A/N: Well, here we go again! Also, I don't own Harry Potter, nor am I
making any money off this, though I wish I were. On to the story! ~Sylvia
"I need to see Dumbledore." Harry said, sitting up and getting out of bed. "He needs to know." Draco steadied his friend while Harry shrugged into his robe. He slid his feet into slippers and started towards the door. Draco cluctched his arm when the pain from the Mark increased. Ron looked over at him and noticed Draco's glazed eyes and clenched teeth. Something was wrong with the both of them, and it had to do with the Malfoys? Ron noticed Harry stumbling towards the door. He sighed and supported him with one arm, while motioning to Draco with the other. He helped the two of them to Dumbledore's office. Harry whispered the password to the gargoyle and started up the stairs. After a few knocks on the door, Dumbledore answered the door and looked them over.
"Harry, Draco, Ron?" Dumbledore asked. He took in the boy's faces, Draco's hand clutching his arm and Harry's bleeding scar. "Come in, come in." He helped lower Harry into a chair and watched as Ron helped Draco find a chair. "What's wrong?" He asked. Harry pressed his hands against his scar and sighed.
"Malfoy." Harry bit out. "Attacking Muggles in Sussex." Dumbledore nodded and threw some Floo powder into the fireplace.
"Death Eater attack in Sussex." He told someone on the other end before breaking the connection.
"Draco!" a voice came from the stairs. Severus Snape burst through the door. "Draco?" he dropped onto his knees in front of his boy. "Are you okay?" Draco nodded, but held up his arm. Severus made a noise in understanding and pulled out a vial. Draco opened his mouth when told to and happily swallowed the pain potion. "Harry, you too." Harry swallowed his dose and sighed.
"Are you both okay? Dumbledore asked the pair of boys. Harry nodded.
"Yes, sir." Harry took a deep breath and Occluded his mind from Malfoy. Harry didn't think that Malfoy knew that he and harry had a connection yet. Harry hoped that it would remain that way. He could once again give information about the Dark Lord's actions. He could be more useful that just the "Boy Who Lived". Harry wondered why the wizarding world was so adamant about giving those who were different nicknames. He pushed the idea out of his head and looked over to Draco. "You okay?" He asked. Draco nodded at Harry, rubbing his arm while Severus hovered over the boy he had vowed to protect. Harry thought it was quite comical, in a way. The might Potions Master was hovering over a boy, looking as though he was ready to pounce. Harry fought from smiling and turned to Dumbledore, who was looking as though he had known exactly what Harry was thinking, and that he had found it funny as well.
"I'm okay." Draco told Harry. "He's angry."
"Who?" Ron asked, looking from Draco to Harry.
"Malfoy, the new Dark Lord." Harry answered, accepting a cool cloth from Severus to clean the blood off his forehead. "When Tom becamse Tom, Voldemort left him. Now, Malfoy has taken up the mantle of Dark Lord." Harry sat back and rested the cloth against his forehead. "Since I was posing as Michael Riddle, and effectually rendered him unable to directly harm Muggles, he wanted some sort of revenge on Tom Riddle, he used me. I wonder what his reaction was when he found out that Michael Riddle and Harry Potter was one in the same." Draco gave a snort from his chair.
"Knowing him, he probably ripped an entire room apart." Draco commented to the crowd. Draco rose from his chair. "I think that I'm ready to go back to sleep." Harry nodded and rose from his own seat.
"Potter," Snape said, stopping the boy. "Your dose." Harry nodded and downed the vial. He was up to eight hours between doses and one of them fell in the middle of the night. Harry reached out and handed the vial back to Severus. The handling of the vial was a part of the therapy; he had to let go and give it back, or he wasn't allowed to handle it at all. His need for the Mind's Snare was decreasing by the day, but Severus told him that he wouldneed to continue on the doses until he only needed one every twenty-four hours. After that, he would be on detoxifiers for a week, and then finally free of it altogether. Harry could not wait for that day.
"What's that?" Ron asked, eyeing the vial that Snape had accepted from Harry.
"Medication." Harry answered. "I was sick over Christmas. I'm still fighting it." Draco smirked. The best lie was always the literal truth, and Harry was always good at that.
