A/N: Okay, so it was three weeks. Sue me. Honestly, I'm happy to be back and writing again. Hope you all enjoy!
"Again, Harry!" Harry faced Poling and raised his wand. The training sessions were brutal. That was the only word he could use to describe them. Brutal and draining. If the Ministry ever found out about the training sessions, and how much he was learning, Poling and Winfield would most likely be dismissed as Aurors. If not more. Harry watched as Poling sent a stunning curse his way. He spoke an incantation and watched the block go up. The spell bounced off and went in the opposite direction. "Wrong spell!" Poling called to him.
"Sorry. Have a hard time just letting them come at me like that. Again?" Poling nodded and shot off another one. Harry raised his wand and let the spell gather around it before sending it back at the Auror. The man hit the floor and let the spell crash into the wall. Harry stared at the wall. The spell had to have been powerful, for the scorch marks left were a little disturbing. Very disturbing. "Poling! You said that you weren't trying to kill me." Harry smiled at the man as he picked himself up.
"I'm not, Harry." He brushed off his clothes and looked at Harry. "If that spell had hit you, you would have been injured, perhaps to the point of death." Harry stared at the man. "Trying implies attempt. I was not attempting to kill you, just injure you to the point where you may die." Harry shook his head.
"So how did you know that I would do the spell correctly and send it back at you?" Poling grinned a little and shook his head.
"I didn't. I was hoping that you would." Harry stared again. Poling laughed a bit when he saw Harry's face. "I told you that we would train you as we do new Aurors. Trial by fire, you might say. Beside, Winfield could have helped had it hit you." Harry looked over at Winfield, who smiled and waved. "Go get a shower. We're done for the day. Running in the morning, don't forget." Harry thanked him and left, making a slight beeline for the shower. He whistled a bit. It had been three weeks since the trial, and he hadn't had much time for anything else except for classes and training.
Hermione and Ron didn't seem to mind much at all. Hermione took detailed notes, just to make sure that neither Ron nor Harry missed anything in class, while Ron eyed Harry at meals to make sure he was eating enough. They were nice, his friends. He missed Draco, though. He didn't know where Severus had taken his friend. He hadn't even asked. The Ministry had questioned him as to where Severus might have gone with Draco, if Harry knew what his plans were, and if Harry could help them locate Draco and Severus in any way. Harry had been able to answer truthfully. He had no idea where they were, what Severus's future plans were, and he could not help anyone locate them. He smiled to himself and turned the corner, bumping into someone he really didn't like.
"Mr. Potter, do try to watch where you are going." The new Potions teacher said, offering Harry a hand up. Harry acted like he hadn't seen it and got up on his own. The man was on loan from the Ministry until Dumbledore could find a semi-permanent replacement. He had no idea how long Snape would be missing, and was forced to take him on as a teacher. He was an adequate teacher, knowledgeable in his subject, patient with the students, and had little tolerance for pranks of any kind in the Potions classroom. Harry didn't like him. The man had ulterior motives for being there, he was sure. He just couldn't figure out what. Harry had a feeling that the man was watching him, most likely for the Minister. Every time Harry turned around, the man would be there. It was a little disturbing. He could feel himself being watched during meals, Potions class, and on the Quidditch pitch. The only time Harry did not feel his eyes was during training with Poling and Winfield. That was part of the reason that he liked training so much.
"Sorry, Professor. I was distracted." The man nodded and smiled.
"I figured as much. Why in the world are you all sweaty? Been running away from dark wizards again, Mr. Potter?" Harry fought the urge to run from the man and shook his head.
"No, sir. Working out, that's all. I really need to go take a shower now." The man nodded and followed.
"That's good, that you enjoy physical activity. Everyone needs a balance in life." Harry wondered if the man would take off points if Harry were to just walk away from him. The staircase up stopped that plan. "So, how are you doing, Harry?"
"Er, I'm fine, Professor Wallace. Busy with schoolwork and stuff like that. I'm sure you remember what it was like." Professor Wallace smiled and nodded.
