Disclaimer : Own nothing. Don't make money of it.
A BIG THANK YOU to my beta Sara. Any mistakes left are my own.
Chapter two: Hell breaks loose
Harry didn't see it coming.
He was sitting in one of the Hogwarts Express' compartment with Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom, both of who were deeply immersed in their respective readings: Botannica Botannica for Neville and The Quibbler for Luna. The poor girl was still holding her journal upside down.
He was thinking about how glad he was that Ron and Hermione had been made prefects and had to leave for the prefect carriage in order to receive special security instructions; even if Voldemort had given no sign of life, the population had been advised to stay on its guard. New guides regarding home and personal defence had been published and distributed by the Ministry two weeks prior. Molly had made sure during his stay that he learned most of the spells in them. Although, what was the point of learning spells if you couldn't even practice them?
Harry had at first enjoyed his week at the Burrow, at least at first. The first few days had been great, really: he played quidditch with Ron, pranked Ginny with the twins, talked about muggle artefacts with Arthur and began his school readings with Hermione. However, on the third day he found himself kind of… overwhelmed. Not that he didn't like the Weasleys but he wasn't used to living around so much people at the same time. He couldn't bare the uneasy feeling of intimacy it brought up to him.
The Weasleys were a close family. They didn't have much, that was for sure, but everything they had whether it was belongings or thoughts or feelings, they shared it. Harry couldn't help distancing himself. It was too much for him. The worst part was that he would have loved to belong to such a family when he was in first year but it was no longer possible. He couldn't confide in any of them the way they did to each other. He was not supposed to.
What was he to tell them anyway? That they could fight all they wanted, that it wouldn't matter in the end, the issue of the fight would stand between Voldemort and himself? The damn prophecy was weighting heavily on his shoulders. What was he to do? Kill the bastard and live a happy life ever after? Did he have it in him to kill someone, even as evil as Voldemort, when he wasn't able to cast a proper crucio on his godfather's murderer?
That was what Harry was thinking when it happened. The train had just gathered speed and he was watching the British landscape streaming from the window. He heard the compartment's door slide open and thought that Hermione and Ron were coming back early. Then he heard muffled cries and he scarcely had the time to turn his head toward the sound when his face was met brutally with a fist. He caught a glimpse of white blond hair before his spectacles were thrown away by the next punch and he fell on the floor.
He didn't even try to defend himself. He simply curled into a ball while he was kicked in his back and stomach. He felt strangely remote from what was happening to him. He wondered what could bring Malfoy so as to use physical violence against him. Malfoy was a wizard, a pureblood and a Slytherin at that. Direct attack was not like him. Harry smiled: right now, the ferret was acting like a true Gryffindor. He felt Malfoy tugging at his collar and could discerned his pointy face through his blurry vision. His head was so close to his that he could smell his breath and see the lines of anger on his face.
"I'm nothing compared to the Dark Lord. That's what you said, hum?" he asked in a low voice. "Told you I would kill you, Potty."
"You'll have to do better than that" rasped Harry. "What is it, ferret boy? Forgot you are a wizard? Or did you forget all about daddy's lessons? All you have to say is Ava…"
"You. Slimy. Worthless. Peace. Of. Shit" pronounced Malfoy, kicking his ribs with each words.
Harry laughed, albeit silently. There was a desperation in Malfoy's act that made Harry almost pity him. At that moment, he was certain that Malfoy felt as powerless as himself. Though he didn't know what provoked such a fit, he wanted to endure any punishment Malfoy would submit him to. It suddenly made so much sense. Pain for each of his sins: Cedric's death. Sirius' death. His inability to answer Dumbledore's expectations…
But shouts burst and his redemption was taken away from him.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Finite incatatem!"
Hermione and Ron had just freed Neville and Luna from their binding spells. Strong arms engulfed him and carried him away. Remus. His authoritative voice scattered the crowd of students gathered in the corridor, whispering among themselves, and confined them all to their compartment until they reached Hogwarts. He also sent Hermione and Ron away alleging that they had duties as prefects – one of them being the supervision of Malfoy's stupefied body until he came back.
