Title: Harry Potter and the Queen of Serpents
Author: Sinayah
Distribution: Just Ask
Rating: PG for now but will move up to R in later chapters.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything except the plot and the original characters, creatures, etc.
Authors Note: As always, I want to thank my partner in crime Zenura Ravenscar. Without her support I would've never had the courage to write a single sentence. I'd also like to thank the dedicated fans who gave me so many wonderful reviews for my other fics. I hope you enjoy this as much as the others.
Chapter 12
Harry Potter awoke the next morning feeling a bit disoriented from a night filled with vague and unusual dreams. He couldn't remember anything about them, but didn't like the headache and nauseous feeling they'd left him with. It was rather early for the Gryffindor to be awake, only six-thirty, but he realized it wasn't worth trying to go back to sleep when he'd have to get back up in an hour so he got out of bed to start his day.
A feminine voice, overlaid by quiet hissing, greeted the raven-haired teen when he came back from his shower. "Good morning Harry." Siranev said from where her tank rested on the floor near his bed.
"Good morning Siranev, how are you today? I'm sorry I didn't get to spend much time with you yesterday, were you bored up here by yourself?" The boy returned his familiars greeting, walking over and lifting the lovely serpent from her habitat.
The snake coiled around her companions' wrist, her favorite spot for spending time with the boy. "I am well Harry, though I am quite hungry. Would you mind taking me to Drakkara and my parents so that I can get something to eat?" She replied.
Harry looked appalled at his inattention to the serpents needs. "Oh Merlin, I'm sorry Sira, I forgot you would need to eat soon. I'll take you down to breakfast with me and give you to Ama so that she can give you some crickets or something. I have class with her this afternoon so I can pick you up then. Does that sound okay?"
The small serpent sounded pleased as she replied, "No need to apologize Harry, I wasn't hungry until very late last night after you'd gone to sleep. Those arrangements will do quite well for me. Do you think I might be able to attend classes with you in the future though? I did get rather bored up here, there was no one to speak with except that toad and even magical toads are not known for their conversational skills."
The bespectacled teen laughed at his familiars' words. "I didn't think they would be, but then I never knew they were able to talk at all until Ama told us that all magical animals could speak in their own way. I can ask about you going to class with me when I give you to Ama, I think that it would be okay. You're less conspicuous than Zephyr and he's allowed to go with Ginny."
Harry and Siranev continued talking, mostly about the boys' classes as he finished getting ready and after a long battle with Morpheus managed to wake Ron and get his best friend headed for the showers. With the redhead awake, Harry was able to head down to the common room and work on the mass amounts of homework he'd received the previous day until it was time to leave for breakfast.
Up in the DADA tower, things were not going well that morning. The trio had awoken late, with hangovers all around, and the pain and nausea kept making the three people stop what they were doing until they could control their rebellious stomachs. "And you two talk about me not having a head for alcohol, you shouldn't be hung over from the what, three glasses of scotch you had last night?" Drakkara grumbled as she stepped out of her trunk, freshly showered and bearing coffee.
"Must be like you said last night Kara, stress and an empty stomach. I don't normally get hangovers at all, werewolf metabolism and all that." Remus answered, taking his coffee cup and draining the contents despite the scalding temperature.
Sirius did the same, rubbing his blood shot eyes tiredly. "Thank Merlin I can get away with sleeping in class. I don't suppose you have a hangover potion in the trunk Kara? I'd be eternally grateful." The animagus pleaded.
The raven-haired woman shook her head sadly from her place in front of the mirror. She started weaving her long hair into a tight french braid as she replied, "You'll have to be eternally grateful to Severus, I don't tie one on often enough to keep a stock of hangover potions. Go stick your head in the fire and ask him to bring some up to breakfast. If he feels anything like we do, he'll have already raided his cupboards for some."
The animagus took his friends suggestion and pushed off the bedroom doorway where he'd been standing as they spoke. At their living room fireplace, Sirius knelt down and lit the wood with a simple incendio, threw a pinch of floo powder into the flames and stuck his head in while calling "Severus Snapes' chambers."