"Okay." Ron let the subject drop. After seeing that display, he had no doubts that Harry was not a Death Eater. Draco was an unknown in the equation, and ron wasn't ready to trust him yet. Then again, he was trying to help Harry. Ron secretly dubbed Draco as "Enigma" and left it alone for now. He would figure out the ferret later. Now, he was ready for bed, and he hoped the other two boys were. They both looked dead on their feet.
"Thank you for coming to me right away." Dumbeldore said, "I think you should three go back to bed and see if you can get any more sleep." Harry nodded. He was ready for some sleep. "Severus, would you escort the boys back to their tower?" Severus simply nodded and motioned the three boys out of the office. The four of them walked in silence, mostly lost in their own thoughts, or too tired to make some kind of conversation. Once they reached the tower, Severus stopped Harry and Draco.
"Dreamless Sleep." He said, pulling out two vials and handing one each to Draco and Harry. He then pulled out a vial identical to the one he had given Harry in Dumbledore's office. He gave it to Draco and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, using their code to tell Draco when to give it to Harry. Ron didn't understand why Snape had given Draco the same medicine that Harry was taking. Had they both been sick? Draco nodded to Snape. Ron almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Snape bend down and look Draco in the eye. "Are you sure you're alright?" Draco smiled and nodded. Snape looked him over before turning on his heel and descending towards the dungeons.
"Okay, file that under 'completely weird and unexplainable'." Ron thought to himself as the three entered Gryffindor tower. Ron watched as the two downed their potions and crawled into bed. He laid awake a long time, thinking about all he had seen and heard that night. Some of it defied explanation, while others scared him. All he knew was that Harry was not a Death Eater, and he was glad.
"Harry!" Harry's eye opened slowly. He stuck out a hand in search of his glasses and blinked when they were set on his face. "Come on. Court's in an hour!" Draco said, pulling his now conscious friend out of bed. "We're going to be late!" Harry growled at Draco in his best Snape imitation and started for the showers.
"Unlike you, Draco, I do not need half an hour to get dressed." Harry huffed, leacing Draco spluttering behind him. Draco folded his arms and sighed.
"Note to self: Never wake Harry again without a pillow." He grumbled, leaning against the doorjamb of the dormitory. Harry came out ten minutes later looking much more alert and smiled at Draco.
"Breakfast?" Draco nodded and pulled Harry's first dose of the day from his pocket and handed it to him. Harry smiled and swallowed it as fast as possible. Soon, he would never have to take it again. He couldn't wait. He gave the vial back to Draco and they both started off towards the Great Hall. Neither noticed Ron staring at them.
Ron scrambled out of bed then instant the two of them had left and went to find Hermione. He wondered if she had seen something like this already. Could Snape be poisoning Harry with that stuff? Creating a dependence? Whatever it was, Harry needed help. He found the female's sixth year's floor and banged on the door when he couldn't open it.
A very annoyed Hermione Granger opened the door. "What! Wake-up is not for another hour!" She hissed at him. "Oh, it's you!" She pulled the door shut behind her and ushered him down to the common room. "What do you want?" She said, collapsing into a chair and pulling a spare blanket over her legs.
"Harry needs help." He told her, watching her brown eyes widen in surprise. "I think he's in serious trouble."
A/N: Yep, ending it there. Don't worry. Next one is the trial.
Reviews:
Chekiita: Thank you! I'm glad that you liked it that much. Don't worry. Ron is still in the game. I like Matthew too. He was needed to balance out Tom's protective streak when it came to Harry's happiness. Thanks for reviewing!
Dark-follower: I agree. Sad, because Ron is uncontrollable at this point. Looks like they're going to be friends again, but not before some major confrontations. The four of them would make good Marauders, don't you think? Thanks for reviewing!
Lutheyl: Next chapter is the trial again! I'm glad you liked Snape/kids interaction. He's not a bad guy, just misunderstood. Tom/Harry cuteness will come up, if not in the next chapter, then the one after that. Thanks for reviewing!
EriEka127: Thanks for the encouragement and review! More to come soon!
Rini Sayian-jin: Glad you liked it! I like the different kinds of stories, the ones that make you sit back and go, "uh, okay?" and then really turn out to be some of the more interesting reads. I'm just happy that I've been able to pull it off. It's been a journey. Thanks for reviewing. Next chapter soon!
HoshiHikari4ever: Yes, that's true. Also, as someone pointed out to me, it's hard to throw away five years of friendship. Thanks for the compliments and reviews. Next chapter soon!