"What happened there?" Remus asked once they had locked themselves in his compartment. "Why didn't you defend yourself?"
"Don't know," answered Harry, still dazed. "It seemed sort of… logical."
"Logical! What can be logical in letting someone beat you up? You are lucky Malfoy forgot to cast a silencing charm on the compartment or else you could be dead!"
"He didn't? I'm rather disappointed."
An indeed he was. Seemed like he couldn't even rely on Malfoy to help him end all this nonsense.
"It would have made things so much easier though…" muttered Harry for himself.
"Which things, Harry?" asked Remus urgently.
But Harry kept silent. Remus was really worried now. He growled in frustration and paced the compartment.
"Harry…" He shook the indifferent teen slightly. "Harry, talk to me."
At this, Harry's eyes snapped open. He suddenly realised what he had said and he began shaking uncontrollably. A single tear fell down his cheek and he opened his mouth once, twice…
"I can't," he whispered. "I can't."
He sobbed. And began coughing blood. Remus rushed at his side all the while searching his bag for the potion supplies Snape always gave him before he was sent on a mission.
"Here. Drink this. You probably have some ribs broken. This will help you until we reach Hogwarts. Shouldn't take long now. Rest."
Harry could feel his eyes fluttering shut. Remus had probably slipped a dose of sleeping draw in one of the potion he gave him. He really should be more cautious.
"Mobilicorpus."
Remus exited the Hogwarts Express careful of the body trailing behind him.
"Ms Granger! Mr Weasley!" he shouted.
The two Gryffindors hurried to him, casting worried glances towards Harry.
"Don't worry," Remus tried to reassure. "He will be all right. I gave him a sleeping draw; it keeps him from moving too much. I'm taking him to the infirmary. Would you be so kind as to transport Mr Malfoy's body to the headmaster's office? The password is 'bubblegum'".
"Yes, professor!" they answered in unison.
Remus reached the castle in record time so anxious was he about Harry's injuries.
"A black eye, a broken nose, two broken ribs and several contusions." diagnosed Poppy. "With the sleeping draw you gave him, he won't wake up before tomorrow morning. At least, by that time, he should almost have recovered." A look of sadness passed in her eyes. "Who did this to him?" she inquired.
"Draco Malfoy." answered Remus curtly, anger boiling through his veins at the memory.
He didn't have time to tell her more as the infirmary's doors opened violently and hurried steps were heard.
"Professor. Are you still here?"
It was Hermione Granger.
"The headmaster is waiting for you in his office, sir." she said when she caught sight of him. She was still flushed and out of breath from her run through the corridors.
"Thank you Hermione, I'll be going. I'll come back in the morning." he warned Poppy before taking his leave.
Hermione was already pleading with the nurse to see Harry.
…
"Bubblegum." uttered Remus to the gargoyle guarding the stairs to Dumbledore's office.
"Ah, Remus, do come in my boy." Exclaimed the headmaster. "Lemon drop?" he proposed, his eyes twinkling madly under his spectacles.
Remus let out an exasperated sigh. Sometimes, Dumbledore's cheerfulness really got on his nerves.
"No, thank you." he answered – a bit more harshly than he would have like.
"Well sit down then, and explain to me why young Mr Malfoy has been brought to me in such a state."
Remus growled low and eyed the body slouched in the chair at his left warily. He was greatly satisfied to notice that Dumbledore hadn't thought necessary to end his spell. Malfoy was still petrified and couldn't move or say a thing. Remus noticed some blue marks on his face that were not there before – Ron's work no doubt.
"Which state are you talking about?" asked Remus cautiously.
"Why, but the immobilisation spell of course."
"Would you have rather like something… nastier?"
"Come on Remus, he is still a boy. Surely…"
"Mr Malfoy is no longer a kid, headmaster. We are not talking about some boyish fight. We are talking about attempted murder. My advice is to expel him from Hogwarts and hand him over the Aurors."
