To reviewers of the first part, I adore you my lovelies!
ura-hd- Sorry. I'm sure I've disappointed you. I have a nasty, vicious muse I dare not cross. Thank you for reviewing!
dreamerswaking- Thank you. I've disappointed you too. I'm sorry. I did love your ideas, but see muse comment above.
Hambares- Thank you for your continuing readership! Your reviews make me happy. Sorry I made you sad. I hope this helps.
animegurl88- Thanks! Hope you like the second part too!
Haunt of twilight- I agree I think Snape sees 20/20 and far more than
Harry imagines. I do think in dealing with people it all gets filtered
through the distorting lens of his expectations. Given what we know of
his history we can hardly blame him if his expectations hover somewhere
around zero. Thanks for your comments!
Crystan Crepsley- Thanks! Here's your update, dear!
Part Two
That night Draco crept to an unused portion of the dungeons. He retrieved the crystal ball from his bag and tapped it with his wand. A few seconds later, the face of his father appeared in the ball.
"Draco. I am hosting the Minister tonight. I trust this is important?"
"Yes Father. I did it. I seduced Potter."
"Finally. Have you gained his trust?"
"Yes Father. I played it exactly as you told me. Potter said he loves me too."
"You did well, my son. We now have leverage. You know what to do. Keep Potter close. Attempt to turn him against his friends. Make him as dependent as possible upon you. Stage incidents with the other Slytherins. Run to his defense. You know the sort of thing. You have disappointed me in the past, Draco. Do not fail me in this."
"I won't fail you, Father."
"Draco, I will be most displeased if you do."
"I won't disappoint you again, Father."
"See to it. Update me every evening on your progress."
Snape watched as Draco stood looking at the crystal long after Lucius had returned to his guests.
When Snape was certain there was nothing of further use to glean, he wordlessly cast a Slippery Charm, scraped the bottom of his boot against the stone as if he had only just arrived and said, "Draco?"
Draco started and lost his hold on the crystal. It smashed on the stone sending the shards of his future in all directions.
"Oh no."
"My apologies. Are you all right?"
"Yes I'm fine, Professor," said Draco who looked positively pale, even for a Malfoy.
"Reparo," said Snape, well aware that the Communication Charm would not survive the fall. "Accio Draco's crystal ball." Snape handed the intact ball back to the boy.
"Thank you sir."
"If I were you, I wouldn't concentrate too much effort on Divination, Draco. I'd worry about my future in Potions."
"Yes Professor. That sounds like brilliant advice."
"You really don't look well."
"I'm well, sir. Just a little tired."
"You should get some rest."
"I was about to call it a night."
"Goodnight then."
"Goodnight Professor Snape."
Draco watched Snape leave and heard the slight scrape Snape's boot made as he rounded the corner. He was not sure why he was sure, but gut instinct told him that Snape could not have overheard. Draco was sure it wouldn't matter if he had, though. Draco would have to owl his father to inform him about the accident regarding the crystal and the ruined Communication Charm that Lucius had so carefully placed on it. That gave Draco several hours to decide how best to make the accident someone else's fault entirely. Perhaps he should go wake Goyle now, tell him to hold the crystal ball for him, then cast a Slippery Charm on it. If there were one area where Draco was an expert, it was making every lie he told his father into an absolute truth.
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Snape was returning to his rooms and was about to cross his wards when he tripped over something entirely invisible.
"Potter, I presume. To what bit of teenaged melodrama do I owe this honor?"
Part of the cloak dropped away. "I needed to speak with you, sir. Please, it's important."
"Enter."
When the door closed behind them and Snape had warded and Silenced the room, he turned to Harry. "You have five minutes."
"What you saw in the hall. It wasn't what it looked like."
"I don't care, Potter. You said this was important."
"I think Draco is up to something, sir. That was me just going along, to see what I could find out."
"Draco is trying to gain your confidence, wedge himself between you and your friends, make you dependent upon him, use the other Slytherins to appear to be defending you, all at his father's behest, who hopes to use Draco's leverage with you to discredit my own efforts in the castle, and thereby gain more favor with the Dark Lord."
"How do you know all that?"
"It's what I do, Potter. I overheard him talking with Lucius via a Communication Charm on his crystal ball."
"Crystal ball? Draco doesn't even take Divination!"
"No, but he is a wizard. Did you think only Trelawney was allowed to own one?"
"I wanted to make you jealous, sir."
"What a pity you did not succeed."
"Please."
"Please what, Potter?"
"Please give me another chance?"
"Another chance at what?"
"In bed, please?"
"Is that what this is about?"
"Yes! I didn't even know Draco was up to something! That was just a story I cooked up sitting there waiting for you. Look, the only reason I had anything to do with Draco was to make you want me. So please want me, so I won't have to go do something even more stupid."
"Your five minutes have expired. Get out."
Harry sighed, picked up the Invisiblity Cloak and disappeared completely. He was about to open the door, but took one last look back. Snape was seated, hands steepled, and there, just playing on the corner of his lip, was a smile.
"Goodnight sir. May I come back tomorrow?"
"That all depends. Did you engage in sexual relations with Draco?"
"No sir."
"I'll expect you tonight at ten, Potter. Do not be late."
"Er, what time is it?"
"You have one hour Potter. Do use it to shower. You reek of Draco Malfoy. An odd coincidence, I'm certain you'll agree, as he smelled exactly like you."
"I didn't think you'd let me come back unless I lied to you."
"Immovable idiot."
"Irresistible bastard."
"Fifty nine minutes, Potter."
"Yes sir."
-Well I thought this was a one shot. It wasn't! I believe it might be complete now but who knows? Hope you enjoyed it. Thank you just for reading! All comments are more welcome than a bus load of galleonnaires at my big hat, black robes, and pointy shoe auction. In fact, get out, the whole bus load of you lot! Make some room for my reviewers!