After a nauseating blur of fireplaces within Hogwarts had passed, his vision cleared to show the potion masters' living room. Sirius didn't see the man himself anywhere in view so he called out. "Severus, oh Severus, are you awake yet oh great potions master?"
"Black…pardon me…Sirius, it is far too early for me to hear your annoyingly cheerful voice. What has you calling on me this bloody early in the morning, as if I didn't know?" The potions master replied, coming into view from his bedroom. His face was obscured by the towel he was using to dry his midnight hair, but the biting tone he used to address his former nemesis informed the animagus that he was indeed also suffering a hangover.
Sirius stifled his chuckle before replying, "Sorry Severus, I realize you must be feeling as crappy as we do up here. You wouldn't happen to have some extra hangover potion on hand that you could bring to breakfast with you…pretty please? I'll let Kara put a Slytherin themed collar on me for the day if you say yes." The animagus attempted bribery.
Severus lowered the towel from over his face and smirked. "Of course I have a stock of hangover potion, though using four vials in one go will deplete my supply. Wear the collar and I'll bring some up to breakfast, and you and Remus can make a new batch tonight while Drakkara and I work on the other potion." He replied, hoping to con the other man into taking one of the chores he'd set himself for the evening.
"You've got a deal Severus, that's one potion I could make in my sleep. See you in the hall." Sirius responded and pulled his head out of the fire.
The blue-eyed man doused the remnants of his fire and walked back into Remus and Drakkaras' bedroom. "He'll bring us the potion but Snuffles has to wear a Slytherin collar for the day and you and I have to make a new batch of hangover cure tonight Remy. Hey, since when do you braid hair mate?" He said, noticing the last when he looked over at the couple.
Remus turned his head in order to see his friend, his fingers still weaving the long length of Drakkaras' hair. "Sounds fair. Kara taught me how to do it years ago, her hair's too long to manage this without messing it up. Bloody pain in the arse if you ask me, but I like the length too much to risk her chopping it off."
The woman handed her mate an elastic band for her hair so that he could tie off the end of the waist length braid and added her two knuts to the conversation. "Hmm, a Slytherin collar? That sounds like something you would come up with. You tried to bribe Severus right off didn't you? Yes, the long hair is a pain to take care of, but there's no way in hell I'm cutting it. I'd look ridiculous with short hair."
As Sirius replied that yes, he had attempted to bribe the potions master, Drakkara pulled the length of her braid over her shoulder and slid a white gold coiled serpent decoration over the elastic band. She checked herself over in the mirror to make sure she looked alright and was pleased with the result.
Drakkara was not in any mood to deal with robes today, and was prepared to bite off the head of anyone who tried to make her wear one. She'd compromised by wearing a tight fitting vest top that billowed out into a long skirt from waist to ankle. The unusual style of blouse/dress suited her, and the unrelieved black color set off her pale skin and vibrant eyes. Underneath the flowing skirt she wore a pair of black leggings that clung like a second skin.
With her familiars coiled in their favorite spots around her biceps she decided that, all in all, she looked like a feminine version of Severus, meaning strict and forbidding. The outfit would give her students a clue as to her hangover induced bad mood and perhaps make the day go a bit easier. She turned to her male companions and asked, "Well, are we ready to head down to breakfast?"
Remus nodded, having just finished pulling on his robes, and Sirius transformed into Snuffles before approaching his friend to be collared. Drakkara took the simple blue dog collar from its place on a nearby table and waved her wand over it, changing the color to Slytherin green with a pattern of silver serpents around it. She clasped it around the Great Danes' thick neck and gave the dog a friendly scratching about his ears. "There you go Snuffles, all ready to proclaim your loyalty to Slytherin house."
That comment earned the woman a growl from her Gryffindor friend, though he made up for the noise by slobbering all over her hand. Giving the dog a disgusted look, she wiped the drool off onto his midnight fur. "That's gross Padfoot. Keep your tongue to yourself or you'll find my supply of troll snot coating your hair one morning." With the threat of disgusting substances to keep 'her familiar' in line, Drakkara looped her arm through Remus' and left their suite to face the new day.
