A/N: Hello everybody! Back again for another update! Just one little thing I have to correct: Instead of Harry's new puppy being named Padfoot, I'm going to rename it Artemis. I figure that using Padfoot will be too confusing because of Sirius, and I was going to call the dog Artemis, but forgot and put in Padfoot. Hope this clears up some confusion. I have gone back and fixed it in the previous chapter also. Please read and review! Thanks!
Reviews:
Glenlightarrow: Well, I hope you don't hate me, but I think Draco might get a bit nicer. Not for sure yet. Hey, just wondering, but does Kawaii mean cute? And what language is that? Lol, whatever it is, it sure is cool! Thanks so much for the review; I'm glad you liked it!
Logi: Thanks for the review! I hope to keep writing too!
Waynej: I'm glad you think it's developing well. I'm scared it isn't and I go too far off subject sometimes. Thanks a bunch for reviewing!
Nutty Al: Hehe I like your name…are you really nutty? I will tell where Hermione and Ginny were, and I hope its ok. Why Draco is back early will be revealed as well. Thanks for the review and keep reading!
Depravi: Thanks for the review! Yea, my side of the world is doing pretty good at the present. How's that side? Keep reading and reviewing!
Mark SCHNEEZLE: Wow, is that weird or what? AC DC fan huh? Me too if you haven't guessed! Thanks for the review!
Jade130: Thanks for the review! Here's what happened to Malfoy!
CHAPTER 7: Draco's Woes
Harry, Ron and Artemis followed Hagrid and Malfoy to Dumbledore's office behind the gargoyle on the third floor. Dumbledore met them at the entrance but, to Ron and Harry's dismay, would not let the two in to find out what happened to Malfoy.
"But, Professor!" said Harry quickly. "What do you think we're going to do? We just want to find out why he's in such a bad state!"
"No, I'm sorry, but this is a matter between myself, Mr. Malfoy, Hagrid, and Professor Snape. I will call for you later so we can talk. Have a good morning!" said Dumbledore sternly. He obviously was not going to let them see what had happened no matter how much they pleaded.
Dejectedly the two boys made their way slowly back to the common room. Harry and Ron had made a silent agreement not to talk about it until they knew for sure what had happened. Ron decided to take a walk with Artemis, who was exploring the common room with great interest. Harry meanwhile, decided to go up to his room to think.
Sighing, he plopped down on his bed in a heap, content for the next 5 minutes to stare at the ceiling and take in everything that had happened the past few days. With the arrival of his friends, he had had a lot less time to think. Think about the war that was going on (there had been several accounts of muggle and muggleborn killings the past few days by Death Eaters), Sirius' death, Snape's new friendliness, the reoccurring dream about Bellatrix Lestrange, and the pendant Ginny had given him just to name a few.
'Harry, remember I'm here, you can always vent your problems and thoughts to me," said Sirius from inside his head.
'I know Sirius," said Harry. 'I was just about to call you."
'I know you were Harry. That's why I'm here," said Sirius jokingly. 'What's up?'
For the next few minutes, Harry detailed to Sirius everything that had been going on. When he told him about Malfoy, Sirius was silent for a moment, contemplating on why he was here. 'Beware of a trap, Harry. What if Voldemort wants you to feel sorry for him, and lure you into a false pretense? Don't trust him too easily, now.'
'Are you kidding me Padfoot? Trust the fool?' By the way, while I'm pardoning my French, did you know Hagrid got married to Madam Maxine and is moving to France?' asked Harry in mid-sentence, switching topics quickly
'Tell him congratulations for me, will you Harry? I'm so happy for him,' Harry was pleased that Sirius was, but thought he could here a bit of jealousy in his godfather's voice. He probably wished that he hadn't died and could have someday gotten married. Harry felt sorry for him, and himself. 'But the bad thing is that he isn't going to be around. He's a big help to the Order being stationed at Hogwarts and being friends with you. Now he won't be able to keep an eye on you.'
'I told them about the prophecy,' said Harry glumly, changing the topic.
