Embracing His True Self
Big Thanks to Curja for their help on making this chapter as smooth as possible with all the help she offered with the Poker part! I'm absolutely pants at that so yeah, it definitely looks so much better! Thank you!
Chapter 62
"I thought you lot wanted a rematch?" Harry asked, leaning against the doorway, watching them listen to the wireless, sounded like a Quidditch match was being played. Although, who it was Harry had no idea, their last names weren't familiar to him. Despite his love for Quidditch at Hogwarts, he was more in it for flying. He knew the names of some Quidditch teams but nothing more and only because he'd heard them in passing.
"Wha…we…er…that is to say, what?" Terrance Higgs spluttered out, his eyes wide.
Harry cocked his head to the side, staring at the group, they looked ready to piss themselves. "Card game? You better have gotten the Firewhisky, I was looking forward to that,"
"You still want to play?" Terrance blurted out, genuinely taken aback. Glancing at the others as if trying to gauge their reactions as well. They were all just as surprised as he was that Harry was standing there as well.
"I thought your schedule would be rather…busy tonight," Marcus Flint commented, a wicked smirk adorning his face, which made him look more sadistic than amused really given it showed nearly all his teeth. "Not that we would have blamed you,"
"Yes, he is hot like burning isn't he?" Harry taunted them right back, causing all of them to duck down, staring alarmed at Harry's casual way of talking about their Lord. Half expecting him to turn up around the corner and curse them for discussing him. "I mean those hands…"
Theodore, Blaise, Pansy and Millicent choked on their own spit.
Aiden Pucey squeaked, "The game…" he muttered desperately, "You still want to play?"
Harry laughed, throwing his head back, properly displaying every single bite mark that Voldemort had put on display while marking his territory. "I thought you didn't like starting things you won't be able to finish?" he asked them, they had begun taunting him…what had they expected an innocent virginal flush to overtake him as he stuttered? Oh, no, he rarely let anyone see genuine reactions from him. Maybe Voldemort and Luna and on the odd occasion, Severus but that was the extent of it.
"Just stop, we aren't going there," Marcus stated, shuddering, "Our Lord has the propensity to turn up just as something was said that shouldn't have been…"
Harry just smiled mysteriously, green eyes gleaming with a knowing look. Unlike them, he would know the second Voldemort approached. The mark he still bore acted as a beacon, he would know he was approaching even if it no longer burned him. He could, if he so wished, actually see out of the Dark Lord's eyes temporarily. Although, the last time had been an accident, and it had pissed him off, so it wasn't something he rather wanted to do again. Plus, it had been entirely too dizzying and weird to wish to do so again. The only way it would happen is if Voldemort apparated, but it wouldn't really be sneaking up if he was Apparating now would it? "Alright," he said, taking pity on them. "I've had Luna set up in the room we used last time…well, with Butterbeer anyway, the real stuff was meant to be bought by you," gesturing towards Terrance.
"Well, luckily I did," Terrance admitted, although not for the reason the original bottle was going to be used for. No, they'd planned on getting bloody hammered after what they had just seen. "You've already cost me ten galleons." He must be mad wanting to lose more but maybe, just maybe the beginners luck had worn off.
"I'm insulted, you thought I'd get beaten?" Harry asked, shaking his head in mock irritation.
"He thought you'd get your ass handed to you," Marcus answered with a smirk, "I had him at twenty galleons you'd win. He shot it down to ten, so at least he had some doubts." Not against selling Terrance out, no Slytherin would be against being smug and superior that they were right all along.
"Love proving everyone wrong," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders, he was aware that they probably weren't the only ones who had placed bets either. "Bring everything down to the room, Barty and Luna are there," he added, "Nott, Parkinson, Zabini you can come if you want," they looked slightly put out, but the surprise on their faces proved they did indeed wish to come.
And with that Harry left the room.
"Well, you coming?" Marcus grunted as he stood, rubbing his hands together, determined to beat Potter tonight.
"I…" Theodore murmured, slightly dazed.
