Author's Note: Sentences with numbers in front of them indicate a translation at the end of the chapter.
Chapter Twenty-Five
María Beliz
ONE
She sighed heavily, reading the article in the Daily Prophet stating that Harry Potter had been removed from the school's general population for reasons of health.
1 "Ese niño ha pasado por tanto," she said to her parrot, petting him gently. He cooed at her, butting his head against her hand. She sighed again, standing from the table to make herself some coffee. She picked up the paper again, sipping her coffee leisurely when she came upon an interesting ad. 2 "¿Qué tenemos aquí?" she wondered aloud, perusing the ad carefully.
Wanted for immediate hire at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Witch or wizard with telepathic gifts to teach specialized course to select students. Resumé preferable, immediate interview available for applicants. Contact Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) if you are interested.
3 "Puede que valga la pena mirar esto," she muttered, pulling a blank parchment toward her. She spelled it to show her resumé (in English) and attached a letter to it announcing her immediate arrival at the school before tying it to her parrot and sending him on his way. 4 "¿Qué te traes, anciano?" she asked her empty house, wondering about motives for such ads.
TWO
Severus held the shaking teen in his arms, trying to comfort the frustration away with his embrace. "It's all right, Harry," he muttered soothingly, stroking the messy hair gently. "You'll work through this. We'll stop for now, shall we?"
Harry nodded weakly against his chest, his entire body trembling beneath Severus' firm grip. "I hate this," he whispered. "I hate him. I hate what he's done to me."
Severus sighed heavily, tightening his grip slightly. I love you so, he thought as he held Harry in his arms. "He won't win, Harry," he said softly, keeping the anger he felt from seeping into his tone.
Harry leaned back to look into Severus' eyes, a question in his gaze. Of course, he can feel my anger, Severus thought, bending to kiss those enticing lips. Severus felt the magic in the room shift as Draco entered, just before the blonde said, "Get a room." Severus paid him no heed, choosing instead to deepen the kiss.
Just as Severus pulled Harry closer to his body, a knock sounded on the outer chamber door. All three occupants turned their heads sharply toward the door.
"Are you expecting someone?" Severus asked no one in particular, staring at the door. Both teens shook their heads silently. Draco moved toward the door, pressing his hands and right ear against it, apparently listening for something.
"No thoughts on the other side," he said as the knock sounded again. Severus' guards went up immediately.
"Step back, Draco," he said, pulling his wand from his robes as Harry moved to stand near the far wall, his attention fully on the closed door. "Enter!" Severus called ready for whoever could be calling at this hour in the evening. Dinner had already concluded, so all the students should be firmly ensconced within their dormitories.
The door clicked open softly, opening in an agonizingly slow movement. "I will not harm you," a female voice said, just as said female appeared on the other side. She had a strong Spanish accent, large dark eyes, black hair pulled into a bun at the base of her head, long flowing purple robes, and deep brown skin.
"Who are you?" Severus asked as the diminutive woman closed the door gently behind her.
"My name is María Beliz, señor," she said, her deep voice resonating on the stone walls of the sitting room. "Headmaster Dumbledore has hired me to tutor your young telepath here." She motioned to Draco, a small smile gracing her lips.
"I see," Severus intoned dryly, still not moving to welcome the stranger. "And would you care to prove this?"
"Of course," she replied, not affected by Severus' dark tone at all. "I'll just call the headmaster." As she moved toward the fireplace, next to which Draco was still seated, the blonde stood and pulled his wand on her.
"How 'bout I call the headmaster," Draco said coldly, not moving a muscle.
"As you wish," María replied easily. Draco moved to the fireplace, never showing his back to the intruder. He blindly grabbed some floo powder, threw it into the fire and yelled, "Albus Dumbledore!"
The fire sparked, and a moment later Dumbledore stepped out, dusting off his robes. "Ah, I see you've met!" he said cheerily, seating himself in Draco's chair.
"Who is this woman, Albus?" Severus demanded angrily.
"Didn't you introduce yourself?" Albus asked María.
"Of course, Albus," she replied. "But these young men thought it best to ask you."
"Ah, of course," Albus said. "Severus is always the vigilant one. Jolly good, old man!"
Severus scowled deeply at Dumbledore, wondering if he could kill him and not get arrested. Surely the rest of the world would be glad to be rid of the meddling old man? Surely? "And you didn't see fit to tell someone of this, Albus?" he growled.
"Well, I hadn't thought she'd come straight down here as soon as she arrived," Albus commented, waving off Severus' irritation. "She's quite diligent, wouldn't you say?"
"Diligent is not the word I was thinking," Severus groused, feeling more irritated with each passing moment.