Maruder no. 5: You cannot rush these things! Trust me! I hope four days is a short enough wait. Some authors don't update for months. (You know who you are!) Be glad I'm not one of them. I hope that you liked this chapter, because the next one is soon, and full of trial stuff. Thanks for the compliments and reviews. Some how, they make me write faster.
Black Wolf of Normandy: *breaks down in happy tears* Thank you! I'm glad you like it so much. No need to beg, I will continue. Next chapter soon!
Andrea10: Thank you. Snape is slowly coming around to the person he should be. Though he can still be snarky if he wants. Ron is a prat, but he is becoming less so as time goes on. Next chapter soon!
SheWolfe7: Well, Malfoy was being a good Dark Lord and torturing Muggles. It does, but Fudge is in charge. Enough said. Though it gives Harry's team more information for evidence and allows them to thoroughly stomp the prosecution. I love a good stomping! Next chapter soon! Thanks for reviewing!
SilverFated: Glad you liked it! Next chapter soon!
Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Lost me with the potatoes comment, but I am glad you reviewed! Next update is soon! Thanks for reviewing!
Spiffycool: Glad you liked Ron. He's still a prat though. Instead of going to Harry with his concerns, he's plotting something. Glad you liked the characters. Next chapter is soon! Thanks for reviewing!
Lily of Tortall: Thanks! I might send you the outline of a story I'm working on now. It popped into my head while I was doing dishes yesterday. It might be longer than this one, but I'm not going to write it out until I finish this one and then "A Slytherin Aid". Sigh. I have seven Harry Potter stories, and I am only writing one actively. Very frustrating. Thanks for reviewing.
Suzanne of Dragon's Breath: Glad you liked it. Feel free to steal it. I swear he does patent those things. Alan Rickman does not have enough glares, but his voice, well, ah, full moon out tonight?
Eriee: Glad you liked it! Thank you. Next chapter soon!
Zhan Black: You called my story brilliant! *author falls over in happy heap* Thank you! Thanks for reviewing! Next chapter soon!
Nphipps: Thanks for reviewing! Next chapter soon!
HermioneGreen: Thank you! I love writing these characters. Trial is next chapter, and that is soon. Thanks for reviewing!
A/N: Thanks to anyone I missed. I love getting reviews!
"I need to see Dumbledore." Harry said, sitting up and getting out of bed. "He needs to know." Draco steadied his friend while Harry shrugged into his robe. He slid his feet into slippers and started towards the door. Draco cluctched his arm when the pain from the Mark increased. Ron looked over at him and noticed Draco's glazed eyes and clenched teeth. Something was wrong with the both of them, and it had to do with the Malfoys? Ron noticed Harry stumbling towards the door. He sighed and supported him with one arm, while motioning to Draco with the other. He helped the two of them to Dumbledore's office. Harry whispered the password to the gargoyle and started up the stairs. After a few knocks on the door, Dumbledore answered the door and looked them over.
"Harry, Draco, Ron?" Dumbledore asked. He took in the boy's faces, Draco's hand clutching his arm and Harry's bleeding scar. "Come in, come in." He helped lower Harry into a chair and watched as Ron helped Draco find a chair. "What's wrong?" He asked. Harry pressed his hands against his scar and sighed.
"Malfoy." Harry bit out. "Attacking Muggles in Sussex." Dumbledore nodded and threw some Floo powder into the fireplace.
"Death Eater attack in Sussex." He told someone on the other end before breaking the connection.
"Draco!" a voice came from the stairs. Severus Snape burst through the door. "Draco?" he dropped onto his knees in front of his boy. "Are you okay?" Draco nodded, but held up his arm. Severus made a noise in understanding and pulled out a vial. Draco opened his mouth when told to and happily swallowed the pain potion. "Harry, you too." Harry swallowed his dose and sighed.
"Are you both okay? Dumbledore asked the pair of boys. Harry nodded.
"Yes, sir." Harry took a deep breath and Occluded his mind from Malfoy. Harry didn't think that Malfoy knew that he and harry had a connection yet. Harry hoped that it would remain that way. He could once again give information about the Dark Lord's actions. He could be more useful that just the "Boy Who Lived". Harry wondered why the wizarding world was so adamant about giving those who were different nicknames. He pushed the idea out of his head and looked over to Draco. "You okay?" He asked. Draco nodded at Harry, rubbing his arm while Severus hovered over the boy he had vowed to protect. Harry thought it was quite comical, in a way. The might Potions Master was hovering over a boy, looking as though he was ready to pounce. Harry fought from smiling and turned to Dumbledore, who was looking as though he had known exactly what Harry was thinking, and that he had found it funny as well.