"Draco will be most displeased," Pansy admitted, especially if he wasn't invited.
"You think he won't show up?" Blaise said, snorting a little, he was there when they made the original plans, Draco would take it as invitation, that he too was invited. Although, given that he had been led straight away by his father after the duel maybe he wouldn't get out of his parents sight. "Well, I'm going, it's either that or head home." And he'd rather avoid his mother's badgering on what 'he wanted to do when Hogwarts was done' despite having near perfect grades. So, he would be able to do whatever he chose, he just didn't know what he wanted to do if he was honest.
They found themselves in an empty room, Marcus and the others had already left. Evidently not truly caring whether they chose to come or not.
"Come on!" Theodore urged, as he jogged from the room, in order to catch up with them, since they didn't know where they were set up. It was obviously a room they'd used to play before, but Theo hadn't been there for that, so they didn't know. He definitely wasn't going to try and ask people where they were.
They managed to find the room by barely keeping up so the guys were in their line of sight round ever corner then of course the room. Theo, Blaise and Pansy gaped as they entered, it was an actual games room, with the proper gear and everything. They'd never expected such a sight in the Dark Lord's manor. It made them wonder if he gambled or if it was something to keep the people happy.
"Woah, has this been here the entire time?" Theo asked, there were snacks strewn all over the table, next to where they had all just sat.
Marcus arched a brow, "Of course, it has." He grunted, unimpressed with the insipid words.
"I had no idea this was even here," Theo added, "I mean, I thought I had investigated every room on this level." The one level he was actually allowed to be in. Everywhere else was off-limits.
"That's doubtful, even I haven't investigated everywhere," Harry said wryly. "And I'm here every day." Had been for quite a while. He didn't know about this room until the 'coming-out' party which had coincided with his birthday. So more of a birthday party than a coming-out to the dark side sort of thing.
"Five card draw?" and it was quickly agreed, that was what they'd play.
"Why is it you decided to leave Hogwarts anyway?" Blaise asked.
"Betting limit per game I'd say ten galleons?" Harry said, putting a limit on this one, the last game he'd played, he couldn't remember a limit being on it, but it had all been adults and completely hammered so they probably hadn't thought of the good idea.
"Fifteen," Terrance suggested.
"Twenty," Marcus argued.
"Alright, eighteen galleons," Harry suggested, that way almost everyone would be happy. Plus, he doubted they were hard up for the money.
They all quickly agreed they were happy with that stipulation.
"I thought the scene in the Great Hall that time would have been explanation enough?" Harry said derisively, clicking his tongue. "Stop there, that's enough for me," he added watching Marcus pour firewhisky into a goblet. Harry then poured a more than generous amount of butterbeer into his cup afterwards. He didn't want to get completely sloshed through.
Ten sickles were placed in the pot by Harry, who said "Ante up!" and the others added their own money which was in a pouch next to them.
Harry laughed when Theo, Blaise and Pansy barely got more than a gulps worth.
"What? I'm not getting any shit from your parents if they get wind of this, it's that or nothing." Marcus grunted, the Parkinson's were bad enough but Blaise's mother was the absolute worse. Theo's dad was a bit more laid back but he had no idea the kids tolerance so best to be on the safe side.
Harry used magic to deal the cards swiftly, dealing to his left then clockwise to everyone else. Each getting a card until they all had five each.
"Fair enough," Pansy agreed, well aware how annoyed her parents would be if she got drunk. She wasn't going to turn down free drink though. Accepting her cards, a pout showing on her face momentarily before she was 'pokerfaced' again.
Harry of course, noticed it, but he was sitting with a bunch of Slytherins who had been playing since they were young probably. So, he would need to suss out what were genuine tells or what was faked just to make you think the opposite of what they wanted you to know. It would be bad form to read their minds to find out after all…nobody had accused Harry of being good…at least not for a good long while.
Luna giggled behind her own cards, only to be given odd looks from everyone around her. She completely ignored them, used to the looks she received all her life.
"It will be unfair if you win," Harry commented to Luna who was sitting next to him.