"That I do, Mr. Potter. I remember one time…" Harry was now trapped. He stood for almost fifteen minutes, listening to the story politely, nodded at the appropriate places, and smiled once at something that Professor Wallace had found extremely funny. Harry almost got down on his knees and thanked his lucky stars when Poling came up the stairs.
"I thought you were going to take a shower, Mr. Potter." Harry turned and smiled.
"Well, I was…"
"Don't be upset with him, Auror Poling. Mr. Potter and I were just chatting." Poling glared at the man. Professor Wallace didn't seem to understand what the look was for. "Well, Harry. I think I have kept you long enough. Why don't you go get that shower now?" Harry thanked him and nodded, nearly bolting away as Professor Wallace left. Harry felt Poling right beside him.
"Thank you so much!" Harry told him. "I was trying to get away." Poling nodded.
"When I got up there, I figured you were delayed somehow." Harry stopped in his tracks.
"There's only one way to Gryffindor tower from the RoR!" Harry told him.
"There is not. Did you think that Dumbledore is the only one around here who can move around this castle at astonishing speeds?" Harry shook his head and spoke the password, allowing him and Poling to enter the tower. He waved to Ron and Hermione before heading to the bathroom and taking a quick shower. He came back down the stairs and threw himself in an armchair next to Hermione.
"Feel better?" She asked.
"Loads. Do I have any homework to finish?" Hermione glared at him.
"Why aren't you using your planner?" She demanded. He could hear Poling and Winfield snicker behind him.
"It's out of date?" He said, not entirely sure. Hermione huffed and pawed through Harry's bookbag. She pulled out the book and opened it. She tapped it with her wand three times.
"There you go. Up to date. And you'd better start using it!" Harry grimaced, thanked her, and put it back in his bag. "As for your question,you have no homework to do. You finished it last night." Harry sighed and smiled.
"Don't even think about it!" He told Poling. He had heard the man step forward. "I have to get up early." Poling grumbled something that Harry missed and stepped back a bit. Hermione and Ron smiled. They had obviously heard it. Harry decided not to ask.
"Dinner!" Ron announced, pulling Harry to his feet. Harry groaned and allowed his two friends to escort him to the Great Hall, Poling and Winfield right behind. Harry wondered when they ate, for they just stood off to the side in the Great Hall. The only time Harry was out of sight was when Harry was in the bathroom. Even the locker room for the Quidditch matches was monitored. They turned around and faced the opposite direction at the request of the team. Harry found that he didn't mind too much. They were just doing their jobs. And were training him. He felt he could put up with them. He couldn't stand Professor Wallace.
Harry and his friends found their usual seats and sat down. Ron dove into his food immediately, trying to entice Harry to larger portions. Harry stiffened when he felt someone watching him. Someone other than Poling and Winfield. It felt different. "Hermione? Could you glance at the staff table and tell me what Professor Wallace is doing?" Hermione shifted in her seat and looked.
"Um, he's watching our table. No, he's not. He would have yelled at Dean right now if he were. He is looking this way. He's watching you!" Harry nodded and thanked her. Hermione waved to Hagrid, who was sitting next to Professor Wallace, as cover and went back to her meal when he waved. "Why is Professor Wallace watching you?" She asked Harry. Harry shrugged.
"Search me." He said. Hermione nodded and took a bite of her vegetables. "He's probably doing it for the Ministry. Especially after that adoption fiasco." Hermione nodded and took a sip of juice.
"You never did tell us why they denied the adoption. Can you tell me now?" Harry nodded. He had been meaning to tell them for a while now. It had hurt too much to even think about it before. Now, it only hurt a little bit. He could tell now.
"The Ministry brought out this three-hundred year old law that says if a child's life is in danger, he can't be adopted by anyone who doesn't share blood with that child. I don't understand that at all! Why does the wizarding world focus on blood so much?" Hermione shrugged and froze.