Severus joined the trio at the foot of the grand staircase, having just come up from the dungeons. As they murmured greetings, the potions master discreetly passed over three vials of hangover cure. Remus and Drakkara clinked vials in a mock toast and threw the puke yellow liquid down their throats in one gulp to avoid encountering the flavor of the potion. The tawny-haired werewolf handed his vial back and took the third, dumping it into the open mouth of the huge black dog.
When all three had joined their colleague in feeling better, they strode off toward the great hall, now feeling that they could possibly manage to eat and keep it down. Rather than going around to the teachers' entrance, the foursome went through the main doors. Heads turned as they seemed to glide up to the head table.
Remus had chosen black robes this morning, closed to the waist but open and flowing behind him below, which meant that he, Drakkara, and Severus matched up fairly well. With the huge black dog preceding them, the three professors made an intimidating sight. The Slytherins especially seemed to take note of their head of house with the mysterious woman and the only competent DADA professor they'd ever had as the trio made their way through the hall, yards of inky black material billowing out in their wake.
The werewolf pulled out his mates chair when they reached the head table and Severus made a show of seating the woman before both men took their own places on either side of her. They exchanged amused looks, knowing they had the attention of the entire student body as well as half of their colleagues. "Ah, it's lovely being Queen." Drakkara commenting jokingly over the show her mate and the potions master had made over her.
"An unplanned spectacle, but none the less, an effective one. You know as well as I do that the Slytherins will give you more respect now that they have my tacit approval. It's enough that I've been seen being polite to you, since I have yet to approve of any person to hold the DADA position." Severus replied, leaving unsaid the fact that to be anything more than polite to her would put him in danger, yet certain she understood his position.
Drakkara gave her colleague an almost unnoticeable nod in agreement and briefly touched his hand under the table to confirm her understanding of what he could not say. In silent accord, the Slytherins shifted slightly away from each other, using their body language to convey to anyone watching that their relationship was no closer than that of former housemates and casual acquaintances. Severus withdrew behind his stony mask and served himself breakfast, glaring around the room in his normal manner. Drakkara half turned toward Remus and engaged him in light conversation as they prepared plates of food for themselves and Snuffles. No one watching, and there were several pairs of eyes trained on them, saw anything other than what the trio wanted them to see.
About fifteen minutes later, the majority of the Gryffindor fifth years entered the hall, laughing merrily together over something. Harry left his friends at their table, asking Hermione to save him a seat, and walked up to the head table so he could speak with his godmother. "Morning Professor Vanimaer, Professor Lupin. Ready for todays classes?" The boy asked politely, smiling at his werewolf friend and sending a happy pulse of love to the raven-haired woman through their bond.
"Good morning Mr. Potter. We're as ready as we can be considering that you and your friends, as well as the Slytherins will be seeing us this afternoon. Did you need anything in particular or did you just want to say hello?" Remus replied with an amused smile at the boys' cheeky formality.
Harry nodded in answer to the question and turned slightly toward his godmother. "I wanted to ask if you'd take Siranev up to your class. She's hungry and I don't have anything for her in the dorms. I could pick her up at the end of class, is that okay?" He asked of the woman.
Drakkara agreed readily, holding out her hand for the small serpent. "Of course Harry. You can bring her to me whenever she gets hungry and I'll take care of feeding her so you don't have to keep insects and mice in the dorm. She'll probably want a heavy meal today; she's due for a shedding cycle. Is there anything else?"
The teen lifted his hand and held his wrist out over Drakkaras' to allow Siranev to slither onto the womans arm. When she was safely coiled about his godmothers' slender wrist Harry returned his hand to his side and replied, "Actually, she also wanted me to ask if she could attend classes with me. Apparently Nevilles' toad isn't much for conversation and she gets bored by herself."
The raven-haired woman leaned forward to peer around Severus and raised an eyebrow in question to the Headmaster, who she knew would have been listening. Albus nodded his agreement and said, "That would be fine Harry, but the same rules apply to your familiar as to Ms. Weasleys'. If Siranev causes a disturbance in any of your classes she will have to go to Professor Vanimaer, understood?" Harry quickly agreed to the Headmasters rules and gave the adults his thanks before retreating to the Gryffindor table for his breakfast.