"This is out of the question." interrupted a deep voice behind him.
Severus Snape came out of the shadows, arms crossed and brows furrowed. He sneered at Lupin for good measure and faced the headmaster.
"You cannot expel him for something that didn't even happen on school grounds."
"Snape" snarled Remus menacingly. "Stop playing with the rules, would you? That godson of yours tried to kill Harry and he has to pay the price for his actions."
"Who said he tried to kill him? Perhaps your dear golden boy didn't fight back because he knew it would make him expelled. Anyway I don't see why Draco should be expelled when that dog friend of yours wasn't." he insinuated.
"You…" murmured Remus flying at Snape's throat.
"ENOUGH! Both of you!" shouted Dumbledore, his eyes no longer twinkling. "Sit down. And shut up."
If Severus and Remus were surprised by his language, neither showed it. They obeyed, albeit grudgingly and glared at one another from their respective seats.
"Ennervate" said the headmaster.
Malfoy came back to his senses and immediately schooled his features into a blank mask. He looked calm, his posture as arrogant as ever. Malfoys… thought Remus.
"Mr Malfoy," began the headmaster, his tone solemn. "I would like you to tell me your version of what happened on the Hogwarts Express. According to witnesses, you assaulted one of your schoolmate unprovoked. May I ask you what incited you to do so?"
Malfoy's eyes turned angry and defensive at the same time but he uttered no words.
"It is most unusual, even for you, to bodily attack a student and try to kill him… Attempted murder, Mr Malfoy, is worth ten years in Azkaban." he added. "It is a grave matter we are confronted to. I should expel you from Hogwarts this instant and call the Aurors."
Draco tensed visibly and a flash of fear passed in his eyes. He swallowed audibly, squeezed his lips into a thin line and held his head higher, still silent.
"However, we are facing troubled times. Who knows at which extremities handing you over to justice might push you. So for now, I'll simply settle on confining you to your head of house's personal quarters. Food will be delivered to you by house elves and Professor Snape will tend to your studies."
"Headmaster!" cut Remus choked. "You cannot let him go so easily! And to Snape's quarters at that! The man will let him do everything he wants!"
Dumbledore raised his left hand effectively silencing him.
"I'm not doing Mr Malfoy any favours." His look hardened. "For I'll not hesitate to reconsider my position shall Harry choose to lodge a complaint against him. I'll let Harry choose which punishment he may wish Draco to endure. An act such as attempted murder will not go unpunished in this school" he declared.
"Headmaster," Snape spoke. "You cannot let Draco's life in Potter's hands!"
"Severus… I trust Harry with this, the same way I trust you with young Malfoy. As Harry is still taken care of in the infirmary, I'll ask you to keep Draco locked away until he wakes up and makes his decision. You may all go now."
"Tea?" proposed Severus once he had showed his godson his room for the night.
"Yes, please."
Severus summoned a house elf and ordered some sandwiches as well, for it was almost ten and neither of them had eaten. They were both sitting in the mahogany armchairs by the fire when the food and drinks appeared. Severus was reading a potion periodical. He had not uttered a word since earlier and Draco didn't know what to make of it. He had expected him to lecture him about what he had done, though, come to think of it, Severus was not the kind to do so. He mocked, scathed, belittled… but lectured, no, definitely not. He was in for a good one this time.
"Would you like some tea, uncle Severus?"
There. If he was to die tonight at least he won't forget his manners. And perhaps reminding Severus of their ties might make him more pliable.
Well… One could always believe in miracles, couldn't he?
Severus pushed his periodical aside and eyed him for awhile. He wasn't smiling per see – Draco could not imagine something more terrifying than his godfather smiling – but he surely looked amused and that was not good. Draco felt like a mouse under a cat's eye. He tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, the tea pot slightly shaking in his hand. There were times like that when he should just remember to shut up.
Severus inclined his head, smirking. Draco silently filled his cup and handed it to him before putting the kettle down and sitting back on his chair, hands folded in his lap. He wasn't hungry anymore.