"Repeat the law." She said, turning to him with an excited smile.
"Er, if a child's life is in danger, he can't be adopted by anyone who doesn't share blood with that child." Hermione's smile grew wider. She grabbed her bookbag and stood up.
"I've got to go to the library! Don't worry, Harry! The Ministry will lose its case, I'm sure!" She hurried off in, robes flying behind her.
"Where's she going?" Ron asked. Harry turned to him.
"Library." Ron looked around.
"Is your life in danger?" Harry shook his head. "Been hearing voices again?" Harry shook his head. "Are you in another tournament?" Harry glared. "Anyone trying to possess you?" Harry's glare deepened. "Is someone plotting someone else's death?"
"Ron!" Ron smiled.
"Well, then. She's being typical Hermione and we have nothing to worry about." Ron told him. He picked up a serving spoon and piled more food on Harry's plate. "This is really good mate." Harry stiffened when he felt eyes on him again. He glanced up and waved at Hagrid. Professor Wallace was watching him again. Hagrid waved back. Harry saw Professor Wallace lean over and speak to Hagrid. Hagrid shook his head and said something back. Harry frowned and stopped Ron from putting more food on his plate. Something was not right.
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"No, Draco. Muggles drive cars, not carriages. Remember that." Draco nodded and trailed along beside Severus. Both were in Muggle clothing. He and Draco had not been out of the house much since the trial, and they needed groceries. Severus opened the car and looked at it dubiously. He had been in one, once or twice. He had been on the Knight Bus many times in his life. He just wasn't sure how easy it was to work a car.
"Right. Car. Got it." Draco opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. "Now what?" He asked. Severus fiddled with the keys and tried to find the right one. He would kill Potter for suggesting such a contraption. As soon as he figured out how to work it. He inserted a key and stared. Why hadn't it turned on? Draco reached out and turned it. Both of them jumped.
"How in the world did you know to do that?" Severus asked, pulling the seat belt across him and buckling it.
"Telly." Draco told him. "It's a great source of information, Dad. You should try it." Severus rolled his eyes. He hated that Muggle contraption with a passion usually reserved for the current Dark Lord. Draco would spend an hour every night sitting in front of that thing, doing absolutely nothing at all. Why did Muggles need entertainment? Shouldn't they be working on something? Severus eyes the controls. He pulled out the parchment Harry had given him and read the directions again. Foot on the brake. Check. Shift car into drive, the lever is down towards your left. Severus reached down and found the appropriate one. He shifted and felt the car move the slightest little bit. Ah, good. Draco fumbled for his own restraints and pulled the seatbelt across him. Foot slowly onto the gas pedal. The car leapt forward. Severus removed his foot and watched as the car slowed down to a crawl. "Find the medium." Draco suggested. After some trial and error, Severus managed a fairly legal amount of speed and made it to the grocery store without an accident. "I'm driving on the way back. You nearly killed us!" Draco teased.
"You most certainly are not! It is not legal for you to possess a license at your age. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until you are older to risk one of these contraptions." Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "Alright. Try not to mention anything that is remotely related to magic in there, okay?" Draco smiled.
"Try not to attract attention, you mean?" He asked. Severus nodded. "I can do that. What about you?"
"Draco, I was a spy in the war, and managed to fool quite a few people. I think I can handle not mentioning magic." Draco shook his head.
"I wasn't referring to that." Draco told him. Severus looked puzzled. "Never mind. Let's go." Draco opened his door effectively ending the conversation.
"What did you mean?" Severus asked.
"Just watch the women around you, Dad. You'll see what I mean." Severus wondered what the boy meant by that and grabbed a shopping cart. "So, what do we need to get?" Draco asked. Severus pulled out a list and looked at it.
"A bit of everything, I'd say." Draco looked at the list and nodded.
"Why don't we split up?" Draco asked.