The morning classes passed with a bit more ease than the previous day as everyone got back into the school year schedule. Remus and Drakkara spent their morning with the third and fourth year students while Severus happily intimidated the hell out of the first and second years, and the fifth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students went through their first classes without any casualties being sent down to Madam Pomphrey.
When the castles' residents gathered together again for lunch, there was a general sense of happy calm in the air. The students chatted together about class, copying notes, and working on homework as they ate. Up at the head table though, three particular professors and a certain dog were becoming tense as they talked about the upcoming DADA class and what Drakkara had to do at the end of it.
"Remy, I think you should be the one to ask him to stay after class. Let the other students think it was you who wanted to talk with him." Drakkara said, having just thought of the way to lessen suspicion from her Slytherin students. The tawny haired man requesting a moment of Dracos' time would most likely be taken by the boys' housemates as the professor wanting to make sure Draco wasn't going to cause problems in class because of the older mans' lycanthropy.
On the other side of the violet-eyed woman, Severus made the same deduction and voiced his agreement. Remus shrugged his assent, figuring he'd find out what the two Slytherin professors were thinking later. The werewolf didn't mind not understanding half of what his mate and the potions master said and didn't say to each other. From what he'd worked out, Slytherins must have constant migraines from all the stress in their lives. He much preferred to have their complicated but logical reasoning explained to him and just did as he was asked.
Just before the bell signaling the end of lunch rang, the three professors left the hall, ostensibly to make it to their classrooms before the students. "Drakkara, I hope you can convince the bloody boy that he's in danger. If it's even possible, he's worse today than he was yesterday. Do you have any ideas on how to cover for him until you can speak with him?" Severus asked after drawing his colleagues into a shadowed alcove near the staircases.
"We've been mixing our classes into pairs. I'll partner him with Harry and surround them with Gryffindors. Being near Harry might help him bring his shields up since he knows his housemates will be watching and putting the other Lions around them will keep the others from seeing too much if he slips again. Sound reasonable?" Drakkara replied, having thought the idea over when she noticed that Draco seemed less in control during the breakfast and lunch hours.
The potions master replied, "Yes, that should work well enough. Perhaps I will do the same in my classes, at least the upper years. Good luck Drakkara, Remus, I shall see you at dinner." The DADA professors said good-bye to their colleague and watched him stalk off, putting on a dramatic show for the students that had started to drift out of the hall.
Remus and Drakkara arrived in their classroom well ahead of the students. They had wanted this particular class to be fun as well as educational since their favorite group of teens would be in attendance. As the raven-haired woman waited near the door to greet the students, the werewolf used some handy levitation charms to get the teachers desks and worktable out of the way for the practical part of the lesson.
While the amber-eyed man worked, Drakkara watched the hall and held the two groups of teenagers outside when they arrived. When Remus called out that he was finished, she ushered the students into the classroom, asking them not to take their seats just yet. Leaving the children standing in between the rows of seats, she strode to the front of the classroom and gave her mate the signal to begin.
"Good afternoon class. For those of you who don't remember me, I'm Professor Lupin and before you ask, yes I am a werewolf, and no I will not harm you. My colleague is Professor Vanimaer. Those of you who can't pronounce her name, just address her as Professor and myself as Professor Lupin. Drakkara?" He turned the class over to the woman.
Drakkara gave the students an intense, scrutinizing gaze that made a few fidget nervously. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I hope you will find that classes with Professor Lupin and I are both educational and fun. This is an important year for all of you, as your OWL exams will determine the courses you take for the next two years. Most of our lessons this year will involve both theory and practical experience. That said, I will be calling your names in pairs so that you can be seated. The person I call your name with will be your partner for all practical lessons during the year."
She summoned a piece of parchment from her desk and began to call out names, indicating where the pairs would sit at the same time. There were not enough Slytherins to mix the houses completely, which suited Drakkaras' plan as she called out names, leaving the extra four Gryffindors and the certain Slytherin/Gryffindor pairing she wanted until last. " Mr. Zabini and Ms. Granger. Mr. Finnegan and Ms. Patil. Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter. Ms. Brown and Mr. Longbottom.