"Tell me about it," Barty grumbled. "But it is a good advantage," he certainly would use it so he couldn't blame Luna if she did. Placing two of his cards down and accepting the replacements, as did Marcus, Harry and Luna. The rest seemed happy with what they had. Harry as the dealer of course, went last.
"What happened in the Great Hall?" Terrance asked, genuinely curious as they begun to play the game. Relaxing back, at least they managed to actually get the game off to a start this time, without Malfoy there to complain about his cards. It's like the kid didn't know how to play at all.
"Oh, I withdrew from school, handed my exam results over and walked out. The look on their faces were hilarious." Harry said chuckling in amusement. "I would have loved to have stuck around to have seen the look on Dumbledore's face though, but he can see through my invisibility cloak so I couldn't." genuinely pouting over that fact.
Barty snorted in amusement, only to laugh in glee at the next words.
"He bolted after you, shouting your name so loudly I wouldn't be surprised if the rafters vibrated," Theodore informed him with a smirk, "The entire school was in an uproar, not that I blame you really, she was a wicked bitch."
"That she was," Harry murmured, glancing pointedly at Pansy.
"What? I'm not going to feel guilty," Pansy stated seriously, "I'd rather be on the winning side. Plus, the Ministry had too much control over Hogwarts that year. Plus, do you ever see Dumbledore protecting any of the Slytherins? We did what we had to in order to protect ourselves." The anger and disgust pouring off Pansy was immense. She had a deep hatred of Dumbledore like all Slytherin's inevitably did due to his favouritism.
"He didn't even help his 'Savior' so why the hell would he protect anyone else?" Theodore scoffed as he drank his whiskey laced beer.
They all had their hand, now it was time to bet.
"Severus would have," Harry stated immediately, and without a doubt. For it was him who had protected Harry as often as he was able. He knew it wasn't just because Voldemort had demanded it either. Severus might have hated him to begin with, but that hatred hadn't stopped the protection Severus had given him. "I bet ten sickles," Harry declared putting the coins down, starting low but this wasn't a high stakes game, it was just for fun.
Theodore, Blaise and Pansy were startled by the use of their Head Of House's first name. Sure, they knew it, but they'd never used it or heard anyone their age using it. It conveyed a deeper meaning, they knew their professor was obviously close with Potter.
"Was it all faked?" Blaise couldn't help but ask, "The antagonistic relationship you two had?"
"I'll see your ten sickles," Luna said, before adding more to the pot, "And raise you seven sickles!" which essentially made it a galleon in the pot already.
"That's it?" Pansy scoffed, "I'll see your seventeen sickles for five galleons."
"What do you think?" Harry asked, wondering what on earth they all thought. Despite the conversation going on around them, they were all paying close attention to each person.
"I would say no…but I never thought you'd be here so, what the hell do I know?" Blaise scoffed, shaking his head. "Fold," he wasn't even going to try with these pathetic cards in front of him.
"I just don't get that, I mean seriously, why the hell do you all think that my allegiance was a sure thing at the age of eleven? I hadn't even been in the magical world before then!" Harry said exasperated.
"Other than the fact you're suspected to have faced the Dark Lord at the end of your first year?" Marcus was the one to point that out, as he matched Harry's stake.
"Oh, that's true," Harry conceded, his lips twitching as Theodore added to the pot with a clear disgruntled look on his face for a second.
"What that wasn't just bloody rumours?" Blaise practically squawked.
"I thought Dumbledore just used something pathetic blown out of proportion, I mean a chess game?" Theodore scoffed, still seething over the loss by the way.
Barty added to the pot arching a brow as they continued to talk, curious despite himself.
"Actually say what you like about Ron, that chess game was set up by McGonagall," Harry defended Ron, "At eleven years old…but he's always been good at chess. I think he would do well on the tournament circuit." Win a lot of money at that too. "I'll raise you two more galleons," after putting in the pot, and raising.
"I'm surprised you'd want to defend him after everything he's done," Pansy said screwing her nose up in disgust, "Bloody Weasley's!" absently playing with her coins as Luna went next after Harry, then it was her turn.
