Chapter 5

"He's doing it again," Hermione whispered, pointedly nodding at the head table.

"I know," Harry answered curtly. Hermione frowned as he almost threw the butter onto his toast. "He's probably planning how to get me to Voldemort."

"Harry!" Hermione's glare turned to her friend, "He's a member of the order! And Dumbledore trusts him," she added more softly, "I think you might be wrong about him."

"I know I'm not," raspberry jam hit the butter, "He knows something the headmaster doesn't and he's trying to keep me from finding out what the prophecy truly means." Green eyes sparkled angrily as he glared once more at the teachers, not even noticing the interested glances some of them were giving him. Only Snape seemed completely oblivious. Harry narrowed his eyes. Or at least Snape was pretending to be. "What ever he's planning, it can't be good for me."

"I think you're wrong Harry." Hermione studied Snape from under her lashes, "Merlin, he's eating heaps of jam without anything else!"

"I know I'm not wrong. Where's Ron?"

Hermione just shook her head and returned to her breakfast. She knew that it was impossible to talk to Harry when he was in such a mood. He would have to listen to her later.

xxxSS/HPxxx

They were doing it again, Severus Snape thought angrily and glared at what was supposed to be his breakfast. No, his brunch. His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. Not that anyone else would ever call a heap of jam an actual meal. Except for Dumbledore maybe. Carefully he risked a glance, shielding his face with his hair. The bushy-haired nuisance was still observing him. Severus snorted. His hand hovered above the toast for a few seconds, before retreating gracefully. She probably even believed herself to be inconspicious. Children! All of them. And on days like these he believed Albus to be the worst of them. Who else could have the idea of having an 11 o' clock brunch instead of breakfast and lunch every sunday? It only meant that the students had more excuses to laze around and stay in bed. Weasley had probably decided to lie in, thus leaving the Potter brat at the mercy of his so-called friend, the bushy-haired nusiance. Why for Merlin's sake were they still trying to observe him? He swallowed another lump of jam and stole another glance at his oldest friend. Yes, Albus was observing him as well. Severus snorted into his tea. No, not onserving, more like openly staring. Really, the crazy old badger was almost as bad as the brat and the nusiance.

"Thinking of something particularly amusing, Severus?"

"Not at all, Minerva," Severus smirked briefly, "I was simply thinking about the wonderful fact that even Hufflepuff is ahead of your house at the moment when it comes to house-points."

The smile on McGonagall's face froze.

"And pray why would you be thinking about that now?" Never before had Severus seen someone who could express extreme displeasure simply in the way they held their back. McGonagall's was very stright and rigid right now. Smirking again Severus decided that he had manage to get to her again.

"Because two of your precious Gryffindors look like they'd like to get rid of me for spoiling their precious Sunday," he quickly snatched the jam out of Minerva's reach, "And trust me, I shall not die without taking at least a thousand points from them. Severus raised his eyebrows. "Something the matter, Albus?"

"No, no, nothing at all," the headmaster quickly hid his laugh in a caugh, "Nothing at all," he repeated as Professor McGonagall turned to glare at him."

"You are incorrigible," the animagus hissed, grabbing the strawberry jam instead, "And why do you always hoard all the raspberry jam? You always say that you don't even like raspberries!" She threw her hands into the air exasperatedly, "What's the point in it?"

"I like the way it annoys you." Severus replied calmly, forcing his expression to remain neutral as McGonagall stared at him from impossibly wide eyes. He had not thought that her back could get any stiffer, but it did. Maybe it'd be so taut one day that it'd break?

"You're not serious," Minerva said simply.

Severus simpoly cocked an eyebrow and continued emptying the jar of jam onto his plate.

"You are not serious," McGonagall repeated. She frowned. "Are you?"

"Aren't I always?" Severus forced himseld not to smile as Minerva's lips turned into a thin line.

"Leave him be, Minerva," Albus gently patted the animagus' hand, "He probably didn't sleep well. He'll be alright again as soon as he has some students to torture."