"Please, gentlemen," María interrupted, holding up her hands. "I do not wish to bring fighting. I simply want to teach this young man –" here she motioned to Draco, " – how to use his gift. I don't want to cause trouble."
"It's too late for that, woman!" Severus snarled.
"Professor Snape," a quiet voice said from the corner of the room. Everyone turned to regard Harry. "It's obvious that she's here at Professor Dumbledore's invite. Perhaps we should give her the benefit of the doubt until she proves she has ill intent."
"Harry," Severus said, his tone much softer than it had been. "I will not trust the welfare of my students to some stranger about whom I know nothing. Surely you see the dangers, Harry."
"I do, Professor," Harry replied gently, his hands clasped behind his back. "Unfortunately, there is no one else who can help Draco. He can't stay inside these rooms forever."
"What proof do you have that you're a telepath?" Severus demanded of María.
She regarded him quietly for a moment before turning to Draco. "He is the only one in this room who is not proficient in Occlumency," she said softly. "You two – " she looked at Harry and Severus, " – are like blank slates." She looked at Dumbledore. "You, however, let little thoughts slip, though I believe you have done this on purpose."
Dumbledore rewarded her with a small smile, causing Severus to bristle. He knew he'd lost this round, but there was no way he was going to trust this woman. "Very well," he said stiffly, crossing his arms over his chest. "You've proven your talent. I will allow you to train Draco, but if I get one hint that you are mistreating him, I will ensure that it never happens again. Is that quite clear?"
"Very, señor," María replied with a slight bow of her head. "You have my promise that I will not harm young Draco."
THREE
Draco sat quietly, trying his best to clear his mind as María had been trying to teach him.
"You are not concentrating, Draco," María scolded lightly. "You must try again."
"I don't see why I have to learn Occlumency," Draco complained. "What does that have to do with controlling telepathy?"
"It has everything to do with it, nene," María replied. "You must discipline your mind. Occlumency is ultimate discipline. If you learn this, then we can start controlling the voices in your head. If you have no control over your mind, then you will never be able to control your gift. It is much more difficult to control the telepathy without learning Occlumency first."
Draco sighed as he closed his eyes to try again. This was the fourth time María had explained her reasoning behind starting their lessons with Occlumency, but Draco still didn't like that he had to learn it. He attempted to clear his mind again, but he couldn't because he was too busy thinking about how much he absolutely hated Occlumency. He opened his eyes when he heard María sigh.
"Perhaps you would be more open to learning this if Mr. Potter taught you," she suggested.
"How would Potter teach me any better than you've been?" he asked skeptically.
"He is closer to your age," María replied, standing from her seat. "He can relate more to you than I can."
"I don't think I can do this," Draco commented, rubbing his temples gently.
María threw her hands in the air in frustration. 5 "¡Dios mio, por favor!" she exclaimed. "¡Dame paciencia con este muchacho terco! He will have better luck with you, or we will find another way to teach you this. You will learn Occlumency, so help me God!"
Draco couldn't help himself; he smirked at her outburst. "I will speak to Potter about this," he said.
"You do that," María said. "I am going to pray for patience with you. You must be the most hardest boy I have ever met."
Draco had to forcefully keep himself from laughing at her. "It's 'hardest', not 'most hardest'," he corrected.
"I do not need you to give me English lessons," María snapped irritably. "Go, find your friend, and I pray he has better time with you than I have." She stormed out of the room, muttering under her breath in rapid Spanish. Draco chuckled as he went in search of Harry.
FOUR
"He's learning," Harry said gently as María came into the room from speaking to Severus. "He'll be ready for the next stage in another month."
"I am glad to hear that," María replied, sitting next to Harry on the couch. "But that is not why I wish to speak to you."
"I'm listening," Harry replied as he wrote the line 'I can do this' again on the parchment in front of him. The writing was messier than his usual writing, but it was somewhat legible. Harry felt that the more he practiced, the more he'd be able to control his hands.
"I think I can help you with the trembling in your hands," María said.
"And how would you do what Poppy could not?" Harry asked, not turning his eyes from his writing.
"It is a matter of mind over substance," María told him.
"Mind over matter," Harry corrected absently. "How would that help me?"
"If you can gain that control, then you can gain control of your hands."
"I'm already gaining control of my hands, if you haven't noticed."
"Learning this would speed the process."
"And how is it that you know how to do this?"
"I have been alive for very long time. I have learned many things in my life. This is one of those things."
"I'll think on it," Harry said, scribbling his line again. He had to write slowly, but he could write, and that was the point.
FIVE
A week later found Harry with María, learning the art of mind over matter. In his mind, he pictured his hand held in front of him, perfectly still. His hand trembled in front of him in reality as he concentrated on the picture in his mind. The trembling lessened slightly, but was still perceptible.
