Title: Salamander Scales Chapter Three: Dumbledore Knows All Author: Yama Strife Rating: Still G Disclaimer: My name isn't J.K. Rowling, therefore, they aren't mine Summary: Snape has a revelation, the boys are roommates Notes: This is Chapter Three. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. Your comments are so kind. Thank you so much. And.it's a little Au it seems. Just in the fact that I haven't included the death of the character from the fifth book. Though it does mention the death from book four.so.it is a bit of a spoiler if you haven't read it. I'll apologize profusely here, because the chapter is a week late. My schedule is a bit hectic, I'm afraid, I'll try and put a new chapter up every week or so. This chapter is shorter than the last, sorry. This is Slash. Eventual Harry/Draco. Don't like? Don't read. Flames are welcome, gives me a chance to laugh at your stupidity. You have been warned. It's also a bit Hermione/Ron, because they're cute.

On with the fic! Salamander Scales, the third.

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If Harry had lived in a cartoon, a little lightbulb would've gone off over the Matron's head. "Call Professor Snape and the Headmaster!" she said.

Harry looked at her in disbelief. She had her hand in the air, as if she had just made a great discovery, reminiscent of the great Archimedes. "Er- excuse me," he interrupted her moment of triumph to ask a simple question. "Who's calling the Headmaster? I'm in bed." He trailed off to look around the room to see if he could spot the subject of her command.

"Oh of course dear, just a figure of speech." She looked crestfallen that her moment of glorious discovery had been spoiled by such an obvious cognizance.

Madam Pomfrey walked toward a perch where a pretty fawn barn owl was taking a nap. She touched it lightly on the head between its pointed ears and it awoke with a start. The owl hooted angrily at having its sleep interrupted and flapped its wings savagely. Madam Pomfrey patted it on the head and said softly, "Samantha dear, please take this letter to the Headmaster immediately." She went to a messy table-highly unusual for the perpetually tidy Matron- and picked up some parchment and ink to write a quick note with. She attached it to the barn owl's scaly leg and it flew away. Clearly unhappy, it made as much noise as it could on its way to the window.

The occupant on the bed across from Harry, which he recognized as a seventh year Ravenclaw, threw one of his pillows toward the source of the noise which was now long gone, shouted, "Shuttup, sleeping now." clamped a pillow over his head and went back to sleep.

Harry beckoned Madam Pomfrey over to him with a wave of his hand, clearly not wanting to make any unnecessary noise and have a pillow thrown at his head too.

When Madam Pomfrey got to his side her asked her quietly, this saving him some pain and keeping the snoring Ravenclaw asleep, "What's he in here for Madam Pomfrey?" waving vaguely to the bed across the room from him.

"Oh, that fellow? Poor boy," she sighed. "It seems that he was the recipient of some sort of practical joke. Poor Mr. Goldstien, being a prefect and all, gets picked on quite a bit by the troublemakers. Someone gave him some sort of chocolate with something nasty in it." She then glared at Harry, which shocked him considerably. "Probably something from the joke shop of your friends, the Weasley twins." She pulled her lips into a thin line, looking remarkable like Aunt Petunia. She turned on her heel and stalked over to her desk where she sat down and started filling out more forms. Harry couldn't see what they said from where he sat, but he was sure they had something to do with him.

"Well, Mr. Potter," she said, looking up from her official looking papers. "It seems that if I am correct, and I usually am, that you'll be able to leave tonight. Tomorrow at the latest."

Harry clutched his chest, his hand gripping his pyjamas and making large amounts of wrinkles. He couldn't believe he'd be better by tomorrow. This was some of the worst pain he'd ever felt in his life, and the Matron just stood there and said he'd be fine? Harry opened his mouth to ask her if she had gone mad when Professor Dumbledore strolled in, flanked by a fuming Professor Snape.

"What's all this, then?" Snape shouted. "I was brewing a very time consuming concoction, and I consider it to be top priority. Even if it means Mr. Potter will have to suffer some pains." He sat down on a nearby chair, folded his arms and said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "As heart wrenching as that may be."

Dumbledore smiled in that all knowing way of his and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles. "Well Harry, it's obvious to see you're hurting a considerable amount, but thanks to Madam Pomfrey," he motioned to his left, "and Professor Snape, as soon as we fill him in; you'll be better in now time at all."

Severus snorted and crossed his legs. "Yes, please, do fill me in. As much as I love these friendly get-togethers I have other matters I must attend to." Harry understood why he disliked Snape so much in moments like this.

Everyone's attention turned from Harry to Snape, including that of Anthony Goldstien, the sick Ravenclaw. Apparently he decided that he would get no sleep anyway, so he may as well listen in. Harry was glad that the attention had shifted to Snape. He hated feeling like and animal on display, even more so when he was sick and looking pathetic.