'How did they take it?' asked Sirius.
'Fine, Ginny sort of went all out of sorts; mental breakdown you could say. Otherwise they were fine,' Harry stared at the ceiling of his dorm aimlessly.
'Well at least it wasn't disastrous,' said Sirius not so comfortingly.
'Yea,' Then Harry remembered something Sirius had said to him a few days ago. He hadn't gotten back to asking him what he meant. 'Hey! I forgot to ask you before, but what did you mean about my parents saying hi? Can you talk with them? And what did you mean by 'beyond the veil'?'
'Well, I wasn't going to tell you this, Harry--,' Sirius sounded skeptical, like he shouldn't be saying what he was about to say. 'I can talk to them. Not as you would a person face to face, but through a window. When I said beyond the veil, that's what I am. The veil is a semi-entrance into the world of the dead. If you walk, or fell through it as I did, you are stuck in-between. You are neither in the land of the dead, nor in the land of the living. There is a window to talk to the dead, and that's how I talk to your parents,' Sirius explained lengthily.
'That's cool,' said Harry. The gears in his mind were grinding quickly. 'Could my parents and I converse through you then?'
'I don't see why not,' said Sirius. 'I'll have to check into it, but—.' Suddenly the door to Harry's room opened and he cut Sirius' voice off from his mind. Harry watched in alarm and confusion as Hermione and Ginny ran in and slammed the door.
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"What do you mean she's dead?" asked Harry desperately. "Who's dead?" Hermione and Ginny had just burst into his room and Ginny had breathlessly uttered only two words.
"She's dead," said Ginny again, gradually regaining her breath.
"Your Aunt Petunia," said Hermione gently, finally able to speak herself. "That's why the barrier charms broke down so easily. She was dying."
Harry stared at them. How could she be dead? True she was mean to him, but he had sensed a connection to her at the end of last summer vacation and during the beginning of this one. Then it hit him. The last of his mother's family was gone except for him. He would never have to go back to that disgustingly clean muggle house and live with his cousin Dudley and Uncle Vernon.
"We just found out, Harry. Ginny and I were err…studying in the library when we heard Professor Snape telling Professor McGonagall. They said she had contracted breast cancer and didn't realize it until it was too late and they could do nothing for her," Hermione explained. Ginny still didn't look like she could talk. Harry wondered why.
"When…when did she die?" asked Harry, his voice strange even to his own ears. Was he actually that upset over it?
"A week ago," said Ginny, regaining her composure and voice. "Snape said she left a will and a letter to you, and it contains some information about you and a half-blood something. We couldn't hear the rest of it as they had moved too far away."
"A WEEK!" Harry thundered. "Did not Dumbledore say last year that he would not keep me in the dark anymore? Why haven't I been informed?"
"Harry!" shouted Hermione over his ravings. "It's not our fault, stop shouting!"
"Right, sorry," said Harry sheepishly, though still rather sharply. He calmed himself down a bit, "Thanks for finding out."
"That's what friends are for, Harry," said Ginny.
"But that's not our only news," said Hermione quickly, wanting to keep Harry quiet and his mind off Dumbledore and his lack of information.
"Yea, yea, me and Ron already know," said Harry wearily, still seething at the previous news. "Malfoy's back."
"WHAT?" shrieked the girls together. Harry looked at them in surprise.
"I see you have some different news then. Ron and I were visiting Hagrid. I got a new puppy by the way. His name's Artemis," Harry said.
"Awww…" said Ginny, looking around the room as if she expected Artemis to come bounding out at any second.
"Ron took him for a walk, you can see him later," said Harry smiling at the girl's enthusiasm for animals.
"So what about Malfoy?" asked Hermione, trying to keep on track.
"Well, when Ron and I were down at Hagrid's, there was this noise in the Forbidden Forest. So Hagrid went in, naturally, to see what it was. He came out with the one and only Draco Malfoy in tow, bedraggled and dirty. Said he had taken a detour. End of story," Harry turned away from the window he had been looking out of and looked at Ginny, then Hermione. Both had looks of part amusement and part shock on their faces.
