Harry Potter and the Emerald Raindrop
AkashaWinters
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter world. JK Rowling owns the Harry Potterverse anyone who doesn't know that should be exiled to Mars, I make exceptions only for poor penniless people in remote corners of third world countries, who cannot read and don't have the money to buy the overly priced one – thousand paged books. I make no money from my poor attempt at fanfiction. A necklace of raindrops was written by Joan Aiken, I do not own any of the rights etc.
AN/ LOOKING FOR A BETA! If anyone would like to beta for me I'd be very grateful. I did have one, however we somehow lost in touch. Please send me a signed in review or review with an e-mail address saying you're interested. Thank You!
Chapter 22Broomsticks and Cauldrons
As Harry arrived at the door to Snape's private rooms he hissed a greeting to the snake portrait in front of him, which replied to his greeting and opened readily for him. Technically, he should have knocked and waited for Snape to answer the door, however ignoring politeness and aggravating Snape was much more fun. He had still yet to find a way to keep out Harry, although to his credit it had only taken Snape two un-passworded entrances from Harry to realise he had been talking in Parseltongue to the doorkeeper.
The door swung open and Harry was surprised to find the room inhabited by two people; Snape had never had any visitors before. Snape stood at the table decanting a fowl-smelling potion while his companion combed threw Snape's extensive bookcase, back to the door. The man had a mop of greying chestnut-brown hair, pale skin. He wore a long brown coat, which was defiantly looking the worse for wear, and he could do with a new pair of leather boots too. He turned around to face him, when Snape gave Harry his usual sarcastic greeting.
"You're late, you lazy brat!" Snape snapped, but his eyes held no real venom. "And what did I tell you about knocking! Five points from Griffindor!" Harry just laughed; they both knew Snape was only irritated because he couldn't keep him out. 'He's got a point, what if I walk in on him naked or something?' Mmmm…you know that's why you really do it don't you. 'Shut up'.
"Harry!"
"Remus!" Harry flew across the room to great his father's last remaining friend (Peter didn't count, besides he'd be dead soon if Harry had anything to say about it!). "How are you, you're looking well. Have you found a job yet? What are you doing here?"
Remus laughed at him, smiling warmly. Harry smiled back; smiles were very rare from Remus these days, since they'd lost Sirius. "I am very well thank you, I'm just here to collect a new batch of wolfsbane potion for next week, I like to have a nice strong one for Halloween. And yes, I've found a job, in fact I started last month, I was going to send you a letter but I've been very busy actually."
"You should be careful working for the ministry, Lupin. I wouldn't put it past them to find some way to make you snuff it once you've served your purpose." Snape hissed as he bottled the last of the potion.
"Thank you Severus, I'll be watching my back very carefully I assure you." Remus replied politely, packing bottles of potion into his pockets.
"You're working for the ministry?" Harry asked surprised, they'd always refused him work before.
"Yes, I'm tracking dangerous magical creatures, more specifically; werewolves. The ministry have recently built some secure, comfortable safe houses for the werewolf community to use during the full moon and are know supplying us with money to buy wolfsbane, at last! Unfortunately after such a long time of persecution, most of the werewolf community live in hiding with little or no contact with the wizarding world and have no way of knowing of the new state of affairs. That and the fact that many simple don't trust the ministry," Remus concluded.
"I'm not surprised!" Harry cried, "Are you sure this isn't a trap?"
"Yes, very sure Harry, the project manager is Kinsley Shacklebolt, he's a member of the order." Remus smiled back, he seemed so very happy with the new proceedings. He deserved to be; after all it was all his hard work that had made this happen. "Anyway, I won't be working with them long, just long enough to spread the word and gain trust, then I'll be using this ministry job as insurance for a normal, non-ministry based job. Hopefully I'm on the road to becoming a regular member of the wizarding world at last."
"Congratulations Remus!" Harry laughed, hugging him. It was that Harry noticed Snape staring at him; he was trying to say something without saying it. He glanced at Remus.