"Severus, you are aware Potter became sick and fainted in your class, correct?" Asked Madam Pomfrey, much like an interrogator in an old police film.

"Actually, no, I wasn't aware he was sick," replied Snape. "I carried him up here and he was kicking and screaming the whole time, not at all unconscious. And I did it just because I enjoy Potter's company so much," he sneered.

Madam Pomfrey glared at him. "Well, if you're so smart, why don't you tell us what you think is wrong." She said rather childishly.

"I'm sure I'd love to solve Potter's little dilemma for him-" Harry furrowed his brows, half from pain, and half from glaring at the Professor- "but you see, it's quite impossible if the little hero won't tell anyone what's wrong." He looked at Harry distastefully.

Harry would've yelled at Snape for the injustice of what he had just said, but instead he doubled over in anguish and prayed that someone would do something soon. There was only so much he could take. He then realized that Snape was watching him, and not wanting to appear weak, he straightened up the best he could, and gripped the white cotton sheets instead, his knuckles turning white, and sweat beading on his forehead.

Severus turned his attention back to Madam Pomfrey. "It's obvious he is in pain," he said, "but what exactly is the problem?"

Madam Pomfrey looked and Snape, satisfied that he was being civilized for once, and explained what was wrong with Harry, that being the pain in his chest, and the emotional hurt.

"What do you make of this, Professor Snape?" asked Dumbledore kindly, the sparkle still in his eye. "I'd recommend a therapist," Snape mumbled, looking at the floor; but apparently Dumbledore heard him because he smiled slightly, and said with a hint of laughter in his voice, "come again?"

Snape looked up at Dumbledore and said, "sounds like a flu and common teenage angst. But I don't see the rest of the school complaining when faced with similar symptoms." As he lapsed back into his characteristic Potter criticizing.

Harry opened his mouth to speak; sitting up sharply, but Dumbledore help up his hand to stop him. "It seems," the Headmaster said, "that Harry is experiencing some sort of side effect from a bad potion. What would you say to that Professor?"

Snape looked as though he was trying his hardest to bite back a comment like, "It's expected, Potter is always making a mess of his potions," but decided instead to bite his tongue and instead say, "We were only making Fire-Repelling potions. What could've-" His eyes suddenly widened and his eyebrows were lost under his dark hair. "Oh no, Malfoy." Snape stood up suddenly and swept out of the room in such a frenzy the nearby curtains fluttered in the wind he left behind him.

Madam Pomfrey had an eyebrow raised quizzically toward the doors, disbelief at what she'd just seen apparent on her face. Dumbledore just smiled again, obviously highly amused and sat on the edge of Harry's bed. "Harry, I know you're in some pain, but it will feel better in a moment, I'm quite sure." And he chuckled quietly, as though he was sharing a joke with himself.

And sure enough, the dizzying depressing thoughts in Harry's head were slowing down, and he took a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of pain free air filling his lungs. He was just about to suggest that Professor Dumbledore take Trelawny's place when Snape ushered a highly affronted Malfoy into the room. Harry's good mood fled. His least favourite person just had to show up again today. Seeing Malfoy two times more in a day than was usual was more than Harry cared for. Or more than anyone should care for, he though bitterly.

Malfoy stood beside Snape near the doorway, not wanting to be anywhere near The-Boy-Who-Was-Annoying. He glared at Potter, and the room in general -Harry was sure the lamp and table beside his bed looked insulted- and said, "Well, what's going on? I haven't got all day!"

Harry had to admit that Malfoy certainly had guts. Most people were afraid to even look at Dumbledore, let alone freely express their anger toward him. He looked disbelievingly at Malfoy, opened his mouth to say something, and was, once again, cut short by Dumbledore.

"Boys," he said, looking as though he could no longer contain his amusement, "as much as I'm sure you'll protest, I'm afraid you'll have to share a dormitory until Harry gets better." The old Headmaster was always vague when he spoke, but this took the cake.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, a cacophony of remonstrance sounded throughout the room, mainly from the direction of Snape, Malfoy and Harry. Anthony Goldstien on the other hand, looked as thought he hit the gossip goldmine. That is, until he remembered his prefect status and realized that that was not the behavior expected of him, and his face fell.

Dumbledore just looked on at the chaos, smiling at something only he could understand.

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That's it for Three, Hope you enjoyed. I'll get the rest written soon, I promise. Sorry about that bit of a cliffhanger, but if I had gone any further you'd be waiting at least 2 more days for the chapter.

Thanks again for reading. Any comments, good or bad, are appreciated. Let's me know someone is reading ~Yama Strife