As the last handful of students seated themselves near the back of the room, Drakkara inwardly patted herself on the back. The seating arrangement placed Blaise Zabini directly in front of Draco with Hermione, Seamus, and Parvati completing the row. Lavender and Neville were on the outer edge of the last row, leaving Harry and Draco the inside seats.
Once they were all settled, Remus began the lesson. "Alright, let's begin. Please take out your books and writing supplies as well as your wands. Today we're going to be studying shielding charms and their use in duels. Before we start discussing the theory and use of magical shields though, Professor Vanimaer and I will give a short practical demonstration, and you will all have an opportunity to try the charm at the end of class."
"The charm for this lesson is the basic defensive shield. It lasts only long enough to deflect one spell. To cast the shield, you will draw your wand in an upward arch over your torso while reciting the incantation, which is 'Protego'. Watch closely as Professor Lupin and I will only use the charm once each." Drakkara stated before turning to face off with Remus who was standing on the other side of the room.
The two professors faced each other and raised their wands in smart salute before assuming the proper dueling position. The students watched the pair intently as they waited for the duel to start. Suddenly, Professor Lupin shouted, "Rictusempra!" and a jet of blue light erupted from his wand, speeding toward their other professor.
Drakkara quickly drew her wand in an upward arch over her torso and called, "Protego!" A yellowish light formed a shield around her just in time to deflect the tickling charm back at its caster.
Seeing his own spell coming back at him, Remus cast the same shielding charm his mate had and watched as the spell deflected toward Drakkara again. She casually spun to one side, letting the charm pass by and dissipate harmlessly against the wall. "Another good way to avoid being hexed," The raven-haired professor addressed her class, "Don't be there when it gets to you." She said with a candid smile, earning a chuckle from the teenagers.
The class went swiftly after the professors' demonstration. Remus directed the theoretical part of the lesson with Drakkara interjecting only to clarify or add to one of his points and ask questions of the students. At one point, a Slytherin boy asked if the professors could tell them of an instance when they had used a basic shield as a defense and the teachers made their students laugh wildly as they described using a pair of shields both to defend themselves from wayward hexes and knock out Professor Snape and Sirius Black with their own spells.
The last half-hour of the lesson was dedicated to practical application of what they'd learned. Each professor took half the class and directed them to the open areas in the front and back of the room. Before they began the practice Drakkara spoke in a firm voice. "Remember what I said at the beginning of class. The best defense against a hex if you can't get a shield up is to dodge it by moving out of its way. Don't be put off if your shields don't work the first few times, that is what practice is for. If the shields light doesn't appear in front of you simply step aside and let your partners spell pass you and hit the wall."
The womans violet eyes turned to lock with Draco Malfoys' as she made her last comments, hoping that her attention would be noted by the Slytherins. "Those of you casting the initial spell will use only the tickling charm that Professor Lupin and I demonstrated with. Should I hear any other incantation I will take copious amounts of points from the caster. That said, you may begin."
Her warning seemed to have an effect on the Slytherin students as they glanced at Draco with amusement. The silver-eyed boy now had permission from his housemates not to use this opportunity to hex the crap out of his rival, which Drakkara doubted he would have done anyway seeing as he'd been giving Harry nervous sidelong glances throughout the class period.
Remus and Drakkara wandered around the classroom as the students practiced their shields, giving help and advice as well as casting the occasional counter charm when someone didn't manage to get a shield up or dodge in time. The werewolf had to spend at least five minutes with Neville Longbottom; correcting his wand movement and generally helping the boy get over his nervousness and expectation of failure. Eventually he managed to give the shy teen enough confidence to correctly cast the shield and moved on to the next pair, which happened to be Draco and Harry.
He watched the two boys' practice for a few moments, proud of their faultless shielding and dodging as they were doing both. Apparently they'd gotten bored after bouncing their original tickling charm back and forth for a few minutes and decided to work on dodging as well. "Wonderful job you two. Your shields are excellent, as is your agility, though I expected nothing less with your quidditch positions. Ten points to each of you; five for the shields and five for the dodging. Keep up the good work."
Harry grinned at the werewolf in thanks, and looked on curiously as Remus paused next to Malfoy and spoke quietly to the blond. "Mr. Malfoy, please stay back after class, I'd like to speak with you for a moment." Draco raised an eyebrow at his professor and gave the man a curt nod. The raven-haired teen couldn't help giving his rival a curious look as their professor walked over to the next pair of students and was surprised when the blond answered his look with a shrug that clearly said he didn't have a clue.