"You are doing well already," María said approvingly. "You are much more easier to work with than Draco. If only he was like this."
"He's easier to work with, not more easier," Harry corrected without thinking, still concentrating on stilling his hand. "It's Hallowe'en next week. Are you going to the feast?"
"No, I don't think so," María replied. "The school does not know I am here. It would be better if they did not find out."
"Yes," Harry agreed, opening his eyes to look at his still hand. "I suppose it would be at that." He stopped concentrating and his hand began to shake again. He sighed.
"It will take time, mijo," María told him. "Be patient."
"I'll try," Harry returned, stilling his hand again. "I have to do this without thinking about it. I won't be able to cast spells if I have to concentrate so hard on keeping my hand steady."
"It will come to you," María assured him.
SIX
January dawned bright and cold on Hogwarts. Harry had caught up on his work and was now attending regular classes with the rest of the school. He'd overcome his shaking hands, though the rest of him still trembled, especially when he was sleeping. Severus holding him at night helped more than anything else to help him sleep peacefully. He smiled as he thought of Severus, causing Ron and Hermione to look at him strangely.
"Excited about tomorrow?" Hermione asked, misinterpreting his happy mood.
"Indeed," Harry replied, turning his shining eyes on her. "I can't wait to be out of this castle for a bit."
"If anyone deserves a Hogsmeade weekend, it's you," Ron commented, shoving Harry's shoulder playfully. "I can't imagine spending all that time with Snape. How do you do it?"
Harry raised his eyebrow at his friend. "Professor Snape has helped me tremendously," he said pointedly. "He's not so bad, and you know it."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron sighed. "He's a nice guy under all the snarkyness. I get it."
Harry chuckled as he took another bite of his lunch.
The next day, the trio went down to Hogsmeade together, Harry having promised Draco that he'd stock up on Honeyduke's sweets. They stopped at Honeyduke's first, intent on buying their favorite sweets before they sold out. After that, they went to several stores, shopping until their feet hurt.
"How 'bout we go to the Three Broomsticks and get a bite to eat?" Harry asked as they left Gladrag's.
"That sounds good," Hermione agreed, taking the lead to the small pub. They sat at a table in the back corner, away from the noise of the rest of the students. The three of them bought fish and chips, eating and chatting about schoolwork, and what Harry was planning for the D.D.L., which he'd decided to continue with after he'd recovered enough to rejoin the school. As they talked, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid entered the pub.
Harry felt a wave of nostalgia when he saw them, remembering the time in third year when he'd eavesdropped on their conversation about Sirius with Madame Rosemerta and Fudge. Thinking of that, made Harry think of Sirius; poor departed Sirius who died because Harry wasn't fast enough to protect him. Harry pushed the food around his plate morosely, having lost his appetite suddenly.
"Are you all right, Harry?" Hermione asked, noticing his mood shift.
"Fine," Harry replied, standing up from the table. "I'll meet you guys outside." He wrapped his cloak around his shoulders and left the pub. The air outside was crisp and cold, the ground covered in frost. Harry's steps crunched as he walked along toward the end of the path, leading to the cave where Sirius used to hide out. Harry stood on the path, looking up at the mountain, thinking of all the things he had missed out on.
Damn you, Blaise, he thought bitterly. Why did you betray us this way? Don't you know that I would have given you everything, if only you'd been true? I wish you would have… Harry cleared his mind, knowing that wishing was not going to help bring Sirius back. He sighed heavily, wrapping his cloak more tightly around his body as the wind whipped at it.
"What are you doing up here, Harry?" Hermione asked behind him, moving to stand at his side.
"Remembering," Harry replied softly, not turning to look at her.
"Sirius?" Hermione asked gently.
"Everything," Harry whispered. "I can't afford to forget anything. Remembering is what makes me want to end this war. Voldemort will pay for all he's done if it's the last thing I ever do."
Hermione put her arm around his waist, pulling him close. "You'll win," she said. "I know you will. I believe in you."
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry replied. "Where's Ron?"
"He's waiting for us by the Three Broomsticks," Hermione told him. "We should go before he starts complaining about how cold it is."
Harry chuckled, turning with Hermione to head back to the pub. When they got there, they found that Ron was nowhere to be seen.
"He must have gone back to the school," Hermione surmised, looking around at the crowds of students littering the street. "He's such a baby sometimes."
Harry laughed at her. "Come on, then," he said. "I trust he's already trying to get a head start on dinner."
"We just ate!" Hermione exclaimed as they began walking back to the school.
"Yes, well this is Ron we're talking about," Harry reminded her.