"I'm okay." Draco told Harry. "He's angry."
"Who?" Ron asked, looking from Draco to Harry.
"Malfoy, the new Dark Lord." Harry answered, accepting a cool cloth from Severus to clean the blood off his forehead. "When Tom becamse Tom, Voldemort left him. Now, Malfoy has taken up the mantle of Dark Lord." Harry sat back and rested the cloth against his forehead. "Since I was posing as Michael Riddle, and effectually rendered him unable to directly harm Muggles, he wanted some sort of revenge on Tom Riddle, he used me. I wonder what his reaction was when he found out that Michael Riddle and Harry Potter was one in the same." Draco gave a snort from his chair.
"Knowing him, he probably ripped an entire room apart." Draco commented to the crowd. Draco rose from his chair. "I think that I'm ready to go back to sleep." Harry nodded and rose from his own seat.
"Potter," Snape said, stopping the boy. "Your dose." Harry nodded and downed the vial. He was up to eight hours between doses and one of them fell in the middle of the night. Harry reached out and handed the vial back to Severus. The handling of the vial was a part of the therapy; he had to let go and give it back, or he wasn't allowed to handle it at all. His need for the Mind's Snare was decreasing by the day, but Severus told him that he wouldneed to continue on the doses until he only needed one every twenty-four hours. After that, he would be on detoxifiers for a week, and then finally free of it altogether. Harry could not wait for that day.
"What's that?" Ron asked, eyeing the vial that Snape had accepted from Harry.
"Medication." Harry answered. "I was sick over Christmas. I'm still fighting it." Draco smirked. The best lie was always the literal truth, and Harry was always good at that.
"Okay." Ron let the subject drop. After seeing that display, he had no doubts that Harry was not a Death Eater. Draco was an unknown in the equation, and ron wasn't ready to trust him yet. Then again, he was trying to help Harry. Ron secretly dubbed Draco as "Enigma" and left it alone for now. He would figure out the ferret later. Now, he was ready for bed, and he hoped the other two boys were. They both looked dead on their feet.
"Thank you for coming to me right away." Dumbeldore said, "I think you should three go back to bed and see if you can get any more sleep." Harry nodded. He was ready for some sleep. "Severus, would you escort the boys back to their tower?" Severus simply nodded and motioned the three boys out of the office. The four of them walked in silence, mostly lost in their own thoughts, or too tired to make some kind of conversation. Once they reached the tower, Severus stopped Harry and Draco.
"Dreamless Sleep." He said, pulling out two vials and handing one each to Draco and Harry. He then pulled out a vial identical to the one he had given Harry in Dumbledore's office. He gave it to Draco and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, using their code to tell Draco when to give it to Harry. Ron didn't understand why Snape had given Draco the same medicine that Harry was taking. Had they both been sick? Draco nodded to Snape. Ron almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Snape bend down and look Draco in the eye. "Are you sure you're alright?" Draco smiled and nodded. Snape looked him over before turning on his heel and descending towards the dungeons.
"Okay, file that under 'completely weird and unexplainable'." Ron thought to himself as the three entered Gryffindor tower. Ron watched as the two downed their potions and crawled into bed. He laid awake a long time, thinking about all he had seen and heard that night. Some of it defied explanation, while others scared him. All he knew was that Harry was not a Death Eater, and he was glad.
"Harry!" Harry's eye opened slowly. He stuck out a hand in search of his glasses and blinked when they were set on his face. "Come on. Court's in an hour!" Draco said, pulling his now conscious friend out of bed. "We're going to be late!" Harry growled at Draco in his best Snape imitation and started for the showers.
"Unlike you, Draco, I do not need half an hour to get dressed." Harry huffed, leacing Draco spluttering behind him. Draco folded his arms and sighed.
"Note to self: Never wake Harry again without a pillow." He grumbled, leaning against the doorjamb of the dormitory. Harry came out ten minutes later looking much more alert and smiled at Draco.