Ten minutes later, Drakkara glanced up at the clock and saw it was time to end the class. "Alright everyone, dodge your spells and get back to your seats please!" She called loudly and was pleased to see that most of the students had instinctively stepped away from their oncoming spells at the sound of her voice.
When the teens were seated again Drakkara joined Remus at the front of the room and addressed the class again. "You've all done a wonderful job today. I award twenty-five points each to Slytherin and Gryffindor for your attention and participation. Now, for your homework, I'd like each of you to complete an essay of no more than two feet of parchment. One foot dedicated to the shielding charm we worked on today, the second foot on another type of shield you would like to learn about. The essays will be due when we meet again Friday morning. Class dismissed."
The students filed out of the classroom, chatting excitedly about the lesson. Drakkara and Remus smiled to each other as a comment from Pansy Parkinson reached their ears. "I can't believe Dumbledore finally got competent teachers for this subject. I hope they don't end up dying or leaving because of whatever Potter gets up to this year. I'd like to actually pass my OWLs." The Slytherin girl said to her companions as they exited the room.
Harry and Draco were slow to get up and surprised when they both walked toward the front of the room rather than the back. "Lupin wants to talk to me…you?" The blond asked.
"Need to pick up my familiar." The emerald-eyed teen replied. The professors were standing together near the door to their office and gestured the boys inside when they approached. "Hey professors, that was a great class! Could do without the homework though." Harry said cheekily in greeting.
Both adults chuckled at the comment and Remus replied, "Teachers prerogative Mr. Potter. Remember though, you only have to write two feet, we have to read and grade two feet from each student. Who do you think has it worse?"
The raven-haired boy grimaced, "Eurgh, didn't think about it that way." He turned towards his godmother and asked, "Is Siranev ready to go?"
Drakkara nodded, "Yep, she's sleeping off her meal up in our suite. Remus, why don't you take Harry up to get her while I talk to Mr. Malfoy." She watched her mate and godson exit the room through the door to their suite, waiting until they were out of sight before turning abruptly to level a sharp look at the Slytherin prince. "Mr. Malfoy, take a seat." She ordered curtly, allowing her displeasure to be clearly heard.
The blond suppressed his urge to gulp in fear, feeling rather like a Gryffindor in front of Professor Snape and not knowing why he was being treated to the DADA professors' obvious anger. Doing as he'd been told, the boy sat in one of the chairs and watched the woman stalk around to sit across from him behind her desk. "Tell me Mr. Malfoy, does the idea of open political warfare in the Slytherin common room amuse you, or have you simply turned into a Gryffindor over the summer?"
This time, Draco couldn't hold back his reaction to the older womans words and spluttered for a few moments, trying to come up with some kind of answer. "Wh…What do you mean Professor?" He finally managed.
A midnight hued eyebrow arched in response. "If you were any kind of Slytherin, you would know what I meant and we wouldn't need to have this conversation in the first place. I'll be frank Mr. Malfoy; I have observed you closely since our first meeting on the train. Your masks are almost completely non existent, your inner turmoil waving about like a flag for anyone to see."
"I have already deduced that you are questioning where your loyalties lie in the coming war. I have also noticed that you are being watched by certain people, and if you do not re establish your masks and keep your emotions behind them, those people will make the same conclusion I have as to your thoughts and report them to your father and Lord Voldemort. Is this something you would like to see happen Mr. Malfoy?" She finished, giving the now pale and sweating teen an even gaze.
Draco shook his head vigorously, denying that he wanted to see the chaos that would stem from his lack of control. "No Professor, I swear that is not something I want to happen, neither is the war you asked about. I…I just didn't realize I was being so open. I mean, I let my mask slip a little on purpose, for one person, but I didn't know others were seeing through it too."