Seconds, minutes flowed by and still, he said nothing. It was becoming creepy. A battle of will had begun. Usually Draco would have stayed nonchalant about it – he was a Malfoy for Merlin's sake! His father had trained him better than that. Today though, he found the silence unbearable. He had been on edge all day and his fight with Potter had wore him out. He was in no state to play Severus' mind games.
"Spill it." he said.
His godfather arched an eyebrow mockingly.
"Sorry." said Draco.
"Were I not certain of you identity, I might have administered some veritaserum to you. It seems like you are turning into a Gryffindor."
"Don't be insulting." spat Draco annoyed.
"Language," reprimanded Severus. "A true Slytherin, Draco, would never have attacked a student bodily, let alone get caught in the act."
"I got carried away."
"Indeed." he said. "Care to explain what benefit killing the Potter brat would have brought to you?"
"He would be dead."
"I see. Unfortunately you failed and are now in a very delicate situation."
"You tell me. I can't believe the old fool is letting Potter decide of my 'punishment!'"
"I'm sure a trip to Azkaban can be arranged if you so wish." retorted his godfather ironically.
Draco screwed up his eyes in distaste.
"At least, I could find a way to escape and join the Dark Lord."
"I thought you didn't want to."
"That was before, uncle Severus. Mother received an owl from the Ministry this morning. Father has been sentenced to death. As there are no Dementors left, he will be poisoned in two days. Like a common muggle! My father is going to die and it is all Potter's fault! I won't find reprieve until he dies from my very hands. And if that means joining the Dark Lord and dying in the process, then so be it."
Harry awoke to the feeling of the sun on his face. He was lying on his back facing something white. Though his vision was blurred from the lack of glasses he knew without a doubt that he was facing the infirmary's ceiling. He had been in this bed so many times that he could recognise his surroundings immediately. He still felt a bit groggy but otherwise fine so he guessed he wouldn't stay long this time.
His hand fumbled around his head looking for his spectacles but someone took it and slipped them in it. He put them on, relieved to see the world clearly again.
"Making it a habit to spend the night watching over me?" he asked Remus.
The werewolf displayed a strained smile.
"How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened?"
"Malfoy…" he began.
"Don't worry, Harry. He is being taken care of. Professor Dumbledore confined him in Snape's quarters. He cannot escape."
"Ah."
"Harry…" Remus took his hand in his. "Do you wish to prosecute him?"
"What do you mean by that?" asked Harry astonished.
"Attempted murder is worth ten years in Azkaban. You can condemn him."
"I… What? But it was just a fight, Remus!"
"You almost died!" shouted Remus loosing his calm.
Harry winced.
"I'm sorry, Remus," he said. "But… I'll think about it, all right?"
"Right." whispered Remus his head in his hands. "Right."
Harry had never seen the DADA teacher so aghast before. The man looked tired – even more so than after a full moon. He noticed the tensed features, the dark circles underlining the eyes, the slumped shoulders with something akin to guiltiness. All of this was his fault. If only he didn't attract danger like a magnet. If only he knew what to do…
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I should be the one asking you this question, don't you think?"
"'m fine" mumbled Harry.
"So you keep saying. But it doesn't mean that you are… Harry, what happened there?" he asked for the second time.
"It's complicated."
"Does it have something to do with Sirius? With his death?"
"I deserved it, you know."
"Deserved what, Harry?"
"The beating. Made sense. I have been having this dream all summer: I'm at the Department of Mysteries and there are only Sirius and I. He laughs at me and… I kill him. I guess, I needed something like that to happen. Needed to be punished because, you know, it's only the beginning. Others will die and I won't be able to prevent it. Saviour of the Wizarding world, my ass."
He bent his head in shame. There was a long pause before Remus talked.
"Harry… I'm not going to tell you it was not your fault…"
Harry's eyes widened.