"Hagrid took him to Dumbledore's and that was the last we saw of him," said Harry. "Now what was your other news?"
At that instant a barking furball named Artemis ran into the room followed by an excited-looking Ron Weasley.
Ginny pounced on the puppy who was eyeing the ginger cat that had slinked into the room after Ron and Artemis. "No you don't Artemis. Crookshanks is a good cat, not for a puppy to play with and tease."
"What's going on?" asked Ron, looking back and forth between Ron and Hermione. "What other news? What's the first news?"
Hermione quickly filled Ron in about Petunia Dursley as Harry watched Ginny, Artemis and Crookshanks. Ginny was presently trying to introduce the two animals, but Artemis didn't seem to want any part of it. Crookshanks however, was trying to sniff the puppy and lick it clean. Harry laughed and Ginny looked up at him smiling as their eyes locked.
"Hem hem," said Hermione, causing Harry and Ginny to jump. Harry turned quickly away as he felt himself beginning to blush. He thus missed the look Hermione and Ron exchanged, which was one of amusement yet knowing. Harry then brusquely picked up Crookshanks and turned back to his three friends.
"So, Hermione, you said you had more news?" Harry did not fail to notice how close Hermione and Ron were now half-sitting half-laying, their hands entwined. They were also taking up all of Harry's bed, a fact that caused Harry to shiver in disgust. Why not Ron's bed? Then he realized that he was sitting on Ron's bed.
Hermione looked at Harry with amusement, and then turned to the business at hand. "Well, once we had found out about the will and half-blood something, Ginny thought she had recognized the half-blood part. We decided to do some research."
"We looked up half-blood in dozens of books," said Ginny carrying on. She took out a sheet of paper which looked suspiciously like a page from a library book. Harry hid a grin. "Half-Blood—a person that has half wizarding blood and the other half of the blood is from a muggle, veela, vampire, or other human-like creature."
"So Harry, someone who is half-wizard, half-something else is somehow connected to you and your Aunt," said Hermione.
"But how?" asked Ron.
"I don't know," Hermione sighed, looking defeated. "I've thought of as many possibilities as I could, but each is more unlikely as the last. I also can't figure out who this half-blood would be. Who are half-bloods that we know of?"
"Hagrid," said Ron and Harry together. It was now well-known that Hagrid was a half-giant.
"Yes, we thought of that," said Ginny. "But do you think it would be someone you'd suspect? A close friend? It could be, but somehow, I doubt that. But I don't know why," Ginny kicked the bed in frustration, causing Artemis to jump away from her in alarm.
Harry went to the window again and sat on the window seat. Outside it was sunny, hardly a cloud in the sky. It was hard to think that somewhere Death Eaters might be terrifying some unknowing muggle or Voldemort was hatching an evil plot. The sky was robin's egg blue, with a blue just a shade darker lighting up the lake. Harry sighed. In the background he could hear his friends still debating on who the half-blood might be.
"I'm going for a walk," said Harry shortly as he left the room. "Artemis!" The puppy came bounding forward and eagerly led the way to the Fat Lady's portrait. Harry quickly made his way through the corridors of Hogwarts, barely glancing at his surroundings on the way to the entrance of the castle.
"Why good afternoon, Mr. Potter!" called out Nearly Headless Nick.
"Hello Nick," replied Harry wearily. He had talked to Nick almost everyday since he had gotten here. He hadn't minded at first, but to be truthful, talking to a ghost gets downright boring after awhile. How many times could you talk about walking through walls and being nearly beheaded?
"You sound unhappy, Harry," said Nick. "Can I help you?"
"No, I'm fine thanks," said Harry, giving Nick a half-grin. "I'm just going on a walk with Artemis. It's such a beautiful day outside."
"Well then, you go and have fun!" said Nick happily as he drifted through the nearest wall.
Finally Harry reached the Entrance Hall and the grounds of Hogwarts. He watched happily as Artemis scampered down to the lake and sniffed the water's edge suspiciously. "Go on!" Harry told him. "Swim!"