"You know Lupin they should give you a medal for great SERVICES for the ministry." Snape drawled sarcastically, however he had his eyes on Harry and had emphasised the word service for some reason. Then it hit him; Remus had a paid job in a service (the ministry), he could act as Harry's Wizarding Courtman.
"What's wrong Harry?" Remus pulled back concerned, feeling his discomfort.
"Erm…" Harry began, not sure how to do this. Snape came to the rescue however, conjuring up a tray of tea and sandwiches.
"Maybe we should take a seat." Once they had all taken a few sips of tea and relaxed, Snape continued allowing Harry to stare out the window. "Well as you know, Potter has learned elemental magic over the summer and has lost his control on it more than once this term."
"Yes Albus said…" Remus trailed off as though realising something.
"It's alright," Harry replied, miserably. "I already know that Dumbledore's been discussing me at ordering meetings he neglected to invite us along to."
Remus looked surprised, then amused. "I didn't think it would take you long to realise. For all his insight, Albus can be completely blind sometimes. And it's Professor Dumbledore, Harry"
"Yes well, from now on would you please let me know if there's an order meeting so I can make a surprise entrance." Harry replied, a malicious smile growing on his face that would show Dumbledore.
"Of course," Remus replied smoothly, a twinkle growing in his eyes. "Albus told us about you unique abilities and your loss of control with Draco and Lucius Malfoy, is there something you want to tell me? Has something happened with the Malfoy's?" He asked concerned.
Harry took in a deep breath, "Its not what they did, more…what they said. They just hit a sore spot and made me angry."
Remus put an arm around his shoulder and squeezed, he suddenly looked sixty years old, "I know so much has happened to you over the years Harry, awful things have happened to all of us…" Harry new he meant Sirius, Remus and Sirius had been parted for so many years and then they finally got back together, only to have Sirius snatched away from him like that… Harry had hurt, a lot, but he couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Remus, who loved Sirius so deeply, thought that he'd betrayed him, found him again then to loose him. He'd barely lived threw last year, then they'd talked and Remus had thrown himself to helping the world in every and any way he could, that was how the werewolf acceptance had started from, it was all his work. "I'm here for you, you know that, we can always talk. We always do…"
"I know, this isn't about…anyone I've lost, or my responsibilities…." Harry replied his heart was pounding now; he couldn't do this.
"Teenage stuff then? I know I'm an old git and all, but I do remember what its like to be a teenager and I know it all matters, even the small silly things." Remus took a breath, then continued tentatively "I read some interesting newspaper articles…"
Harry gave him a weak grin, "Oh, yer…Surprise!"
Remus grinned back, "new you'd come to the light side and realise girls are boring! So…is it something to do with this, need a chat. You know Severus might not be half bad a that either."
Harry's face whipped round to look at the so far silent Snape who was sipping his tea. He sneered unpleasantly "Don't even think about it. I'm leaving the sex talks to you wolf, you can explain to him how it all works." Hmmm…bet you wouldn't mind showing him though… that voice purred. 'Shut it!'
Harry felt his face flushing a deep red and managed to reply, without stammering, "I'm seventeen, I don't need a sex talk thank you!" owww, so he is gay! 'You're NOT helping me!' The voice only sniggered in reply.
"I'm sure you don't." Came the mutter from the black-haired man next to him, although he wasn't looking too happy himself. Harry was sure he must be beetroot by now. Remus was watching the banter carefully, there was something between those two, he smiled; it was nice to see Severus uncomfortable for once.
"Alright, so you're not need sex talks or help on a teen level, are you going to make me keep guessing?" Remus asked gently.
Harry broke his gaze with Remus, remembering how this conversation had began…he glanced at Snape who gave him an encouraging look. So he blurted it all out at once: "Iwaswonderingifyouwouldbemywizardingcourtman."
"Huh? Say it again Harry, but maybe a bit slower this time." Remus replied patiently. Harry flushed with embarrassment.