"Point taken," she chuckled.
Ron was not at the Gryffindor table when they arrived nor was he in Gryffindor Tower. They checked the Marauder's Map and found that he was not on the school grounds at all. "Maybe he went back to Honeyduke's," Hermione said hopefully.
"Maybe," Harry agreed, though he had a nagging feeling that she was wrong. He hoped that she was right.
SEVEN
"Severus!" Albus' voice rang out from the fireplace. Severus grumbled quietly as he made his way to the hearth to find out what the old codger could possibly want now.
"What is it, Albus?" he asked shortly. "I was relaxing today, in case you've forgotten."
"Death Eaters have been spotted in Hogsmeade," Dumbledore said briskly, causing Severus' eyes to widen in alarm.
"Has anything happened?" he asked urgently, thinking that Harry was in danger.
"Not yet, but I fear something might," Albus replied. "I need you there."
"I will leave at once," Severus agreed, rising to his feet and throwing on his robe before the floo had even disconnected. He walked briskly from the school, panic rushing through his veins as he thought of all the things that could be happening to his Harry. Please, don't let me be too late, he thought desperately, moving faster still toward the village. Please, Merlin, let Harry be okay.
The village of Hogsmeade was quiet when he arrived, the last students turning to make their way back to the school. Severus scanned the area, not seeing any signs of trouble. He decided to look around to make sure all was as it seemed, and made his way toward the Shrieking Shack. All the color drained from his face when came around the building.
Ronald Weasley was hanging from a tree branch, blood dripping onto the ground from his bare feet. He was naked, and all of the skin on his legs and arms had been removed to expose the muscle beneath. His face had burn marks all over it, similar to those on Mike's arms from Severus' wand. A rope was tied about his neck, and his tongue hung swollen and purple from his lifeless mouth. His torso was riddled with stab wounds, and a message was carved into his chest. 'BEWARE OF LORD VOLDEMORT!' Severus stared at the body of his lover's best friend, unable to move for the shock rolling through him.
"He's got to be around here somewhere," Hermione's voice drifted to his panicked ears. "It's almost curfew. Let's check the Shack."
"Why would he be…" Harry's reply trailed off as the teens rounded the corner and saw Ron's body and Severus staring at it helplessly. Hermione's horrified scream broke through Severus' shock, allowing him to gather the two teens to him.
"Ron," Harry whispered from somewhere around Severus' chest. "Oh, God."
"Come on," Severus said firmly, steering the teens away from the carnage. Harry didn't say anything as they walked back to the castle. Hermione cried the whole way, nearly falling over the stones in the path as Severus helped her keep her balance.
EIGHT
Harry felt numb. Ron was dead. Voldemort had killed his, Harry's, best friend. Ron was dead because he was Harry's best friend.
1 – That child has been through so much
2 – What have we here?
3 – This could be worth looking into.
4 – What are you up to, old man?
5 – My God, please! Give me patience with this stubborn boy!
Author's Note: A little side note before I start my thanking. I'm starting another HP/SS fic, called Tears in the Rain (props to Victoria Ennis for the title), and I was wondering if anyone out there is German, or fluent in the German language. The story takes place in southern Germany, and I require for some of the lines to be German, but I do not speak German myself. If anyone would be interested in translating the necessary lines from English to German, please let me know. I'd be most grateful. Thank you.
Many thanks to Victoria Ennis for her work on this fic. Thanks also to…
Ktoddhim
Chibi-Kaisie: I'd love to answer your questions, but then I'd be giving away my plot. Sorry. hehehe As for the ideas… they just kind of pop into my head without warning, demanding to be written down. They're most difficult to ignore.
Hikari-Aoi
Sh'arra Rie: You're most welcome
Mariana: Harry's going to need a bit of help in the recovery department, but he'll get there eventually, I promise.
Kears: We shall see…
SexylsSnape126: Thanks for that! I hope you're not disappointed.
LeeLeePotter: I do try.
Jeni: Answers will come in the future, not to worry, m'dear. As for having fun… I do love this story. It gives me a happy feeling inside every time I go over it. Sometimes I'm amazed that wrote this. Hehehehe
Shiemi Shimabukuro
DestinyEntwinements: Hehehehe
CogniDi: I hope this chapter answers your question about why Ron was never paired. I was still a bit pissed about what he did in book four when I wrote this so… well, you can call me vindictive if you want, I won't take offence. Hehehehehe
Sword and Magic: So am I, m'dear, so am I.
Sliver of Melody
Shadow Eclipse
Wheres Boo: Thanks so much!
Jujube 15: One could say so. I think images are more difficult for him than just thoughts, but I suppose if he wanted to, he could see them.