29) What He Didn't Know


The April weather was already mild and a warm wind was blowing from the south. The yellow rattle and poppies were bathing the meadows in gold and red and Ron felt exceptionally Gryffindorish these days. Malfoy was gone, the greasy git even worse than usual, so it was even better to call him names behind his back and Hermione was as pretty as ever. He did not mind working longer hours in the library with her and Harry was safe in their dorm again. Things could not have been any better.

He had just finished his transfiguration essay and was about to leave the library, when he heard somebody talking behind a bookshelf. Just when the rounded the corner a rustling of cloth indicated somebody had been there. Probably a couple, he mused, and fantasized what Hermione would say if he surprised her in a dusty library corner. With a smile on his face, he turned and walked back to the tower, where he hoped Hermione would be waiting…

Behind the next row of books, Harry and Daphne were holding their breath. When they heard the footsteps move away, they dared to breath again and soon found themselves in a silly fit of giggles. They would have to find a safer place to meet from now on.

Smiling gently, Harry placed a hand on her concealed belly and she sighed softly.

"Three more months…"

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Pomfrey said everything is fine, she also asked whether I wanted to now what it is," she supplied and he looked up at her face. She was beautiful. "I told her we wanted it to be a surprise. Is that okay?"

"Sure," he said absentmindedly and caressed her cheek. She smiled. "How're you holding up? Anything I can do?" She shook her head.

"I'm alright."

"Good. Tell me if there's something–anything at all. Okay?"

"I will."

"Good."

"Hmm…"

"There's somebody coming…" he eventually sighed.

"It's a Hogsmeade weekend. Will your friends be gone on Sunday?"

"I guess so."

"We could meet then, have a bit more time…"

"Yeah, I'll fetch you after they're gone. In the entrance hall."

"Right," she held his hand and he smiled, squeezing it once, before letting go.

"'til Sunday, then."

"Bye."

He walked away first, leaving her in the twilight between the long rows of books. Looking back, he could not see her face in the shadow, but her hands were folded over her belly, slightly curved over an invisible bulge.

The next Sunday she saw him descend the stairs toward the entrance halls. Waiting in the nook beside the dungeon entrance, she let him pass and started to approach him from behind, but just then he twirled around and enveloped her in a loose hug, scanning the room for intruders.

But most students had already left some time ago and the younger years were either in their common rooms or outside, enjoying the good weather.

Neither saw the shadow lurking in the dungeon staircase as they crept away.

"Finally," he sighed when they had reached the secret niche up in the Astronomy tower. Gazing at Daphne's face, he frowned. Her eyes were wide, staring behind him. Slowly he turned around…

"A most intriguing coincidence, Mr. Potter, Miss Greengrass, "Snape leered, a wry smile spreading over his wan face, before it turned into a sub-zero glare. "My office, now!"

They followed in uncomfortable silence. The flickering torches on the dungeon walls passed by in regular distance and far too soon they found themselves in the Head of Slytherin's office.

He strode behind his desk and sat on the worn leather chair, while they stood around awkwardly.

"Sit."

They followed.

"So", Snape began, "what exactly is this supposed to be, Miss Greengrass? Did you not have a little more sense in that pretty head of yours to use it? Or does the blame solely lie in the huge, bad injustice of this world?" His dark eyes glittered dangerously. "Is the world not big enough for you to find a more suitable candidate or did you simply never bother to consider the future consequences of this… this… disaster?" he snapped and Daphne flinched back. Harry protectively laid his hand onto her shoulder.

"What are you talking about, Professor?" he retorted angrily, "You know nothing!"

Snape rose one eyebrow.

"I know, that you two have been a lot closer than is becoming for two persons in your regard. And it will stop immediately, or I will see myself unable to not react. Do I make myself clear?"

His hands were folded on the tabletop in front of him. All in all he looked like a dark sorcerer in a book, glaring menacingly at the two youngsters in his gloomy office. The preserved body parts and animals in the jars around the shelves seemed to glow in the semi darkness of the room, the Potion master's teeth just as yellow as their beady eyes.

"We won't."

"Harry-" she tried to intervene, but his pleading look silenced her again.

"We won't," he repeated. "You can't make us!"

Snape also rose his other brow.

"Can't I? Mr. Potter, you are most certainly aware that only the headmaster's plead keeps you in my class. We can quickly remedy that and thwart your career plans forever. I most certainly wouldn't mind. And Miss Greengrass, I have to say I am disappointed, no – ashamed, that a member of Slytherin would let herself be reduced to this," he motioned his hand reproachfully and turned back to Harry. "But do as you see fit. And carry the consequences! OUT! Both of you!" He snapped and rose from his seat. They complied rather enthusiastically, before the door banged shut behind them.

"That's unbelievable!" Harry spat as they reached the entrance hall. "That sorry excuse of a mother-fucking, slimy bastard!" He rambled on as they ascended the stairs to their original destination.

"Maybe it's not a good idea to meet just now – what if they find us?" she asked concerned, as he began pacing in the corridor.

"Not even Dumbledore knows this room," he promised and opened a door that had just appeared in the wall. The room behind was dark but at its end, huge windows let in the sunlight from outside. The only other source of light was an old-fashioned chandelier in the corner on the right. Below it was a small table with two cosy armchairs. A vase full of red roses stood on another table further down the wall between two bookcases and in the corner behind that, which was already bathed in the gleaming sunlight, was a desk and chair.

On the wall opposite from the bookcases was a huge four poster bed with mauve and golden hangings, fitting the dark lilac carpet and the mahogany of the panelled walls and furniture. The fireplace just to their left was not ignited, so they would have their privacy.

To be sure, she spelled two wards, one for privacy and one for sound, and dropped down in one of the armchairs unceremoniously.

It had been a long, draining day...


Suprise, suprise! I hate suprises myself, but for suspense's sake... blablabla, read more in the next chaps and don't forget to review.