Snape's eyebrows were disappearing into his hairline as he turned to the headmaster, a crimson spot of jam still clinging to his chin, "You above all should know that I never torture students."

"Of course my boy," the headmaster's voice was no less warmer than on any other day, "I was merely trying to be humerous."

Severus sniffed before he returned his attention to his plate. "Please keep your humor to yourself as long as it serves no purpose."

xxxSS/HPxxx

Severus stared balefully at the lake, silently berating himself for being able to resist. His rational part had managed to gain the upper hand but another, carefully hidden part of himself still wanted to throw stones and things into the lake and wake the giant squid or at least destroy something, anything. He needed to destroy something. The students were still few and scattered about today and there was nothing else he cold hurt or destroy as long as he wanted to leave his possessions intact. The last time he had talked to Albus about this the headmaster had simply suggested he go outside and scream at a tree or something. Or something. Severus' lips twitched sarcastically. Albus should have know that it wouldn't have done. He wouldn't be able to yell at a tree. Never had been, never would be. Trees were sensitive, even if no one else seemed to notice that. Of course most humans were unable to notice the really important tings nowadays. And with every year of dunderheads to darken the halls of Hogwarts the most of them seemed to become less and less perceptive of their surroundings and their peers. That Weasley boy was the perfect example of that. As was the Granger brat. A deep frown etched itself onto Severus' face as a small, dak shadow suddenly fluttered over his shape. His nostrils flared briefly as he stared at the bird in front of him.

"You," he hissed, "What do you want?"

"To thank you," the Morrigan said, cocking her head and staring at Severus from beady, black eyes. "You are what lead me to my newest interest."

"Nothing mortal interests you."

"Unclench your teeth, human. It makes your voice even more disgusting." Severus could have sworn that the damned bird was smiling. Or would be if it could. "That boy of yours is very interesting."

"He isn't my boy." Severus grated out, wincing as his fingernails bit into the palms of his hands. "And he will never be."

"But he could be," the Morrigan laughed silently again, "And your master is very interested in him as well. Tell me, mortal, what is the price he offered to the one who could bring the boy to him?"

"There is only one master I serve."

"And I'm sure your colleagues all know who that is. What would they say if they truly knew?"

"Keep out of my business." Black robes swirled around Severus as he stood up, a deep shiver running through him as he faced the unnaturally still bird.

"Then stay out of my business," the Morrigan retorted, "And I have decided to make that boy my business. Stay out of my way, or face the consequences."

"You know I cannot," Snape whispered, dark lashes obscuring his eyes. "I am honour-bound to protect the boy." He said, still staring at the mossy ground.

"You know that you cannot stand against me." The bird's eyes were a glittering red now, "Oppose me and die. Even your master will not be able to save you from my wrath."

Snape's lips curled. "We shall see," he snarled, "I shall do whatever I can:"

Severus could feel the magic crackling on the air as the bird vanished in a flicker of blueish light. For a few seconds he stared at the now empty air before the chill of the morning finally registered with him. Mentally shaking himself the black-haired man turned and strode back to the castle.

xxxSS/HPxxx

He stopped dead as furious green emeralds suddenly burned into him. "Potter," he hissed before the boy could say anything, "What do you want?"

"What do you think I want, Sir?" The last word was spat with enough hatred to make even Snape wince, "I simply want to defeat Voldemort," Snape winced again, "And to get all this shit over and done with. What is it?"

"Five points off Gryffindor for your choice of words, Mr Potter." Snape crossed his arms in front of his chest, glaring down his nose at he trembling boy.

"What is it that you are keeping from me?"

"Whatever I decide to keep from you is mine to keep and no concern of yours Mr Potter. Now, if you were so kind as to step aside."

"You know," the boy hissed, "You know what the riddle with the raven means! This was the second time I saw you speaking to it! Why have you been hiding this from me? From the headmaster? I bet you haven't even told the order! How can Dumbledore still think that you're on our side?"