The violet-eyed woman allowed her expression to soften, offering a little sympathy to the confused teen. "Mr. Malfoy, being a Slytherin is a job unto itself, it is understandable that you might slip a little under these circumstances. But understandable or not, you cannot allow your masks to stay down. I've heard that your housemates laud you as their Silver Prince. That is a title that must be earned, which tells me that you are a true Slytherin. You can use that Mr. Malfoy, to take control over your housemates, and as a reminder to maintain the demeanor that earned you your title in the first place."
Drakkara paused for a moment to take a deep breath and reach into her desk drawer. She removed a framed photograph and handed it to the teen. "This is you Professor, you and my mother." The boy gave his professor a curious look.
"Yes, from our fifth year Halloween ball. The Silver Princess and Ebony Queen of Slytherin. I know what your position in our house is Draco, because I once held it myself. Being the most powerful among a powerful group of people is both difficult and dangerous, especially when you hold beliefs different to those around you. You know what the consequences will be for yourself and for Slytherin House as a whole if you don't regain your control. I have faith that you are up to the task, so I will leave you to it with my hope for your success and an offer of my aid should you need it." The woman finished her speech and sat back, waiting for the boys' reaction.
Her answer came more from the blondes actions than his words. Draco sat up straight in his chair and dropped his head for a moment. When he raised it again, his formidable cold mask was firmly in place, giving away nothing of what was going on under the surface. Impressed, Drakkara inclined her head slightly to acknowledge his achievement. "You have my thanks Professor Vanimaer, for alerting me to the situation. I shall rectify it immediately, and I will keep your offer in mind should I need your assistance in the future. If we are finished here, and if you could provide me with a note for Professor Flitwick, I will take my leave. I believe your next class is about to convene."
Right about the time he finished, Remus and Harry came back into the room. The werewolf had kept the boy upstairs chatting, following the conversation going on below them with his extra sensitive hearing. "Well Drakkara, Mr. Potter has retaken custody of his rather lumpy and sleepy familiar. If you and Mr. Malfoy are finished I think we should let them get on their way. Filius isn't fond of latecomers to his classes." The tawny-haired man said with a smile for the boys.
"Certainly Remus, I was just about to write out a note for them to excuse their tardiness. Why don't you go ahead and start seating our Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, I'll join you in a moment." Drakkara responded, taking a piece of parchment from her desk and quickly penning a note to the tiny charms professor. She handed the note over to Draco with a smile for both teens. "Off you go boys, I'll see you in class on Friday."
As the two teens made their way up the two flights of stairs and down the corridors that lead to the charms classroom Draco was thinking hard. 'Merlin, there'll never be a better time to talk to him. All our friends are already in class, as is anyone who might be watching me. Damnit Malfoy, think of something to say to him!' Remembering why the other boy had stayed after class gave him an opening. "Hey Potter, I thought that snowy owl was your familiar, did you get another one or something?"
Harry looked over at the blond who'd been constantly confusing him over the last two days. "Malfoy, I gotta say you're really freaking me out. Your mouth is acting normal, well up till now that is, but what's with the looks you keep giving me? And yeah, I did get another familiar. Kara, that's Professor Vanimaer to you, gave me a snake for my birthday."
"How come you're so close with her? You do know she used to be a Slytherin right? Can I see the snake?" Draco asked, trying to avoid answering the bespectacled teens' questions for a few more minutes. There was an empty classroom just ahead where he could explain his behavior, if Harry would listen that is.
The raven-haired teen rolled his eyes in exasperation but answered anyway. "If you must know, she's my godmother and yes I know she was a Slytherin. She was also my mothers' best friend." He explained as he turned the cuff of his robe up to expose the beautiful serpent sleeping on his wrist. "Her name is Siranev."
Draco stopped walking beside the closed door of the room he wanted to use. "Look Potter, we're already late for charms and we have a note. Can I talk to you for a minute in here? If you're worried I'll hex you or something you can hold my wand, I just really need to talk to you." The silver eyed boy allowed his masks to fall again, exposing a pleading expression.
Harry nodded and opened the door, leading the way in. He didn't trust the Slytherin, but was too curious to ignore the blondes' request. "Make it quick Malfoy, I don't want to be too much later to class."
