fast asleep. After a moment of considering going back to sleep the door banged rather loudly again.
/I'm coming half-wit.../ he though as he trudged to the door. /I finally get some sleep, but no! Dumbledore has wake me with his 'punishment', most likely!/
He made an attempted to pull his ebony hair out of his eyes before answering to door. /can't be looking like a 'hooligan'./ As his hands got closer to his ears he noticed something else. The earrings /crap! Well it's too late to do anything about it now/ he had been trying to hide all of his recent acquirements from Dumbledore, but he had forgotten that in his nervousness.
He opened the door to reveal, of course, Dumbledore. Without waiting the old man swept into the room. /sorry, but you do not look nearly as good as Severus does when you do that./ Harry thought. When the man in front of him stiffened, Harry almost panicked. What if he was still in his mind! But then he just turned around to face Harry.
"Harry, I have decided what I will do with you. At least for the time being. Now, if you do not mind, wake Miss Granger. She needs to hear this too."
Harry did as he asked and minutes later they were sitting on the couch with Dumbledore standing in front of them, with a stern look on his face.
"Now. I have decided." Harry did his best not to roll his eyes. "As I have had a harder time filling the teaching positions this year than usual, you two will take over those classes. You, Harry, will take over the potions position, at least until Professor Snape returns. In addition, you, Hermione, will be in charge of Defence, as Professor McEwan is still under the weather. I realize that this is odd, but I assure you that I am doing what is best. Also, how well you do does affect your grade. Now that will be all." He quickly left the room with Hermione and Harry gaping at each other.
"Well, that's a bit curious." Harry stated.
"Yes. Giving you the potions position. Everyone knows you're crap, when it comes to potions."
Harry glared at her. "And everyone is going to running away from YOU in defence class, screaming bloody murder."
"They've probably forgot by now." she rolled her brown eyes towards the ceiling.
"You really think so? With the other professor 'still under the weather' after what you did to him."
"He wants to torture us."
"Of course, Hermione." Harry sounded almost annoyed, but when she looked him he was glaring daggers towards the door. "After we've betrayed him once. I think he wants to keep us too tired to plan to do it again. We do badly and we won't be able to graduate. Yes, he's trying to torture us."
He sighed. "Luckily, I'm not complete crap at potions." Hermione looked ready to laugh. "Really, Hermione. After being around Draco for this long. He wouldn't have let me get away with being terrible at his favourite subject, I'm reasonable at it. Besides, this could help us. I could use the positions to help us find a cure for Severus."
"And, of course, my position is useless." Hermione said, sounding exasperated.
"Of course! You can use only use it to terrify the people who called you a monster."
She brightened immediately. "Fun!"
"Now we just have to get ready for when everyone comes back." Harry got up stretching as he went. Hermione couldn't help but leer when his shirt came up. Harry noticed and turned pink. "Hermione!"
"What! I don't have my own boyfriend to look at, so I'm doing the next best thing." she smiled brightly.
"Why me!" he had both his hands around the bottom of his shirt, looking scandalized.
"You're delectable Harry! Very cute. Sexy at that! Not to mention, the earrings make you look so hot." she said with a bright smile on her face.
"I'm not hearing this!" he quickly scurried into the bed and yanked the covers over his head, with a few ebony tufts peaking out the top.
Hermione just laughed. /I love doing that to him/ she couldn't help it when more snickers followed.
After a while, when Harry had gone to sleep she was left to her thoughts
Tom was once again sitting in the chair beside Severus bed. There still hadn't been a change so far, and there wasn't likely to be one as one Severus himself was one of the best potions masters in the world. Not much that would do, when he couldn't even wake up. He was still just as pale, and his breathing shallow. Lady Une, the resident Mediwitch was unable to do anything other than keeping Severus alive.
Also, he dreadfully missed Harry. He hadn't been gone for long, but still. Harry was still like the son he never had and was one of the closest people to him, aside from Severus. Not even his own daughter was as close. He wondered if it ever made her jealous. He laughed to himself /I don't even know my own daughter that well.../ Though it only made sense, after he had been missing for the most of the first twelve years of her life. /Heck! Severus is the one who raised her! It's a surprise that she even agreed to live with me./
But it brought his thoughts right back to Severus. He sighed. All his thoughts brought his right back to Severus.