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape said automatically, "He's Professor Dumbledore to you. And doubting my allegiance will gain you nothing. I am on your side Mr Potter, whether you decide to accept it or not."

"Why are you trying to keep me from the raven? You just spoke to her!"

"Did it even occur to you, Mr Potter, that the raven I was speaking to was of a very peculiar size?"

"That's why it is the right one!"

"No Mr Potter, that's why it could have been any animagus or something entirely else."

"Why are you trying to stop us from defeating Voldemort?"

Snape winced again. "I am not trying to stop you and I have never been:"

"Oh yes? Then why does everything go wrong as soon as you're near? I never really trusted you! And I was right! You are still a Death Eater! You still serve your old master!"

"There is but one master I serve Potter, and I assure you that he is not after your blood."

Severus shook his head, gathering his robes around him as he watched the fuming boy storm off. He should have deducted more points. And it was still cold. Damn it. Damn it all to hell. Why could things never be simple? Shaking his head once more he sighed deeply and slowly followed the boy into the castle.

xxxSS/HPxxx

Green sparks flew as the floo powder hissed angrily in the fire. "Albus Dumbledore," Snape hissed, his face narrowing as the familiar face appeared in the flames.

"Severus my boy! How nice of you to call me! What can I do for you?"

"It's that Potter boy again," Severus growled. The black chair next to the fire place protested loudly as he threw himself into it, "He decided to challenge me today."

"Challenge you?" Severus' gaze darkened as Dumbledore chuckled softly, "I must admit, I was waiting for that to happen."

"You were what?"

"Severus, stop towering in front of the fire, I hate talking to your legs. Now that's better," Dumbledore said as the enraged potions teacher had returned to his seat, "There's always been a lot of anger in Harry, ever since Sirius..."

"Yes, yes, I know Albus," Snape interrupted, "I have no desire to speak about the boy's damned dogfather and his death."

"Severus!"

"Whatever," Snape ingnored the headmaster's reprimanding stare, "Mr Potter seems convinced that I know the answer to the last part of the prophecy and am keeping the answer from him because of my allegiance to Voldemort."

"Does he now?" Hairs whispered as Dumbledore stroked his beard, "My, my Severus. Whatever did you do to get yourself caught up in that situation?"

"I have no idea what strange thoughts may curse through Mr Potter's head and I am completely sure that I don't want to know either. The experience of understanding the boy's thoughts would probably scar me for life."

"Severus." Dumbledore's voice made it more than clear what he thought of Severus' opinion.

"Yes Albus?"

"What happened to make Harry believe such a thing?"

"Stop talking to me as though I were a child Albus." Snape's back had stiffened with every word, and he was now looking almost as taut and tensed as McGonagall had that morning.

"Then stop behaving like one."

Snape hands clenched around the arm rests. "I am not behaving like a child."

"Are you quite sure, Severus?"

"What are you going to do about Potter?"

"What should I do Severus? All I can do is talk to him and I did already tell him that I trust you."

Snape forced himself to relax his fingers. "Maybe he needs to be reminded?"

"And do you realy think that that might work?" Dumbledore raised a sceptical eyebrow, "I must admit, Harry seems to have an incredibly deaf ear when it comes to you."

"He is probably on the way to your office." Snape continued to ignore the headmaster's inquisitive stare, "I would appreciate it if you could at least try to talk some sense into him."

"I will try my boy," Dumbledore shook his head, "But I could deal better with the situation if you would tell me why exactly Harry thinks that.."

"I am not your boy!" Severus snapped angrily, already getting up as he waved his wand at the fireplace and extinguished the flames. "I am nobody's boy," he whispered to the empty room. "Damn you, Potter. Damn you. Why can't you see reason, just for once in your life?"

Sighing Severus strode out of his quarters, automatically adpoting his best student scaring walk. There was only one chance of preventing Potter from making a fatal mistake.