"We'll never be friends again, but it wasn't all bad," Harry conceded, "I've never understood the hatred you all have for the Weasleys' though,"
"But you actually faced the Dark Lord? What happened?" Marcus asked, genuinely curious. Although the drink might have something to do with it. It was difficult to believe someone with only the basic of Hogwarts education got the better of the Dark Lord.
Harry cocked his head to the side, staring at everyone who was actually paying close attention despite the game. They honestly wanted to know what went down, the rumour mill had been rampant but nobody had actually believed that Voldemort had been at Hogwarts. Hell, Dumbledore hadn't wanted what really happened getting out and probably fed the rumours. "Voldemort couldn't touch me due to the protection my mothers sacrifice inspired. So when he did, Quirrell began to disintegrate, it forced Voldemort to flee without the Philosopher stone Dumbledore had stored in Hogwarts to draw him out and see what would happen between us." Harry said simply, shrugging his shoulders. Giving it straight in a way that wouldn't embarrass Voldemort, because if he did, there was no doubt Voldemort would make him regret it, feelings aside. Voldemort was a vindictive shit.
"Well, he can definitely touch you now," Theodore sniggered, before clapping his hand over his mouth in horror at his own words. Glancing at the doorway as if expecting the Dark Lord to suddenly appear and torture him. "Fold," he added, putting his cards down, he wasn't going to waste any more money on this unsalvageable set of cards.
"That he can," Harry said, a smirk playing across his face. "And you are drunk,"
"No I'm not," Theodore complained, clearly lying through his teeth.
"Go eat something," Marcus ordered, shaking his head before deciding to summon food for all of them. He really didn't want to get into it with the parents. This might be the biggest mistake he'd ever made. Potter that could outdrink the Slytherins, there was a day he never thought he'd see.
Harry's eyes gleamed into Marcus' as if he knew what the Slytherin was thinking. It was extremely intimidating, not that he would ever reveal that information to anyone.
They all ate not just Theodore as they played out two games, Theodore, Blaise and Pansy were only allowed Butterbeer after their first drink – clearly unable to handle their drink as of yet – much to their consternation. Surprisingly Pansy ended up winning the first game, and the second game went to Marcus Flint, Barty Harry had learned was a very sore loser.
"Well, I'm going to get back to Rodolphus, I owe him some snuggles," Luna declared cheerfully, as if she didn't mind that she had lost two games. She'd had good fun, she wasn't often invited to activities like these with people her own age. She had spent her Hogwarts years being bullied, only Harry had given her a chance…even Hermione and Ron had written her off immediately.
Barty and Harry barked out an amused bout of laughter at the looks on Theodore, Blaise, Pansy, Marcus and Terrance's face. Honestly, you'd think Luna had just declared that she usually tap dance's naked on the full moon surrounded by werewolves not declared she was going back to her lover.
She gave Harry and Barty a wave before she took off without another word to anyone.
"Rodolphus…snuggles?" Marcus muttered in horrified fascination. "Speaking off…what exactly has happened to Bellatrix? I assume she's dead?" Harry didn't seem to be one who took anything lying down anymore.
"No," Marcus and the others were startled to hear that coming from Harry.
"No?" Terrance echoed the word, wincing at the reality of a Bellatrix alive without magic, it was just too horrific to contemplate. It made Terrance have a healthy respect for Harry Potter and a single minded determination never to piss him off. It was probably the same for all the others, especially seeing as the Dark Lord probably wouldn't do anything about it. "Damn that is just…vicious," death was preferable than living without magic.
"Mmm, Rodolphus couldn't bring himself to kill her," Harry shrugged, giving away the fact he had left her fate in the hands of the Lestranges' and that they had taken pity on her…the worst kind of pity at that.
"That's hardly a surprise," Barty said, understanding what was going through Rodolphus' head more than any of the others. He was good friends with them, although lately he'd have to say Harry was more of a best friend, but only because the brothers had been focusing on getting better and he had never been in the state they had. He'd had been fed meals three times a day under the Imperius curse after all. It had addled his mind being free so suddenly, but he was still in better shape than the brothers.