"But I'm not going to tell you it was your fault either. It was an unfortunate series of events that led to Sirius' death. What you did was only one of them. Hell, if I want to, I can blame his death on Peter. Had he been caught, Sirius wouldn't have had to live hidden. He wouldn't have been so restless and wouldn't have fall into such an obvious trap. I can blame it on Snape for being his usual self. I can blame it on me. I can blame it on Sirius too but… it won't bring him back."
"Do you hate me sometimes… because of it?"
"Hate is a strong word. I'm not even sure I actually hate Snape." Remus laughed. "But angered, yes sometimes. Although most of the time I wish I would have been there. I wish you had someone to talk to about those dreams. Perhaps then, we could have prevented it."
"Hum… Thanks I guess."
"Whatever for?" asked Remus surprised.
"You are not trying to sugar-coat things like Dumbledore and the others. I appreciate that. They keep saying it was not my fault, as if it can help me."
"Welcome to the adult world, Harry." said Remus bitterly.
Harry was having dinner when Ron and Hermione came to visit him.
"Harry! How do you feel?" asked Hermione.
Her brown eyes were bloodshot as if she had spent the entire night worrying about him.
"Madam Pomfrey barely let me see you. I thought you would never wake up. You were so pale…" she murmured.
'I'm fine, 'Mione. Really. Poppy said everything is back in order. She is just keeping me here tonight to make sure that there are no side effects because of all the potions I took."
"You missed the feast, mate." said Ron abruptly changing the subject. "The Sorting Hat made a new speech about unity in dark times and crap like that. I don't believe anyone listened to it."
"I did!" exclaimed Hermione with indignation.
"Well it's you, Hermione." said Ron. "Anyway, all people were talking about was the fight and the fact that you…"
"Ron!" shouted Hermione. "You insensitive little twit!"
Ron blushed and closed his mouth.
"The fact that I what?" asked Harry leaving his tray on the bedside table.
"Well…" stammered Ron.
"It doesn't matter, really Harry. And we are here for you if people began harassing you."
Ron shot her a look and her eyes widened.
"Oups" she said.
"So…" sighed Harry. "What is being said… this time?"
"That you didn't fight Malfoy back and that you are a…"
The end of Ron's phase was lost in a murmur. Both of his friends were fidgeting on their feet and looking anywhere else but at him.
"A what?"
"A sissy."
"Oh…"
"Well, well, well… Looks like our most famous student is awake."
Snape stood behind them, arms crossed over his chest in his most imposing posture. He gave them all a bored scowl.
"Weasley, Granger. Out."
How the man could bark without even raising his voice was beyond Harry. His friends left at once, probably not wanting to infuriate their potion teacher any more than he already was. Snape closed the curtains around his bed and cast a silencing charm around them before sitting swiftly in a chair.
"Make yourself at home" Harry ground out between clenched teeth.
"Five points from Gryffindor, Mr Potter. You will do well to remember who you are talking to."
All the hate Harry felt for the greasy git came back in a rush. He breathed in deeply.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, professor?"
Professor Snape smirked at him.
"Watch your tone too. I'm here to know what you are planning for my godson… Draco." he clarified.
"Oh."
"Always the articulate one, Mr Potter."
"Does the headmaster know you are here? Because I'm not sure he would appreciate you trying to intimidate me." Harry said casually.
"Mr Potter," whispered Snape drawing his face near to his. "Do not underestimate me, would you? Because I could make your life a living hell should I choose to. I could assigned you detentions every night for the next two years. I could insult you, belittle you in class or drop your marks and make sure you failed your exams. I could slip something in one of your potions; contrary to popular belief I'm only human and accidents do happen. I could follow you everywhere and spread all your insignificant secrets. Basically, I can turn you into the pariah of this school."
Snape sat back down on his chair, an evil smile playing on his lips. Harry didn't want to show his fear but somehow he knew he wasn't good at hiding it.
"That, Mr Potter, would be intimidating you, as you so nicely put it. But I didn't threatened you. I simply asked you what you decided regarding Mr Malfoy."