Artemis looked dolefully at Harry then ran away from the water. Harry sat down on a little hill that overlooked the lake and stretched out. He had so much on his mind. At least he wasn't still at the Dursley's. This had even been not so bad a vacation. He was sad it would end in two weeks, but would be glad for the distraction of school.
Artemis returned and gave a little bark before settling down next to Harry. He sat there that way for a long time, soaking in the sun's rays and petting Artemis. Finally he dozed off into a fitful dream.
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Harry awoke with a start to someone shaking him gently. "Professor!" said Harry in surprise.
"Some guard dog, Mr. Potter. Didn't even wake up until I touched you," Harry squinted up into the eyes of his Potions Professor. He sat up quickly, brushing his back off.
"How are you doing Professor Snape?" Harry asked genuinely concerned. The last he had spoken to him had been a few days ago. Snape had been tortured during that time span and Harry wanted to know how he was.
"I'm fine," Snape brushed it off. "The question is: How are you? And don't tell me your fine because it's obvious your not."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry. He was confused. How would Snape know how he was doing and why would he care?
"What were you just dreaming about?" he asked abruptly. "I need to know, I can help you."
Harry had been dreaming about Bellatrix Lestrange, again. Every night now he seemed to dream about it, and each time it was more graphic and more real. As he told Snape this, his professor began to look angered, then thoughtful.
When he was finished with his account of the dream, Snape said, "Hmm…I have an idea, Harry, but I'll run it by Professor Dumbledore. Is that alright?"
"Yea," said Harry, grateful for any idea that might relieve him of the dream. Then he remembered that Ginny and Hermione had overheard Snape and Harry then noticed Snape was rubbing his back in a pained way. "Professor? Are you sure you're ok? Do you need any help?"
"I'm quite alright Harry," said Snape, putting on a false front. "I believe I'd better be going," he got up quickly, and gave a moan before falling back to the ground.
"Professor!" an anxious Harry said. "Don't tell me your fine because it's obvious you're not."
Snape, to Harry's surprise, laughed wrly. "You're using my words, Harry, but I suppose they're true." He stretched out on the ground beside Harry. Harry thought it wise not to say anything, and waited for Snape to start talking.
"Last night, I was again called by the Dark Lord to come to his service immediately. He needed me to brew a potion for him. I'd rather not mention what this potion is called or does. I did what he asked of me, but somehow got it wrong. It was an immensely complex potion and I think I put in too much powdered unicorn horn at the wrong time. I was put under the Cruciatus Curse for two hours for my mistake," Harry was staring at Snape in horror. Snape paused and glanced at him before taking a shaky breath and continuing, "After they finished with the Cruciatus, they—and I mean they as in Lestrange, Malfoy, Nott and Goyle—put me under the Imperious and forced me to do things I will not reveal to you at the present. I have spent the day making potions to help my condition, but to no avail. When the Dark Lord tortures you, potions have little if any effect at healing."
At this point Harry intervened and said, "Sir, I could help you. I could make potions, or do some work for you that otherwise hurts you until you recuperate."
"No, that won't be needed," Snape said. "The thing--," he paused, unsure of how to continue. "The thing that would make it impossible is Draco. He would have to understand why you are helping and you would have to get along. I'm sure you know why Draco is here by now?" asked Snape who was arching his eyebrows at Harry.
"No, sir, I don't. Dumbledore would not tell us. But I'm sure I can work around Malfoy if given a chance. As long as he doesn't bug me first," Harry said the last part with a bit of zeal. As long as Malfoy left him alone, he would leave Malfoy alone.
"I'm sure that would not be a problem, Harry, considering the circumstances of Draco's arrival. I suppose I have to tell your nosy little mind why he is here?" Snape did not sound angry when he said that, however, and that left Harry a little surprised.
"If you please, sir?" asked Harry, desperately wanting to know.