Someone clearing their throat had them all looking up, Harry was half expecting Voldemort but was pleasantly surprised to see Severus there. "Hey," Harry said in greeting.
"If you have nothing to do, I would like it if you would help me brew a few potions in the lab." Severus stated briskly.
Harry arched a brow, Severus never needed help brewing…unless he had something he wanted to give most of his attention to. He had mentioned his desire to create a potion, so perhaps he wanted to focus on that instead. "Sure," he agreed.
"We can help as well, Professor?" Blaise suggested, next to Draco he was the best potions brewer in his year.
"I think you'd be a danger of blowing up the lab, as opposed to helping, Mr. Zabini," Severus said dryly, "Perhaps if you were sober the answer would have been different." Which was a lie but he'd rather let his Slytherin's save face. They got enough crap from the magical world just because of their placement, he wouldn't add to it.
"I'm not that bad," Blaise protested.
"I beg to differ, you're slurring your words," Severus said wryly, giving Harry a nod, before leaving the room and its occupants.
Barty and Marcus eyed Severus skewedly, knowing he didn't need help. Nor would he ask for it even if he was working under pressure.
"Best get going," Harry said, his curiosity showing, indicating he too, knew there was more to this than just brewing potions. "Thanks for the game, I'll see you later," and it had been fun, he was beginning to really like spending time with Marcus and Terrance. Although Barty was still the funniest of the lot.
"Definitely have to do it again," Barty stated determinedly but it was the last thing Harry heard as he left the room.
It didn't take Harry long to get down to the dungeons, where Severus was waiting for him. "You definitely don't need help with potions. What's wrong?" if anything he was the one that required inspiration from Severus when it came to certain potions.
"Has anyone given you the talk?" Severus asked, clearly deeply uncomfortable, but the set of his jaw and brow spoke of determination.
"The talk? About what?" Harry asked, frowning in confusion, at the abrupt change of subject.
"Sex," Severus stated bluntly. Truly unsurprised that neither Black or Lupin had thought to inform Harry of such things. They were bordering on immature, they knew nothing about children.
Harry flushed red immediately, "What the hell do we need to talk about sex for?" Harry squeaked out, eyes wider than Dobby's on a bad day.
Severus smothered down his amusement, he had never seen Harry so…embarrassed before. "I'm going to assume you missed out on the talk Poppy gave to boys in your class?" which wasn't surprising given the amount of time Harry often ended up in the Hospital wing.
Harry nodded curtly, glancing at the doorway, almost tempted to make a run for it.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to give you an actual talk," Severus said wryly, the boy would probably die of embarrassment if he did so. "Instead all I ask is that you read this book, it will tell you everything you need to know, from the mechanism of sex to usual first time questions people want to know the answer to but rarely ask."
Harry gulped, "Fine," he squeaked out, "I'll read it," too off-kilter to do much of anything let alone run.
"Harry…is this something you want?" Severus asked seriously, leaning against his empty workstation. "That YOU want." Not the Dark Lord, not anyone else, he wanted to be sure Harry wasn't being coerced into it, but he didn't think it to be the case. Merlin knows what he would do if it turned out that Harry didn't want the attention the Dark Lord was paying him.
Harry blinked, a small smile spreading across his face, realizing just how much Severus actually cared for the first time since he'd deflected to the other side. "That's something you don't have to worry about, Severus, I promise." Severus practically deflated like a burst balloon with confirmation. "I very much look forward to exploring…things with him."
"That…that's good," Severus said, clearing his throat, relief shining through his black eyes.
"How about you and I begin working on that tenth incomplete potion idea?" he had no names for any his potions, but the idea behind it was always written down first and foremost. As soon as the war was over for good, the potions would be published. Well, all except for the Metamorphamagus potion, that wasn't something they wanted widely publicized. Severus would get his share of acclamation and money gained, no matter what he said.