He paused, waiting for an answer. He couldn't have planned what happened next though. The Potter brat laughed. At him.
"You know what Snape?… Professor" he corrected. "For a brief instant, I thought about sending Malfoy to Azkaban."
Snape paled.
"Not because he tried to kill me, but because you obviously think that's what I'm going to do. I guess my father wouldn't have thought about it twice. And you probably would kill Sirius on the spot were he still alive. I'm sorry to disappoint you though, professor. I'm not my father. And I'm not you either. I don't give a shit about that hate of yours. Your are fighting dead people. And I'll not condemn Malfoy to revive your hate. So rest assured, your godson will live. Now I would appreciate if you would just leave. Poppy won't be long in checking on me and I would like to rest."
Harry firmly closed his eyes. He didn't want to look at Snape to see what effects his speech had on him. Somehow, he didn't care anymore. Snape's grudge against the Potters and anything related to them seemed so childish to him now. Honestly, it was time someone turned the page for him.
How dared the brat talk to him as if he was some inconsequent child? thought Snape striding up and down his living room. Did he forget who he was? He was a teacher at this school, a figure to be respected. If the brat thought he could bully him the way his father did, he was sadly mistaken. Sure, he knew how to play the adult. Just like James. Always had to be above all others, that one. Making pompous speeches and playing the righteous Gryffindor whenever he had an audience. Especially in front of Evans. What good did it do to him in the end?
The brat will pay for that. He still had to pay him back for the intrusion of his pensieve. Though, the death of Black was enough to keep him content for years. It had been an unexpected but nice surprise. Who would have thought the dog would react in such a way to his baiting? Had it been anyone else, Snape could have felt remorse for all the spiteful things he said. But Black had been the worse of the lot, always laughing at things. Even after he tried to kill him. A funny joke indeed. That man had been a danger walking on legs. The world was better off without Black. HE was better off without him around. And it was not as if he actually killed the man. Black did it all on his own.
Now, he could only hope Black's death would make the Potter brat stop wandering about dangerous places. He was so tired of rescuing him. As if he didn't have enough on his plate dealing with the Dark Lord, Dumbledore's demands and the Order's suspicion towards him. He never understood why the old fool placed so much faith in Potter anyway. The child was barely able to save his ass let alone save the wizarding world. Sure he survived a few encounters with his master, but it was mere luck. The Dark Lord should have been stopped years ago. He said so before but wasn't listened to. Now, the Dark Lord's powers were almost the way they used to be. Soon, it would be too late.
He hoped Dumbledore had a joker in his hand, and a powerful one. He didn't want to come back to the Dark Lord but he certainly wasn't ready to die for a lost cause. He did all he could these past years to ensure that the Light side had a chance to win. If the Order decided to throw it to the bin there was nothing he could do. It wasn't as if they ever thanked him for his help anyway.
His sole priority was now to ensure his godson's survival. He won't let him make the same mistakes he did. The boy had made him proud the day he came to tell him he wouldn't join the Death Eater's ranks. It had been a fool thing to do: after all, he was still known to be one of the Dark Lord's most faithful servant. Did Draco doubt his allegiance? Snape thought at first it was a trap, a test both for Draco and him. But the boy's nervousness quieted his worries down. Draco, for all his education and slytheriness, wasn't yet able to lie to him. That was what saved his life. That, and the fact that Draco had come to him rather than to his father. Severus had felt warmed at the thought. He sometimes wished Draco was his son. Although him ever having children was ludicrous to say the least. And most improbable.
So the Potter brat should better not mess up with him! Sure, he said he wouldn't sent Draco in Azkaban but he was still his father's son and Black's godson. Who knew what his idea of a good joke was?
A pain in his right forearm made Snape stop his pacing. He frowned, worried. He had never been called to a meeting the first night of school before. The Dark Lord must have heard of Draco's fight. His suspicions were finally justified: they already were Death Eaters in training reporting to the Dark Lord. Wasn't his life already complicated enough? With a sigh, Snape flooed to the Headmaster's office.