"If I must," said Snape reluctantly, playing with the boy's mind. He turned away from the boy and stared out at the lake. "It's better if you find out from a reliable source and hear the truth other than a fabrication of it," he said. Harry nodded. That was one of the bad things about Hogwarts; rumors ran rampant. Every year it seemed that a new batch of false stories popped up about him. No matter how much he hated Malfoy, Harry would rather not have false stories made up about him because he knew what it was like.
Harry closely studied Snape's face while he was looking off into the lake. His professor had aged several years during the summer; hints of grey streaked his hair and he had darker bags under his eyes. Snape's skin was, if possible, more sallow than normal though, it looked to Harry, that Snape had taken care of his hair more. It did not look as greasy as it usually did. Snape turned back to Harry who averted his gaze quickly.
"Draco, as usual, went home this summer to Malfoy Manor. For the first month, he lived as he always had; got up early in the morning and was harshly trained in the ways of the Death Eaters by his father, then schooled by his mother. You must see, Harry that Draco is the Malfoy's only son, and Lucius expects highly of him. They don't beat him or make him do chores as your aunt and uncle did, but they criticize him for not being the best he can. They are immensely angry every time you beat Slytherin in Quidditch, or Ms. Granger gets a better score on a test then Draco," Snape paused to take a breath and reach out to pet Artemis who was curled up next to Harry.
"After the first month, Lucius decided to send Draco to an uncle in Ireland. While there, Draco got more free time than back in the United Kingdom. He met this pretty girl, Alexa Bindl, while sitting in the park one day. Each day he went there, and found out that she did the same," Harry was fully immersed in the story by now. Snape continued and said bluntly, "Draco fell in love. The only problem was that she was a muggle. Draco and Lexy, as Draco likes to call her, spent as much time together as they could. Eventually Lucius found out about her from his brother, Charrian, who became suspicious of Draco's frequent disappearances. Lucius was furious and immediately sent for Draco, who came home two weeks ago."
"Draco spent the next week in denial, shut in his room, angry at his parents. He wrote letter after letter to Lexy, and sent them by owl as he had revealed to her that he was a wizard. Whether she believed him or not, I do not know. Distraught, Draco told her in one of his letters that he would run away to be with her forever if she did the same for him. They set a date and time to meet at the edge of the UK and Ireland."
Snape stopped and conjured himself a drink. Harry watched as he took a thirsty gulp. He could not believe that of all people, Draco Malfoy had fallen in love with a muggle. After watching him call Hermione a Mudblood on countless occasions, and put down muggles all the time, he was astonished. No wonder his parents had been furious. Harry looked back at Professor Snape and nodded, showing that he was ready for him to resume.
"Draco's father found out immediately after he left. We assume he must have some sort of tracking device for Draco. Lucius, as you can assume, was angry and sent several Death Eaters after him to stop him. Draco was alerted to them when one accidentally set off a muggle's car alarm, bumbling fools that they are. He cut back and stunned all but one who put up a good fight. Finally after almost completely exhausting himself, Draco broke away. By then the Death Eater had revived the others and they were back on his tail. He had to take a detour on his way to Lexy to lose them. When he was almost there, he received a note from Lexy, telling him that she was not going to meet him, that she didn't love him anymore."
"Draco, as you can assume, was devastated and was not going to go home. What happened next was lucky for him. Unknowingly, he had stumbled into the Forbidden Forest and the forest, which can sense the troubles of the people in it, transported him closer to Hogwarts after he had fallen asleep. When he woke up, he heard voices. That leads us to where Hagrid found him, and you know the rest."
Harry was silent for several minutes after Snape ended Draco's long story. Then he said, "Who would have thought, a Malfoy and a muggle. Man I feel sorry for him." Snape nodded.
"Now I think we should go and visit him," Snape said.
"Huh? Where's the we?" said Harry, looking around at Snape and Artemis.
"We as in you and I, Harry. Now that you know the story, and have offered to help me out, I think you should get to know Draco better, and that starts with visiting him. Come along," Snape stood up and offered Harry a hand. Harry took it and Snape pulled him to his feet with apparent ease, but Harry sensed it hurt him a little.