"Which is your what?" Severus enquired, relaxing steadily, now that this horrific task was over with. He had read through the grimoire Harry had so graciously allowed him entry to. He had expressed interest in quite a few of them, but he hadn't memorised the book, the potion ideas weren't together, Harry scribbled a lot of information down, spells, potions, charms, hexes, dark arts and then potions again, it was all mixed up. Only Harry could ever make any sense of it.
"The one to repair the damage done to the Longbottoms," Harry explained, "Dobby?" he called, leaning against the lab table on the other side from Severus. "Can you bring me my grimoire, please?"
"Dobby will be doing that right away," Dobby said popping away, unsurprised that his Master had not waited for him to talk before asking. He knew he tended to blab a lot, but at least his Master Harry didn't hurt him.
"How is your arm?" Severus asked, concerned, his heart had been in his goddamned mouth the entire duel. He had sworn a vow to protect Harry, yet he'd been unable to interfere with the duel, and quite frankly, he hadn't known what the damn consequences would be. To the interference of the duel or worse, letting Bellatrix do anything to Harry. He was undeniably proud of how far Harry had come, the Dark Lord had taught him well enough…but Harry…had definitely trained on his own, and had his own brand of duelling. Which seemed aimed at pissing people off to the extent they couldn't think straight.
"It's fine, Voldemort's done worse during training," Harry shrugged, "I'm just glad she didn't go straight for the killing curse…I doubt I could have survived that,"
"That is very true, but Bellatrix is one for a spot of torture and completely bringing her opponent down. Her need for theatricality was her downfall, something you ought to take into consideration." Severus gave him a knowing look. He had been unsurprised that Harry had used his spell to take care of Bellatrix, he liked to do the unexpected.
Harry just gave him an innocent look before glancing at Dobby when he appeared with a pop. He accepted the book with a nod of thanks and Dobby disappeared with a pop. Harry immediately begun flipping through his book, until he came upon the one he'd began when he found out what happened to the Longbottom's. It had admittedly been out of sheer boredom at the time…but if anyone deserved some good luck it was the Longbottoms…it was Neville. "Here it is, I'm pretty sure I've showed you it before."
"It does look familiar," Severus conceded, but they had been focused on the Metamorphamagus potion for quite a while.
"How is Narcissa taking it?" Harry asked, without a hint of guilt. He didn't feel guilty but he did feel bad for Narcissa in an abstract sort of way.
"I am unsure," Severus revealed honestly, as he placed the book in front of him. "I have yet to talk to either of them. Narcissa…despite Bellatrix's…mental instability loves her, not enough to allow her unsupervised time with her son, but enough to allow her to see him, that tells you just how deluded she is with just how far gone her sister actually was."
"Is," Harry corrected him absently, as Severus copied the information on the page and began to write down his own modifications without much thought put into it. Potions came as easy as breathing for him, so it was hardly any wonder. "Rodolphus couldn't bring himself to kill her, and Voldemort couldn't either."
"No, I don't suppose he could, there is one thing the Dark Lord appreciates above all else…loyalty. He rewards loyalty with loyalty, its why he was so desperate to get his followers out of Azkaban as soon as possible."
"Unless that loyalty gets in the way of what he wants," Harry commented idly, not unaware that Voldemort would kill even one of his most loyal followers to get what he wanted at the end of the day. Heck, Harry suspected he'd even kill him – and the Horcrux – if it came to it although considering he had absorbed the rest maybe not.
Severus paused briefly, glancing up at Harry, before nodding just once, "Indeed," was all he had to say on that subject. At least Harry wasn't becoming so utterly besotted that he didn't know what the Dark Lord was truly capable of.
"I doubt very much the Dark Lord will thank you for saving two Order members," Severus commented as they worked, suggestions going back and forth as they worked in sync.
"You actually think the potion will work?" Harry asked dryly, "I have no doubt that Neville's Gran has the best people working on a cure and nothing has been worked out yet."
"Then she doesn't employ the right kind of people," Severus sneered at the prospect.