He tried to find something else to think about. Like wondering what the others where up to.
As far as he knew, Nagini was still in her room, up to Merlin-knows-what. Then there were Draco and Nathaniel's son, Blaise. They had taken over for him, the operations for finding Malfoy. He noticed that both Draco and Blaise seemed to taking the betrayal personally, and were pushing the death-eaters to work harder than they had in a long time. But none of them questioned their orders after the first incident.
It was actually almost funny.
(flashback)
The death-eaters had gathered wondering what they had been summoned for. They hadn't been summoned in months, now all of a sudden, then had been called back, en masse. But then dark lord was nowhere to been.
Unexpectedly, there was a loud bang as the large double doors slammed into the walls. They watched as a young blond boy and another ebony-haired boy behind him. They swiftly strided to the front of the meeting room, to stand in front of them. A couple murmured as they recognised the blond as Malfoy's son.
"I would like for you all to be silent, so we can get this over with as quickly as possible!" Draco yelled over the crowded room. Blaise stayed close behind him, happy to leave all the talking to Draco.
While some became quiet out of curiosity, others when not so happy to obey. There where still whispers going across the room.
"Where is the Dark Lord?"
"Who does this boy think he is!?"
"When's lunch?" ::Draco rolled his eyes at this one::
"Quiet!" Draco shouted. "I have been put in charge of this meeting! And you will listen to me."
"Why should we." This was McNair.
"Do you really want find out what would happen if you don't." Draco's eyes glared silver as he stared down the man. "Do you really think that I could be here if I didn't have the Dark Lord's favour?! This is more than I can say you, McNair."
At this, one of the death-eaters decided to charge the boy at the front. /How dare this boy be favoured over me!/ She thought as she hurled her skeletal-like body at Draco. She didn't get far (or had moved further than five feet) when both Draco and Blaise aimed the wands and performed the Cruciatous curse on her. Blaise quickly released her, but Draco continued for a moment, before casting "finite incantatum" on the middle-aged woman.
"Anyone else, want to try?" Draco asked the room, but nobody moved an inch. "Who is she?"
Still everyone was silent. /People! When you want for them to do one thing, they do the opposite!/ Draco grumbled silently. Once again, he lifted his wand and someone finally stepped forward.
"Mr. Malfoy," A red-haired witch, addressed him. "It's Bellatrix."
"Bellatrix LeStrange?" He urged her to say more. /Is she the one Harry told me about? The one who killed his god-father./
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you. Would you mind taking her to the dungeons for me?"
She smiled at him slightly before walking over to the woman. She looked at her for a second before wrinkling her nose in distaste and decided to levitate the body.
Draco stared for a second before he dared to ask. "Miss, what is your name?"
"Sally Po." Draco nodded before returning his attention to the audience around them. /good riddance/ he thought as he contemplated Bellatrix, the woman who killed Sirius, making her trip to the dungeons. He would bring Harry to her, once this was all over. /Even if Harry's godfather isn't alive to see his freedom, at least Harry would see the day./
"Now that that's over with can we finally continue the meeting?" He smiled at them, showing a bit more teeth than needed.
Blaise nudged him, Causing Draco to glare at him. Just trying not to scare death-eaters to death this time, was the message that Blaise was trying to convey at him. When Blaise did nothing but stare at him, ginning, Draco just rolled his eyes and continued.
"As I was saying-" This time he was interrupted when the door opened. Sally was back, saluting him, before returning to her spot. /Maybe now I can get through a single sentence without being interrupted!/ Trying to relax, he started again. "Now! And if anyone else tries to interrupt me again, I swear I will take it straight to Voldemort! And I assure you that he doesn't feel like being disturbed right know." No one moved a muscle. "I need for you to hunt down Lucius Malfoy! I don't care what you were previously supposed to do; you will put all of your effort towards this. Unless your work involved Dumbledore, then you can continue with that. Any questions." He asked, but all he got was a one wizard fidgeting in his place. /this must be why Tom only calls his inner circle for anything important! The rest are a bunch of dimwits, and I wonder why in the world didn't he let these people join!/ he pointed to person and they spoke.
"Why are we looking for your father?" a murmur passed over the room as the rest of them realize who he was.