"Absolutely not. I want you close to me. You know that." Draco nodded, a bit sadly, Severus thought. "Why don't we pick up those snacks you like so much?" Draco brightened and nodded. There, the boy looked a bit better. Severus didn't want Draco out of his sight, for fear of the Ministry finding him. Leaving him at the house had been an unsavory option for the same reason. Draco walked next to him as they went through the store. Severus spoke to only two women and heard Draco snicker next to him. He had no idea as to what the boy had found amusing. None at all.
"I still have no idea what you meant about women being around me, Draco." Severus commented once they were in the car.
"You don't notice that their eyes get big, they get all giggly, smile at you, and look at you?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"No. Do they?" Draco nodded. "What odd behavior." Draco snorted.
"They were checking you out." Severus glanced over at his son.
"My goodness, you are picking up Muggle idioms at an alarming rate. What, precisely, does that mean?" Draco smiled.
"They like what they see and hear." Severus rolled his eyes. Draco tried to find the right words. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just trying not to shock you. They are attracted to you, are flirting with you. Any of this help?" Severus regarded the boy.
"Perhaps now would be the right time to talk about something, once we're back in the house of course." Severus pulled up to the curb and parked the car. Draco was staring at him, horrified.
"Don't really want to talk about that. I'm not entirely innocent!" Severus noticed his son blush the slightest bit.
"Oh, yes you are." Severus said. "I can tell." Draco's blush deepened. "Uh huh. Well, perhaps later. About what you were saying earlier, I highly doubt that." Draco shook his head and grabbed a few of the bags.
"I am completely right. I heard one of them mention you had a cute butt, which helps 'things' immensely." Draco said as he walked up to the door. Severus had frozen in his steps, groceries in his arms.
"You did not!" Draco just laughed and allowed his father to open the door. "You are just trying to joke with me." Draco saw Severus's look which said that he hoped Draco would be joking. Draco set his bags down on the kitchen table and shook his head.
"I heard correctly. She was talking to her friend. She said 'he has a very cute butt, which helps things immensely. And did you hear his voice!'" Severus felt himself blush a little. Draco smiled. "Think that a girl would do wonders for you." Severus rolled his eyes and started to unpack things.
"You should stop thinking along those lines right now." Draco shrugged and put some of the groceries into the refridgerator. "I do believe that tins do not go into the refrigerator." Draco took them out and handed them to his father. "I can finish here, thank you for the help. Why don't you go finish your essay for Transfiguration?" Draco nodded and left, mumbling something about stubborn fathers. Severus shook his head and made a mental note to send a message to Dumbledore about Draco's odd behavior. Perhaps he would know something about teenagers that Severus did not.
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Dear Hermione,
You will never believe what happened just now! I heard a lady mention that Dad had a cute butt and I told him so. You should have seen him blush! He froze, dead in his steps. It was great. I think he should date. What do you think? Everything is fine here. I spent some time doing homework, played my Gameboy, and went to the grocery store with Dad. Not much news, really. Kind of boring here. No where to go. I miss school. Miss you. Please write back with something entertaining, as I have been reduced to watching Muggle telly.
Love,
Draco
Hermione giggled at the letter over breakfast and asked Ginny what she thought. The two girls burst into laughter again. "Come on, what's it say?" Ron asked.
"Oh, no! I won't have a professor hexing me! No way!" Hermione hid the letter quickly and glared at Ron. "I enjoy having all my limbs attached to my body, thank you very much!" She turned back to Ginny and giggled again.
"Let them go, mate. It must be a girl thing." Harry said, reading his own letter from Draco. Draco was extremely bored and didn't have much else to say. Harry decided that a message to Professor Snape was in order, to warn him about Draco. Harry had a feeling that Draco might try something, like leaving the house without letting Severus know. That could cause all kinds of problems. Like the wards falling. Or both of them getting caught. Harry didn't have time to put his letter away. He grabbed at his forehead and gritted his teeth. Screaming surrounded him and he saw a vision for the first time in a while, ever since Tom had taught him Occlumency. He tried to fight it off, but it was too strong. His defenses were down. He lost himself among the screams and flames.