BLOOD OF THE MOTHER by BertaS Oct. 2005
Chapter 18
Description: the guys go to Hogwarts for some things.
Disclaimer: They are, sadly, not mine. They all belong to JKR
A/N: Replaced chapter 17 with edited version. Changed one line and formatting of Dudley's and Amelia's letters.
Hogwarts
Entering Severus' rooms, Harry was surprised that they where not filled with books and caldrons. In fact, this first room was wholly depressing. It was a large space. On the west wall was a large fireplace. The only furniture in the room was a ratty looking armchair by the fire and a plain worktable with a single chair near the east wall leaving a large empty space in the middle. They had entered from the south and there were two doors to the north.
Severus didn't pause as he headed to a door in the northwest corner. Harry followed into what turned out to be a nice bedroom done in shades of green with silver accents. The contrast between the two rooms was interesting. Sev obviously did not live in the outer room and he certainly did not entertain in there.
Harry was brought out of his musing by Sev asking, "Harry, will I be returning to these quarters?" Sev was standing by a large trunk holding a haversack.
Harry shrugged, "Um… You are going to teach this year, aren't you? I doubt the old man will let you stay if you don't teach and replacing you would be nearly impossible in the… what? Two weeks 'til term starts? This is one of those things that you are going to have to make a choice on, you'll be the one dealing with the Headmaster more than I will."
Sev frowned, "Am I a good teacher, Harry? I never have any patience with the dunderheads who don't want to learn. And Albus will never give me the DADA position." He sighed sadly.
With a shrug Harry said, "I managed to get an 'O' in potions, you must be doing something right," He then smirked "Tell me Professor, which class is more dangerous to students if the teacher is incompetent? Would you, for example, allow, oh… lets say, Lockhart, to teach potions?"
Sev's frown turned to a look of disgust and horror, "I do not believe anyone in your year would have survived." He snorted softly, "He couldn't teach his way out of a paper bag. One of these days I should very much like you to tell me exactly what you did to him; the result was such a major improvement." He raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly.
Harry laughed "I didn't do anything to him. I guess the real question that you have to answer, is do you want to continue teaching? And do you really want the DADA position? Your first day speech each year is always so passionate; it's obvious you love potions. The one from first year was pretty awesome. So do you continue teaching a subject you love, or can you let whatever incompetent twit Dumbledore would hire kill your students?"
Sev smiled, "I do like potions. Maybe I can change some things to make it more interesting to the students?" He also recognized that his master's phrasing had expressed a desire for him to continue teaching potions.
"I think if you could make class more fun, we might be more willing to learn. You do realize that I will be in the advanced class this year, don't you, Professor Sev?" Harry smirked.
Severus was shocked, "I did not think you would want… I mean, I have always had to be so nasty and unfair, the little death eater wan'a-bes would have reported it if I had done any different. I felt the need to use every opportunity to prove I believed like their parents."
At the words 'felt the need' Harry's eyes narrowed, "Sev, would Albus have put that as a compulsion. To, I don't know; -treat Harry like crap or they will suspect you- kind of, thing?"
Severus bit his lip and shrugged, "I do not know Harry. If he felt it was to the greater good, he may have. I certainly feel no desire to treat you with anything but respect now."
They where interrupted by a knock at the door.
Harry said, "I'll see who it is, go ahead and pack what you think you'll need for a week or so. We can always come back for more."
Minerva McGonagall, who was working on this years' class schedules, was surprised to feel a ripple in the wards. Since she did not usually pay any attention to the link to the school, that was Albus' job, it took several minuets of concentration to decipher the meaning of the sensation. The wards had indicated a student had entered the school and was in a teacher's room. Not just any teacher, but the Potions Master's rooms. She knew that one or two students had been in the school several weeks ago but Sybille had said that she could not tell where they had gone or what they had done. She took a while longer to decide what she wanted to do.
Minerva was shocked, when the door to the potion masters quarters opened, to be confronted by a well dressed, healthy looking, staff wielding Harry Potter. Albus had given her and the rest of the order, the impression that Harry was not well due to magical over exertion. He had not been optimistic about a full mental recovery, and kept going on about the removal of safeguards, and changes in the wards at Privet Drive.
Tipping her head to one side to get a better look at the staff that was pointing at her face, it truly was a beautiful thing. She commented, "Mr. Potter, you are looking a great deal better than I was led to believe you would be. Is Professor Snape about? I had some things to go over with him for the coming school year." In her mind she added 'like what the hell is going on? And will he be here at all this year? He really has no reason to stay, goodness knows he hates it.'
Harry lowered the staff, "Good Morning Professor. We were just discussing the fact that I will be in his NEWT class." He smiled and dug in his pocket, handing her a piece of parchment, "My list of classes." She glanced at it confirming it was the classes she had expected with the addition of beginner Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.