"You do not need to know anything, other than he's a traitor." Draco could forgive the man calling Lucius his father, as he didn't know what pain Lucius had caused. He rolled his eye's heavenward when he spotted a rat-faced man in back raising his hand. /WHAT IS THIS? SCHOOL!/ Draco didn't resist glaring this time. "Yes. You in the back!"
He fidgeted even more, glancing to the left and right to see if he was talking to someone else. "May I go to the bathroom?"
Draco fixed a deadly stare on the man. "Out. GET OUT! NOW!" He screamed. "In fact, anyone who isn't in Voldemort's inner circle, get out, and pray that I don't see you here again." half of the death-eaters got up to leave. "Po! Stay." She looked around curiously, before shrugging.
Blaise decided to give Draco a break and placed Draco behind him. "I'll take over from here." He whispered.
Draco backed up before slumping a chair that had been behind him. "Of course, you would step up when the bovine have left. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with Tom." he muttered. /What is Bellatrix LeStrange still even doing here?!/ "It pays when your boyfriend is the resident Dark Lord's favoured."
Blaise decided to ignore Draco and continued on with the meeting.
(end flashback)
Yes, Draco had talked with him later. He honestly hadn't paid that much attention the people in his employ. However, he would have to deal with then later. And with any luck, he wouldn't have to deal with them anymore soon. If anybody can get anything together. If only they can finally get Dumbledore, and now Lucius, out of the way he could finally disappear.
But he had Severus to worry about right know. He had to find a cure for his friend. Tom brushed his hair out of his face that had somehow managed to cover it. Severus had hated it when it did that, but his hair seemed to have a mind of its own.
He had an idea and left the chair for a moment and came back holding a comb and hair tie. He lifted Severus as slightly as he could and wedged himself behind him, propping Severus up in front of him. He swiftly combed the hair back, just as he had done many times before when they were younger. He hadn't had the chance to do this recently, and enjoyed the simplicity. After he was finished, he tossed the comb onto the bedside table. Tom often wondered during times like this, what exactly he felt for Severus. But then he dismissed his ponderings and simply decided that he would deal with that road of thoughts when he had to.
He put one arm around the unconscious man and soon after fell asleep.
The very next day, Dumbledore sent one of the house elves to retrieve Harry. There was a matter that had been puzzling him.
"Ah, you are here, my boy!" He greeted Harry as he nervously entered to office.
Harry refrained from glaring down the man. /I will never be yours, you conniving bastard!/ "You asked for me?" he asked.
"Yes, yes." He turned and pulled out a bundle of papers that had had been stuffed in a nook behind him. Harry was tempted to attack right than, but knew that it was best to wait until he had found the evidence against him. He surely would not be so stupid as to make the mistake of hiding the journal in his own office again. His thoughts were interrupted when Dumbledore spoke again. "I would like to ask you, do you know where Ronald Weasly is. He went missing around the same time you disappeared."
Harry was dumbstruck. /Weasel!? That's the important matter that he had been called there for!?/ "Him?"
"Yes, Harry. Ronald Weasly. You see, his parents have been asking about him. I have told them that he was simply staying here, but then they asked why they didn't get an owl stating that he would be staying over the break. They also sent one for you, but of course, you weren't here to receive it." He tossed one of the letters towards Harry. "Do you have any idea where he is!?" /damn the boy's stubbornness. Obstinate Slytherins! They think they should always have their way. But at least Lucius is different from others of his ilk! If it hadn't been prudent to make the boy a Slytherin, I would have!/
"No." He muttered. But the old man continued to stare at him. He knew that Harry was lying; he could not lose what trust he had left. "Yes. I know that I should forgive him, headmasters, but I don't trust him."
"You don't trust anyone." It was a statement.
"I trust Hermione." /I just don't trust you./ He said simply, shrugging. "I would do anything for her."
"Which is possibly why you got into this mess, Harry. If it had not been for her, you wouldn't have allowed the Dark Lord to blackmail you. Not that she is to blame." He added the last part quickly.
"I guess." /You want me to not trust her? It would be much simpler to try and get me to trust you, and I can assure you that their isn't much chance of either happening./
The man stayed quiet for a few more minutes before asking. "Weasly's whereabouts?"