"Perhaps," Harry conceded, reckoning she used American Potion Masters of renown. Not many trusted Severus, despite the fact 'Dumbledore' vouched for him. So, he would have been struck off immediately, he wondered if the witch would come to regret that if they manage to successfully make it. Severus was a prodigy at potions, utterly phenomenal, he understood potions in a way that nobody else did. The Potions Mastery, being the youngest, didn't quite cover it.
And so they sat on their stools and let their thoughts be known, completely forgetting the time. Not that they had anything to worry about, after all, they had nothing that needed their attention any time soon.
"How about phoenix tears? Would that work on mental damage? However miniscule it is," Harry mused thoughtfully.
"I've only ever heard of it repairing physical damages," Severus replied, "I am unsure of whether it would work against mental illnesses, and the tears are damn near impossible to incorporate into potions it requires a finesse that is near intolerable to accomplish."
"Okay, is there any potions available to deal with mental damage? Brain damage or anything of the sort Even a short amount?" he didn't know every single potion available so excuse him for asking. "Even one that isn't well known or 'illegal' by the Ministry's standards."
Severus frowned, his mind mentally calculating everything he'd ever read. "I believe…" Severus said slowly, "That there are three that I've read about, that might offer us some assistance." Already knowing what Harry was planning, it was quite ingenious really, to incorporate two potions together to make something new. Or using it as a stepping stone in order to accomplish what he wanted. Or making the first potion better, more powerful, much like what he had done with the potion for Remus Lupin and his wolf-y problem.
"But?" Harry asked, if he had the books he'd already be off like a shot to get them, of that he was sure.
"I believe you will find them in the Dark Lord's library, I may have one but I am not one hundred percent on that front. It's not something I had a great interest in, potions of that nature are extremely pernickety and I found myself disliking them immensely." Severus admitted, he had sold and bought more books than he could remember, so that one may have been one of the many sold for something more up his street.
"Not your preferred area, gotcha," Harry agreed, "Well I'll just ask…"
A pop interrupted their conversation.
"You're requested to go to dinner at once," the House-elf reprimanded, and without waiting for a reply she disappeared.
Harry and Severus stared at where the House-elf was incredulously before glancing at the time. Severus arched a brow while Harry's eyes widened, bloody hell, it was well past dinner time, so past dinner time that it was nearer supper. "I guess we better go," Harry sighed, "I'll find the books tonight, and read through them."
Severus tapped the paper in front of him then another, appeared before the pages glowed blue. "Any alterations made, will show up on both copies," he explained, as he closed the book and handed one copy of the parchment and the book back to Harry.
"Nobody finds out about this conversation," Harry warned him, flushing red, despite himself. "No one." He tried to sound as threatening as possible, but the reality came across as an embarrassed youth.
"Let's not keep the Dark Lord waiting," Severus replied in lieu of an answer.
Harry groaned, the Slytherin that Severus was…there was no way he'd agree to keep it to himself. He'd just added to the ammunition, like some sort of Gryffindor. Muttering under his breath, he and Severus left the dungeons – taking with them the grimoire, the book that had Harry flushing further and parchment – and despite the general disgruntlement and delight on Severus' part, it was with a dramatic flare and general amusement that followed them up. Shoving the books in his cloak pocket - charmed to house more than just mere sweets or his wand - he did not want anyone to see that book thank you very much.
It hit Harry that Severus had been acting as a father figure…and why not? He was much better at it than Sirius who constantly needed watched over, supervised so he didn't do anything silly. Although, the reality was, since the potion to help recover from Azkaban he had been more stable. It warmed Harry that someone cared to bother about something like that. Never having had a parental figure, this day would stick with him.
More Harry and Voldemort moments or shall we come to the trial? dealing with the Order? Harry and Severus as well as Voldemort succeeding in the potion for the Longbottoms? proving Voldemort just to be as smart - when we all know he is - as them both? just a little more on the lazy side...why do anything when there were others to do it for you? I've not had a real chance to 'embarrass' Harry in this story and this opportunity just couldn't be passed by! :D I hope you found it as amusing as I did! R&R please