"Come on Artemis," said Harry, beckoning to the puppy with his hand. Artemis jumped up and bounded ahead of Harry and Snape up to the castle. It was getting a bit late, Harry noticed. He had been sitting by the lake almost all afternoon, and then Snape came and they talked for so long. It was starting to get dark and Harry put the time around seven o'clock.
Harry struggled to keep up with his potion's master, whose great long strides were a challenge for anyone but Hagrid and Artemis to keep up with. Quickly they reached the Entrance Hall and just as quickly made their way through the corridors.
Then Harry stopped. "Sir, aren't we going to the Hospital Wing?" Harry had assumed Draco was in such poor physical and mental condition that Madam Pomfrey would have forced him to stay in the Hospital Wing for at least one night.
Snape kept walking while answering, "No, Dumbledore thought it best that he stay with me until he is ready to move back into his dorm. Hurry up, Harry," then he stopped abruptly. "Just for the record, Draco thinks we hate each other, so it would be best if you keep up that face until we can explain to him the err…special circumstances. Clear?"
Harry stood where he was. He was going to Snape's quarters? Harry shook his head quickly, as if dissipating a dream, and ran after Snape who was disappearing down a staircase towards the dungeons. The two humans and the dog went down into the bottom of the castle, passing numerous passages leading to who knew where. Harry tried to look down several of them, but could only see a few feet before it was pitch black. Artemis, after seeing the black holes in the wall, had cowered with his tail between his legs and wouldn't budge. Harry had to pick him up quickly and continue on.
Finally, after about five minutes, though it seemed longer, they reached a sort of cavern at the end of the dark, damp corridor. Professor Snape walked resolutely to the center of the hall and stood on a large circle. He motioned Harry to do the same. As soon as he stepped on it, they were whisked up by an elevator. The sudden movement caused Harry to almost fall, but he was saved by an invisible barrier.
The elevator moved surprisingly fast, and they quickly reached the ceiling. Harry thought they were going to hit it, but at the last moment, a hole opened up and the elevator took them through it. After rising a few more feet through solid rock, they came slowly to a stop in a small hallway. Snape gallantly strode to a doorway and pressed his hand to it while whispering a few choice words.
The door opened and Snape stood aside. "Welcome to my humble quarters, Mr. Potter. Not as glamorous or dingy as the rumors, I must say, but well enough."
Harry set down Artemis and stepped through the doorway. Artemis had been running around for quite awhile, and immediately went to the fire, turned around three times, and curled up in a ball to sleep.
The room was medium sized, with a couch and several comfy looking chairs surrounding the fire. It was a dark room however; that was to be expected when you were underground. As Harry was looking around, Professor Snape waved his wand and several lights went on, making the room brighter. On the walls were paintings; the one closest to Harry was of the great Salazar Slytherin. "Hello, there. You must be Harry Potter," he said. Harry jumped.
"Yes, I am. And you are the mighty Slytherin," Harry was used to the portraits around the castle talking, but Slytherin had taken him by surprise.
He gazed around the room again, as Slytherin was saying, "Yes, I've heard many things about you from Severus." Harry gulped. He didn't want to know what precisely Snape said about him.
"Feel privileged, Mr. Potter, for seeing this. I do not admit random students down here whenever I feel like it," Snape said. Harry was silent. Did Snape actually trust him this much, to allow him into his private quarters? He had wondered, though, what the teacher's quarters looked like.
"Much less Gryffindor students, might I add," said Snape, moving towards a door at the far end of the wall. "Might I take you to see Draco, now?"
"Okay," said Harry. "I suppose the Slytherin Common Room is near here?" Harry had visited the Slytherin Common Room in his second year, but Snape didn't know that. He had to act unassuming—but he was pretty sure this was near where they were.
"We are in the general vicinity. Not that you would be using your knowledge with the wrong ideas in mind, would you Mr. Potter?" Snape said, turning to him and beckoning from the doorway.
"No, of course not," said Harry, unblinkingly. "I didn't know teachers lived in such luxury."