"I was wondering if you would be my Wizarding Courtman."
"Oh."
"Indeed."
Snape took a long sip of his tea while Harry continued staring and Lupin found his next question. "Why do you need a Wizarding Courtman Harry? Are you in trouble? You didn't blow someone else up did you?" He asked tentatively, realising this was probably Harry's 'sore point'.
"Erm…."
"You would be standing as the Accusing Courtman, not the Accused." Snape replied sharply, Harry's heartbeat was going so fast he felt like he was going to faint. "Harry was the victim of a sexual assault during his second year and he would like to have his attacker prosecuted. For that, he needs a Courtman and I think we agreed that you would make an excellent choice. You are a serviceman at present." Remus glanced at Harry who gave a breathless nod.
"I think you'd better explain what happened, Harry." Remus replied gently.
"You'll do it?" Harry whispered hopefully.
"Of course I will." He replied giving his surrogate godson a hug. "Now would you like to tell me or would you rather show me?".
"I don't want to forget then be forced to remember again," Harry said shaking his head, for a memory to be viewed in a pensive it had to first be removed, Harry new that with very emotional memories putting them back could be very painful indeed.
"Wise choice, Harry. When you're ready…you can stop anytime you want and only tell me what you're comfortable with." Remus replied settling back into the sofa, letting Harry start in his own time.
"It was during second year. I had a detention, I can't remember what for…I got assigned to do it with…Lockhart…" Harry took a deep breath, he was finding this extremely difficult. After it had happened, he'd been in shock and after that he had just berried it really deep and somehow it hadn't been touched. But since he'd become open about his sexual orientation, he'd started to hear comments, some of them had been nasty and some of them had hit the hidden and silent target. "He said he wanted me to help him reply to his fan mail and we did, for a bit. Then he gave me a drink, it tasted funny, I shouldn't have drunk it. But I didn't suspect, he always seemed so harmless, an idiot, but a harmless one." Another break and a deep breath, both Remus and Severus were watching him with looks of deep concern and support and in Severus' case; pain…a knowing pain. He didn't want to think about that. "Then it was really hot and I took my jumper of, then my tie. But I was still hot, so he suggested I take my shirt off as well and somehow my body seemed to do it and in my head it didn't seem to matter. So it went on and then…he touched me and made me do things to him, its all kind of fuzzy." Another deep breath, "But he didn't…force me too…you know… and then it was over and I was dressed again and then I left." He finally breathed a sigh of relief that he'd got it all out.
"It was only the once?" Remus asked steadily, but Harry could tell he too was very upset by this. Harry nodded by way of response. Remus breathed a sigh of relief. "Who have you talked to about this?" He asked while looking sideways at Severus, when Harry didn't answer, Severus answered for him.
"I found out only recently by accident during one of our occlumency lessons. Harry was suffering from some of magically induced fever and before he passed out and had his vision, I broke into his mind and stumbled across the scene. We discussed it late when he awoke and the possibility of taking the matter to court arose." Severus explained evenly.
"I heard about what happened during your lesson, collapsing and giving Poppy and Albus such a scare, but that happened almost a month ago and did you not talk to Poppy and Albus as well." Remus asked somewhat confused.
"Harry did not wish me to discuss the matter with the Headmaster, or anyone else for that matter and we decided that it was up to Harry to decide whether he wanted to take Lockhart to court and who he wanted as his Courtman and until just now, I believe he was finding that position difficult to fill." Severus glanced at Harry, who nodded in appreciation, then frowned.
"But you could have told them when I was unconscious, you didn't. Why?" Harry asked confused, that was indeed very un-Snape like. Remus too seemed to find this question intriguing.
Snape was stumped; he didn't want to admit that he had not wanted to betray Harry's trust as that could lead to the realisation that Snape actually liked Harry…and well…that was just… not a Snape-ish thing to do. He'd have to suggest professionalism only. "With regard to war efforts I try to give Mr. Potter the same professional courtesy as he gives me. Any personal information we gain in regards to each other during our sessions we keep to ourselves."