"Breakfast?" Draco nodded and pulled Harry's first dose of the day from his pocket and handed it to him. Harry smiled and swallowed it as fast as possible. Soon, he would never have to take it again. He couldn't wait. He gave the vial back to Draco and they both started off towards the Great Hall. Neither noticed Ron staring at them.
Ron scrambled out of bed then instant the two of them had left and went to find Hermione. He wondered if she had seen something like this already. Could Snape be poisoning Harry with that stuff? Creating a dependence? Whatever it was, Harry needed help. He found the female's sixth year's floor and banged on the door when he couldn't open it.
A very annoyed Hermione Granger opened the door. "What! Wake-up is not for another hour!" She hissed at him. "Oh, it's you!" She pulled the door shut behind her and ushered him down to the common room. "What do you want?" She said, collapsing into a chair and pulling a spare blanket over her legs.
"Harry needs help." He told her, watching her brown eyes widen in surprise. "I think he's in serious trouble."
A/N: Yep, ending it there. Don't worry. Next one is the trial.
Reviews:
Chekiita: Thank you! I'm glad that you liked it that much. Don't worry. Ron is still in the game. I like Matthew too. He was needed to balance out Tom's protective streak when it came to Harry's happiness. Thanks for reviewing!
Dark-follower: I agree. Sad, because Ron is uncontrollable at this point. Looks like they're going to be friends again, but not before some major confrontations. The four of them would make good Marauders, don't you think? Thanks for reviewing!
Lutheyl: Next chapter is the trial again! I'm glad you liked Snape/kids interaction. He's not a bad guy, just misunderstood. Tom/Harry cuteness will come up, if not in the next chapter, then the one after that. Thanks for reviewing!
EriEka127: Thanks for the encouragement and review! More to come soon!
Rini Sayian-jin: Glad you liked it! I like the different kinds of stories, the ones that make you sit back and go, "uh, okay?" and then really turn out to be some of the more interesting reads. I'm just happy that I've been able to pull it off. It's been a journey. Thanks for reviewing. Next chapter soon!
HoshiHikari4ever: Yes, that's true. Also, as someone pointed out to me, it's hard to throw away five years of friendship. Thanks for the compliments and reviews. Next chapter soon!
Maruder no. 5: You cannot rush these things! Trust me! I hope four days is a short enough wait. Some authors don't update for months. (You know who you are!) Be glad I'm not one of them. I hope that you liked this chapter, because the next one is soon, and full of trial stuff. Thanks for the compliments and reviews. Some how, they make me write faster.
Black Wolf of Normandy: *breaks down in happy tears* Thank you! I'm glad you like it so much. No need to beg, I will continue. Next chapter soon!
Andrea10: Thank you. Snape is slowly coming around to the person he should be. Though he can still be snarky if he wants. Ron is a prat, but he is becoming less so as time goes on. Next chapter soon!
SheWolfe7: Well, Malfoy was being a good Dark Lord and torturing Muggles. It does, but Fudge is in charge. Enough said. Though it gives Harry's team more information for evidence and allows them to thoroughly stomp the prosecution. I love a good stomping! Next chapter soon! Thanks for reviewing!
SilverFated: Glad you liked it! Next chapter soon!
Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Lost me with the potatoes comment, but I am glad you reviewed! Next update is soon! Thanks for reviewing!
Spiffycool: Glad you liked Ron. He's still a prat though. Instead of going to Harry with his concerns, he's plotting something. Glad you liked the characters. Next chapter is soon! Thanks for reviewing!
Lily of Tortall: Thanks! I might send you the outline of a story I'm working on now. It popped into my head while I was doing dishes yesterday. It might be longer than this one, but I'm not going to write it out until I finish this one and then "A Slytherin Aid". Sigh. I have seven Harry Potter stories, and I am only writing one actively. Very frustrating. Thanks for reviewing.
Suzanne of Dragon's Breath: Glad you liked it. Feel free to steal it. I swear he does patent those things. Alan Rickman does not have enough glares, but his voice, well, ah, full moon out tonight?
Eriee: Glad you liked it! Thank you. Next chapter soon!
Zhan Black: You called my story brilliant! *author falls over in happy heap* Thank you! Thanks for reviewing! Next chapter soon!
Nphipps: Thanks for reviewing! Next chapter soon!
HermioneGreen: Thank you! I love writing these characters. Trial is next chapter, and that is soon. Thanks for reviewing!
A/N: Thanks to anyone I missed. I love getting reviews!