Sighing with relief, Draco closed the door behind himself and replied, "Yeah, me either. Too many questions all around if we're really late. I want to explain those looks I've been giving you, but we don't have time right now. Is there any chance you'd be able to meet with me somewhere later? The offer about holding my wand while we talk stands if that's what it'll take to get you to come. You know it's got to be important for me to be standing here practically begging you to meet me, so will you?"
'You know what the muggles say about curiosity and the cat Harry.' The cautious part of his mind warned, but another part replied in a much louder voice, 'Yeah but remember, satisfaction brought it back!' The Gryffindor boy groaned and ran a hand through his perpetually messy hair as curiosity won out. "Bloody hell, you realize its things like this that start me on the path into deep shit, right Malfoy? I'll meet you…let's see, where's a good place, somewhere nobody in their right mind goes? Ah, of course, idiot. I'll meet you outside the second floor girls loo at eight-thirty alright?"
"A girls loo Potter? You think a girls loo is the best place for two boys to meet in private? It's fine with me, but if we get caught and I end up dead or in detention because of it, I'll hex you within an inch of your precious life, no matter how badly I need to talk to you." Draco replied with a golden eyebrow raised curiously.
The raven-haired teen nodded and walked toward the door as he said, "Yeah, most private place I know of once we get rid of the ghost. No one ever goes into Moaning Myrtles' bathroom. Now come on, let's get to class before Flitwick has kittens over how late we are."
The silver-eyed boy followed, shaking his head in amused exasperation. "Only you Potter, only you." Having gotten the last word in, Draco broke into a jog along with Harry in order to make it to class in less time. He mentally checked that his masks were firmly in place again, and only let his smile show on the inside.
Charms class and the dinner hour passed without any major happenings. After they'd finished dinner the Gryffindor trio went up to their common room where Hermione insisted that the boys work on the assignments they'd neglected to do the previous night. Harry and Ron promptly stuck Angelina Johnson with the blame for their falling behind on homework.
The seventh year chaser had been made captain of the team and was taking her job as Oliver Woods' replacement very seriously. She'd cornered Harry and the rest of the team about scheduling practices as well as tryouts for the open keeper position. Once Ron got involved in the conversation, they had ended up talking quidditch tactics for the rest of the night.
Knowing he needed to appease his studious friend so that he would be able to sneak away to meet with Malfoy in an hour or so, Harry buckled down with his homework assignments for Divination and CoMC, thinking they would be easy to finish in his free hour. At eight o'clock, he looked over at Hermione to see if she might let him off. The girl was fuming because Ron had taken off a half-hour earlier, claiming he needed to get some fresh air after tackling the first part of his Divination assignment.
Putting on his best puppy dog eyes, Harry spoke in a slightly pleading tone. "'Mione, I finished my Div and CoMC homework. Would you be mad at me if I took off? I feel like wandering around the castle for a while. Thought I'd say hi to some of the ghosts and portraits, they always know what's going on around the castle and I wouldn't mind knowing what the Slytherins are up to."
Hermione shook her head and smiled in amusement. "Go on then, I won't be mad. At least you actually did some work. Just promise me that you'll start your potions essay when you come back. After what happened to your practical you really need a good grade on it. Stupid Malfoy and the Slytherins, I bet you'd actually be good at potions if they didn't always mess you up." She said, frowning as she remembered how the foul-mouthed blond had sabotaged Harrys' potion.
"I doubt it 'Mione. Even if we got rid of the snakes, there's still Snape. I promise I'll get to work on the essay when I come back, even though the greasy git will probably give it a zero for having my name on it. Have fun with your Arithmancy equations." He replied, gathering his books to take them up to his dorm room.
As he was putting the textbooks and rolls of parchment in his trunk, Harry decided that he might as well change into something more comfortable than his uniform so he could at least be comfortable while Malfoy said whatever he needed to say. He put on a tight fitting royal blue tee shirt and a pair of black jeans, then slipped his feet into a pair of tennis shoes.
Siranev was still sleeping, coiled around his right wrist. He snapped the black leather wand sheath Alastor Moody had given him around his left forearm and secured his wand in it before turning to leave the room. On second thought though, the boy turned back to his trunk and pulled out a bundle of exquisitely patterned and silky material. 'Can't be too careful.' Harry thought as he tucked his fathers invisibility cloak under his arm.