"Thank you," Harry replied gazing into Severus' eyes, he acknowledged Harry with a slight nod.
"Well then, I will of course accept the position of Accusing Wizarding Courtman. I presume you will be applying for a Unspeakable Case?" Remus asked, all business-like now. Harry liked it this way; he didn't have to think about it too carefully. Snape replied for him:
"Naturally. I will be testifying for Harry, he does not wish to be present during the proceedings." Snape added. Harry meanwhile stared out the window as the two men discussed details and things that needed arranged. Almost an hour later when Remus got up to leave, Harry put down the book he had been reading and gave him an affectionate hug.
"Thank you," he whispered as Remus bid his goodbyes.
"That's perfectly all right, its what I'm here for. You know where to find me, come and talk to me at anytime, I shall be in and out over the next couple of weeks to arrange the court case and Severus and I will sort everything for you. Okay?" Remus told him sincerely. Then turning to Snape, a quick flick of a grin flashed across his face, "It's nice to hear you calling Harry by his first name." He told him in an amused voice and quickly left.
"We missed your training session, drop by again at eight tomorrow." Snape stated, ignoring Lupin's statement, although it did unsettle him somewhat.
"I can't, sorry, I've got Quidditch practice, then a practice for the Halloween display." Harry replied, glancing at the clock, it was very late; long past curfew.
"The day after then." He replied retrieving three vials of purple potion, "I have something for you."
"Why are you calling me Harry?" He asked Snape quietly; unsure of the ground he was treading on; 'did Snape actually…like him?' Bull's-eye! 'No, wishful thinking.' Or not…he's calling you HARRY! 'We'll see'.
"We are both working on the light side with the war effort, we have been working together in a relationship of more than teaching and pupil for the day you came here and since fifth year we have been working extensively together and now I find myself the confident of one of your greater insecurities and you are for many of mine. I think it's about time I stopped seeing you as you father and started seeing you as yourself. I call you by your first name as a sign of respect and acceptance." Snape looked straight into Harry's emerald eyes as he said this finding himself only a foot apart from the man.
In return Harry's eyes swam and heightened to a bright lime-green intensity and he nodded gratefully, then a small smile touched his lips. "Should I call you by your first name then?" Snape seemed thrown by this, unsure how to answer. "I both respect you and trust you as a partner in the war against Voldermort," Snape flinched but made no noise.
"Then I believe it to be only appropriate that you address me as Severus, but only within private and not in front of anyone that cannot be trusted, I respect your digression." Severus replied solemnly.
"Thank you…Severus." Harry replied, smiling gently. The onyx eyed man smiled back transforming his face.
"Now, I have this potion for you. Since you are finding it difficult to control your natural magic when you are emotional and occlumency will take a while before it gives you much of a positive effect, I have created this potion for you, it is an emotion control potion, which does just that, it controls your emotions. This does not make it do this permanently so, that would of course be very dangerous, however when taken every two days it will allow you to create a protective barrier between your logical self and your stronger emotions when your strongest emotions are unleashed." Snape explained handing the potions to Harry, "It only works on negative emotions however, this hopefully won't be a problem since you have yet to have lost control over your positive emotions, however you must be away of the possibility, just in case."
Harry nodded pocketing the vials, "Once ever two days, when I fell overwhelmed negative emotions I can create the shield and hold it back. Got it."
"Now then, I think you best be getting back to your common room. Take the west wing, filch tends to patrol the east wing at this time." Snape concluded opening the door for Harry. With a last look into those onyx eyes Harry left for Griffindor tower, a lot on his mind.
Chapter 23…Visions, Preparations and an Order meeting.
Many thanks go to: All those wonderful reviewers, sorry I haven't posted for so long! I'm back up and running now, so hopefully you'll see more from me soon. Next Chapter should be a good one. Ta ta for now!