Chapter Forty-Two: The Unmasking

Over the course of the next few days, it seemed that every Gryffindor knew about the 'incident' in the sixth year boy's dormitory. How the whole school didn't know was beyond Harry.

"How come no one's whispering and gossiping about my social life lately?" asked Harry as he ate breakfast in the Great Hall with his friends.

"It seems that 'someone' placed a spell on the common room so that no one remembers what happened unless they are in the common room, with a few exceptions of course," said Ron softly as he jabbed a finger at Hermione, "I guess you don't have to worry about Rita Skeeter charging into the castle with her photographer."

Harry elbowed Ron hard in the ribs as he leaned over to talk to Hermione.

"Thanks," whispered Harry.

"For what?" asked Hermione vaguely as she picked at her food.

"For everything," said Harry.

Minutes later, the group was on their way to the dungeons for potions. As soon as they reached the corridor, they heard yelling and a sudden crash. The potions room door was blown to pieces as a man was blown through it. Harry ran forward and knelt beside the man. He quickly realized that it was Snape. Harry turned into the potions room to find the end of Andrew Nott's wand pointed at him.

"Don't move, Potter," said Nott lowly, "I'm going to finish the job I started with this traitor."

In a flash, Harry had his wand in his hand and was dodging a slew of curses. Just as Harry rolled to his right, he heard a dark incantation.

"Dominear crusindo!" muttered Nott as a black light was shot out his wand.

As soon as Harry stood, he was hit. Harry didn't immediately register an effect but then he heard it, that faint whispering.

"Raise your wand to your head and kill yourself…"

The whispering repeated itself multiple times, when suddenly…

"What in the hell are you doing!" bellowed a voice in Harry's head, "You're actually letting that little prick get away with trying to control you! I would have thought you had more sense than that… You can stop Voldemort from controlling, what makes you even listen to this kid?"

"NO!" bellowed Harry in his mind, "He won't get away with it."

Harry suddenly became aware of his surroundings. He was standing in the dungeon. Nott was sneering at Harry, still believing that he could control Harry. Harry suddenly began to laugh.

"I order you to stop laughing!" yelled Nott.

"You think that your little pseudo Imperius spell can actually control me?" asked Harry in between piercing howls of laughter, "You think that you can get me to kill myself? Stronger men than you have tried… like your master. He's tried quite often to control me. He can't even get me to budge… he's almost as pathetic as you. I think that he'd get farther if he listened to the Slytherin in him but his ego is too big. Tell him I said 'hi'. Stupefy!"

The Slytherin dropped to the ground in a fell swoop. Harry turned back and began to check Snape.

"Enervate," whispered Harry as the man regained consciousness.

"What-? Potter! What are you doing!" asked Snape callously.

"Saving your life," muttered Harry, "Nott attacked you. How could you let him get the drop on you?"

"He came to me claiming that he needed to talk about his poor decisions. When I asked him what he meant, he blasted me through the doors," said Snape as he stood up.

"Needless to say, you had better watch your back," said Harry, "Don't let any Slytherins corner you alone. Your job is done."

Snape was about to ask him what he meant when he noticed the group of students in the stairwell.

"Go back to your common rooms!" yelled Snape, "Class is cancelled."

"You had better check in with Madam Pomfrey," said Harry as he turned to leave.

"Not again," muttered Snape through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" asked Harry innocently as he turned around.

"I'm in the debt of another bloody Potter," growled Snape, "I now owe you two debts. I was never able to repay your father…"

"Think nothing of that, Professor," said Harry, "I will consider both debts repaid so long as you swear on your very life to the fight against the very Darkness that shall threaten our world for years to come."

Snape gave Harry a calculating look but before he could answer, Harry turned around and walked away. Harry was thoroughly glad that Snape was no longer in his debt.

'Perhaps he'll be slightly sufferable now…"