"Yes, yes, well, we better be seeing Draco now. Let me go in first, to warn him of your coming. I'll call you when you can come in," Snape said, entering the room.
Harry waited a few minutes and then entered when Snape called. He was glad. It was very eerie in the room alone with Slytherin's portrait. He could feel it watching him silently the whole time.
Harry entered a small bedroom; it looked like a spare that Snape didn't use very much. Snape was sitting in a chair by what Harry could only assume was an enchanted window. Draco was sitting on the window seat, staring out into the moonlit sky with a slight scowl on his face.
"Malfoy," said Harry, acknowledging the worn-out looking boy sitting in front of him. Malfoy just nodded curtly in return, never turning away from the window.
For several minutes the three sat there in silence, regarding each other quietly. Malfoy was the first to break the silence, "So Potter, come to gloat?" It wasn't as strong as Malfoy's normal snide remarks were, however. It was as if he didn't have his family to back himself up, that he didn't have as much confidence.
"No, Malfoy, I haven't," said Harry curtly, staring at the floor. "I've come to see how you are, ask you if you need anything."
"Well, as you can see, I am fine. But it surprises me, Potter, that you would ask me if I need anything. Surely you haven't stooped as low as a house elf? Can't get any pity by being your normal, uppity self, so you have to act like a servant. Trying to get Granger's pity for house elves for yourself, eh Potter?" Malfoy said, gaining strength.
Snape stepped in before Harry could offer a sharp reply. He was slightly angry he stepped in when he had. Malfoy had had it coming, the slimy little ferret. "Draco! I expect better of you. If term had started, house points would have been deducted! Since it hasn't, I will take the liberty to take them away once it does. Mr. Potter is here on my request. Potter!" he said, redirecting his anger at Harry. "If I hadn't said something just then, you would have said something nasty back at Mr. Malfoy, would you have not?"
"Uh…yes, sir, I would have," said Harry, not liking where this was going.
"Then, I will deduct house points from Gryffindor as well. Also, if you are both in my quarters, I'm requesting that you call each other by your first names only. If I hear either one of you calling the other by their surname, you will have further house points deducted. Savvy?" Snape said sharply, turning back to his ornery old self the minute he stepped into the room with both Harry and Draco. Harry was disappointed. He had rather liked the nice Snape. He supposed it was too much to ask though. It was rather odd, seeing him that way. Probably one of the only times Harry would ever see him that way. He supposed it was because his shields and emotions were down from being tortured. That and his concern for Malfoy's wellbeing.
"Yes, sir," said Harry.
"If we must, Professor," said Malfoy, literally glaring out the window now.
"At the request of Professor Dumbledore, Harry, you will be staying here tonight," Harry stared at Snape in horror. "I want assurance from both of you that this will not be a problem."
"Professor! Can't I go back to Gryffindor Tower? My friends will be worried! I can't stay here, with him!" Harry said desperately. He did not want to spend a night with Draco Malfoy.
"Mr. Potter, I would have thought you would want to stay. You seemed sincere in helping Mr. Malfoy a minute ago. Now you have your chance. Food will be sent in for dinner shortly, and pajamas are in the cupboard," Snape said. "Ah yes, you do not want to be sleeping in the same bed, I assume?" Harry and Draco both shook their heads vehemently. Both wore identical looks of shock on their faces. "No, I didn't think so," and Snape conjured up another bed and moved the other to the wall.
The room was now cramped. Harry could not imagine sleeping with Malfoy two feet away from him. He watched, silently horrified, as Snape walked to the door, opened it and said, "Goodnight!" He then stepped aside as Artemis ran in and jumped into Harry's arms. At least he'd have some company then. Snape then closed the door and left Draco and Harry alone in the dark.
He couldn't believe Snape would do this to him. Or Dumbledore. Was this some house unity thing? Harry kicked the bedpost in rage, causing bursts of pain to shoot up his leg.
A/N: Whew! Finally over. There you have it folks, chapter 7. Hope you like it. Please Review, I know there are more people who read this than review! You have no idea how much it means to me!