Severus walked out of the bedroom carrying a haversack, frock coat, and a cloak; he was wearing a loose long sleeve, dark green dress shirt and black slacks. Minerva did not think she could take any more shocks, then he smiled and said, "Good morning, Minerva." He laid his things on the table and gestured to the armchair, "Please, have a seat? Would you like some tea?" She could do nothing but stare as he led her to the arm chair, moved the other chair from the table to face her and picked up the only thing that seemed to decorate the mantel, a small bell that made no sound, Minerva had to fight with herself not to swear and blurt out 'Who are you and what have you done with Severus Snape?' Seconds later there was a popping noise and a small house elf dressed in the most peculiar way was bowing to them.
"What's can Dobby be getting 'Fessors?" as the little creature stood it seemed to start then threw itself at Harry, "Oh, Harry Potter Sir. Dobby is so happy to be seeing Harry Potter Sir." The boy was smiling and hugging the elf, "Whys is Harry Potter Sir in quarters of 'Fessor Snape?" Dobby's huge eyes narrowed and he turned to Severus and snarled, "Is 'Fessor Snape being bad wizard to Harry Potter Sir." Minerva had never seen a house elf so hostile or aggressive. Even Severus was taken aback.
"Dobby, Professor Snape is my friend, part of my family now. I will not have you saying bad things about him." Harry said firmly as he knelt by the little elf.
When the little creature started to cry and beat its head on the floor Harry grabbed it "I won't have that either, Dobby. What have I got to do to get you to stop doing that?" he sighed.
Dobby said tiredly while holding his head, "Thank you, Harry Potter Sir. To gets Dobby to stop Sir must be taking Dobby's sock."
"Uh… I think the professors would like some tea, could you get it for us? We can, um, discuss your sock later. Okay?" Harry seemed a little bewildered but managed to smile at the elf.
"Oh, yes Harry Potter Sir, right away Harry Potter Sir."
Minerva was splitting her attention between her colleagues' face and the boy on the floor. Severus' reaction was quite unusual. He seemed surprised and intrigued and amused. He was not in any way hostile, like he normally was in Harry's presence. He also made no comment about the fawning house elf.
When the tea appeared it was on a low table and a third chair appeared at the same time. While she tried to think of a way to ask why Harry was with Severus and where they where going.
Their talk centered on the coming school term. Severus finally said, "Minerva, what is it you want to ask? I don't have to use legilimancy to see you're biting your tongue, trying not to just blurt it out, what ever it is. I assure you Harry and I are doing nothing wrong."
She pursed her lips "Severus, did you tell Albus that Mr. Potter was ill? He seemed to think Harry was either on deaths door or going dark I really couldn't tell which. He seemed to think you were putting some kind of undue influence on Harry. The papers have had some very wild things in them as well; that you are now Harry's" she snorted, "the word they used was 'minion'; a story that claims Harry removed the dark mark and put his own on;" here her eyes flicked briefly to his fore arm, "something about blood sacrifices; one story had it that you're lovers," she smirked at this, "and now I find him in your quarters. You didn't show up for the order meeting last night. There was a real mess in Diagon alley just because of a rumor the two of you where at the bank. What does it all mean?
Harry spoke up, "So people think I'm dark and gay?" He giggled, "The Dark Pouf?" He almost fell out of his chair laughing at the image of several Death-Eaters in drag, specifically Lucius Malfoy in pink sequins and a boa.
Severus had a sudden mental image of a Death-eater meeting only with every one dressed like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and began laughing, it was something Minerva did not ever remember hearing before, and she chuckled a little. The idea of 'the dark pouf' was a bit amusing.
Severus finally got himself under control, "What it all means Minerva, is that Harry has accepted me as his Liegeman, his cousin donated a small amount of blood to change the dark mark into this," he rolled up his sleeve and extended his arm so she could look, "he says it is a protection mark and there are no longer any compulsions on it. The Dark Lord was not the only one to use it to hide spells." She was surprised again when Severus looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. "Harry then used the residue of that blood to… well, destroy the Dark Lord." He looked at Harry, "I'm not sure what you actually did, Harry?"
Harry shrugged, "Um, well, I think, the blood acted as a conduit, you remember I told you about Mum's diary?" When Severus nodded Harry continue, "Someone made a prophecy, Mum wrote it down. After we figured out who was meant by 'The Dark That is Light'. It actually told how to 'vanquish' Riddle." Harry grinned.
At their astounded looks he said, "The process was the same as changing the mark. I could, it's hard to explain, 'see, taste, sense?' the spells; the ones holding him on this plane, keeping him alive, I kind of," He shrugged, "unraveled them."
There was a silence for several moments before Minerva said, "I'm almost afraid to ask. Who else hid spells on the mark?" The look on her face was begging to be told it wasn't the Headmaster.
At this Severus drew into himself shaking as though expecting her to be angry when he answered, "It was Albus. He said it was just a loyalty bond."
Harry snorted, "I don't think I would call an obedience compulsion and the inability to lie to him a 'Loyalty Bond'. I'd call it criminal." He shook his head, "But as it is gone, there is no proof."
Minerva let her head drop into her hands and whispered, "Oh, Albus. What have you done?"
They talked for a while longer and Minerva assured them that she would be giving the Headmaster a piece of her mind when he returned from the ministry. They cautioned her to be careful and told her that they had something else to do here and then would be at Headquarters after lunch.
Next Chapter: You Can't Keep Him
Sev and Harry go to Grimmauld Place.
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