"Voldemort has him. There wasn't anything I can do." His emerald eyes stared at the carpet below his feet. His hair was obscuring Dumbledore's view of his gaze, and he couldn't really tell if he was telling the truth or not. /Damn Severus for being gone, right when his potions skills could come in handy. Moreover, damn him, for not ever having any Veritaserum ready made!/ This was one of the few moments he actual got to observe the boy without him paying attention, and he took it. Harry seemed to have drifted into his thoughts. /I should have asked to make him Hufflepuff, now that I think about it. They aren't nearly as infuriating. Nevertheless, it's to late now. And he seems to be more confident that when he first arrived. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or bad thing. And he still has those thrice damned ridiculous earrings in his ears/ Dumbledore sneered. /Really! He's male, not a woman. /He still insist on dressing like a burglar, in his black t-shirt and black jeans./ he was taken back, blinking when he noticed how low the jeans were. /they almost show his.../ He dropped the thought before it was finished. /Once again, 'Slytherins'! I will never understand them./ He thought to himself. He looked back to his face, only to notice that Harry was staring at him with one eyebrow raised.
"May I leave, now?"
/that cocky little...catamite!/ "Yes, you may. Take the letter with you. Be ready for your lesson, Potter!"
Harry knew that he was dismissed and quickly left. /Lesson?/ But then he remembered, he would be teaching Severus' class.
With a sigh, he walked back to the Room of Requirement.
The first days that the students started to return were reasonably easy. It was the day that classes started when it became difficult.
It started when they ran into the twins just outside the great hall. It was unpleasant to say the least. Harry had been caught by surprise when one of them rushed him head first, leaving him winded on the floor. Before he could get up Harry found himself pinned on the floor.
Hermione tried to help but the other had grabbed her arms forcing her to drop her wand and then snatched her arms behind her back. He quickly turned her and pressed her face first against the wall. The twin snickered when he heard her cry out in pain.
Harry growled at the redheaded boy, furious. The sound almost scared the one holding him down into letting go, but he kept his grasp. Harry tried to point his wand in the direction on her assailant, but the grip on his wrist prevented it.
"Quit struggling, bastard! Where is our brother!?"
"I don't know where he is! And even if I didn't do you think I would tell you!" Harry hissed.
"How about you?" The other brother pressed himself against Hermione, forcing her against the wall once again, this time making the stone scrape against her face, ripping the skin against it.
"Fuck off!" Hermione said into the wall, really wishing that she could electrocute him.
"My, my! Hermione has developed a backbone, while gone." He sneered.
"Let us go."
Harry tried struggling more, attempting to throw off the heavier boy. It drew their attention back to them and Fred or George threw a punch at his face, making contact with his glasses and breaking them before connecting. He hissed as the shattered glass grazed against the bruised skin, causing him to flinch.
"We haven't seen your bastard of a brother, now GET OFF!!"
"Why should I? As I recall you enjoy writhing under other boys, Harry!" He leered.
/WHAT the hell is wrong with this family!/ Harry thought.
"I know that you're enjoying that, Potter. Just like I'm going to enjoy this-" George of Fred ran his hand along Hermione body, still keeping her hands pinned with his other. He slipped his hand up her shirt, climbing further before finding its goal. He then pressed against her, forcing her once again to be trapped against the wall. "-if you don't tell me."
Harry saw red. Before he knew it, Hermione's assailant was thrown off her, only to slam into the door on the opposite wall. He screamed as soon as he connected with door, but Hermione rushed forward and grasped her wand from ground. She whirled around and before Weasly could do any more she screamed "CRUCIO!" /he was going to.../ was all that was going through her mind.
The other, after a moment of hesitation, ran over to help his brother. Harry took the advantage of the distraction and grabbed the back of the boy shirt, jerking him back. Harry then, enraged, started to rain down punches and kicking the other boy, who was still writhing in pain.
"Enough!" Dumbledore's voice rang, just as the Fred (or George) started to pounce on Harry. As Dumbledore passed, he cast a spell to lock the doors to the Great Hall.
He had come as soon as he heard a pounding on the door. Shocked at what he saw, he quickly shut the door behind him. No one would trust him again, if they knew for sure that the boy was a deranged killer. He had given Harry's account on what happened to the Ministry and they had accepted it readily enough. It was surprisingly easy, as they had been the first to believe him a killer when Diggory turned up dead in Harry's arms.
Dumbledore quickly cast finite incantatum on the Crucioed boy.
But nothing happened.
Chapter 16
Chapter 18
