Disclaimer: JKR gets credit.

Bump in the night

Chapter 6 A

By WittchWay

Snape grabbed Harry by the scruff of his robes, yanking him to his feet and without a word dragged him down the corridor, around the corner and down a long winding staircase.

Harry looked around with interest he had never been in this part of the castle before, it seemed newer than other sections of the castle, here the smell of stone and age wasn't as strong as it was in the main parts.

They took staircase after staircase, forever going downward, descending into the very dept of the castle, the air grew colder, the only light was that from professor Snape's wand.

Harry dragged his hand along the wall as the steps of the staircase seemed to become smaller, and then nothing but a very steep slope that just kept going… as he dragged his hand along the wall his fingers hit a small thin bump, than another and another.

Harry narrowed his eyes in the dark there were miniature portraits on the wall, hundreds maybe thousands of them, all of them wearing the Hogwarts standard school robes. There was bored expressions on most of their faces, though a few waved at him merrily others appeared to be dozing in their frames, several more were missing altogether. "What is this?" Harry said reaching up to touch one of the gold frames.

"Shh…. We don't want to draw their attention." Snape nodded toward the upper levels of the school, in a lower tone Snape explained it was a yearbook of every seventh year student that's had ever graduated from Hogwarts.

"My parents… are they here?" Harry asked gingerly touching another frame.

"Not here, these are all Slytherins, there should be a similar gallery in the Gryffindor tower.

Harry nodded, though he didn't know why, he had never seen a tower like this in his corner of the castle. Curiously watching all the portraits he continued to let Snape drag him, the professors fist twisted in his robes, holding tightly to him.

Harry was glad for the distraction of the portraits, he desperately needed the distraction, the distraction away from the way Snape's firm ass swayed. Harry knew if he could just keep his fingers on the walls they wouldn't be tempted to touch what was before him. Shuddering Harry suppressed the images popping into his mind of tackling Snape, pushing him to the ground and rubbing up against him, friction… Merlin he wanted friction.

Harry reached up touching the potion masters hand that was fisted in the front of his robes, Snaps hand went slack, Harry pulled the hand into his. "Much better." he whispered letting the joined hands dangle before him.

Looking uncomfortable Snape nodded and jerked him forward, "Keep quiet Potter," Snape stopped, listening what for Harry did not know but as the portraits came to an end they were suddenly on level ground, gone were the stairs what lay before them was a seemingly long hallway that appeared to have no end.

Harry pulled back, coming to a complete stop. Snape stumbled a moment and stopped, his eye brow rose questioningly.

Harry looked around, this hall seemed familiar. "Come on Potter," Snape pulled his hand, this last hallway would be the most dangerous, there was no place to hide, no suits of armor to duck behind, no furniture to crawl under, no unused classrooms or offices to hide in.

It was a long corridor, pale grey stones, every 20 or so feet would be a small green stone placed in the stone flooring, it was the only decoration, if one could even call it that. Snape counted the stones as he dragged Potter with him, 8 so far. Potter wasn't paying attention to him, he was looking at the blank stone walls, he now understood why there was no portraits down here, they were under the lake, the very dampness of lake was leaking into the dungeons. Harry twisted his head squinting looking closer to the walls… only the water streaming down them wasn't going down, the water was going up the wall, Harry looked down to the stone he stood upon, the water seemed to appear from no where, simply squeezed from the cracks between the stones, trickled upward and disappeared through the ceiling.

"Professor," he whispered, his hand outstretched.

Snape hissed, "don't touch."

"What is it? Where is the water going?" Harry felt a little panicked as the water went upward.

"it's the schools water supply, if you touch it you'll contaminate it." Snape yanked him forward, against his chest. "Now try to keep quiet Potter."

Harry nodded, resting his chin on Snape's shoulders. His hand coming up to trace the curve of the mans necks, his fingertips ghosting over pale skin. Harry inhaled deeply and smiled, Snape smell fantastically male. Licking his lips, Harry could feel his tongue twitch, seeking out smooth skin.

"Now's not the time Potter," Snape pushed him away, his hand resting on the boys hips, "We have to find out what's wrong with you… what you're feeling is not real…" Snape didn't finish what he was saying, he pulled Potter closer to him, nearly lifting him off his feet. His wand raised a little higher, Snape titled his head listening in the dungeons silence.

"They know," he whispered, "they know." His dark eyes looked upward as a sudden roar of running feet echoed through the castle, shaking the stone above them.

Harry stilled the small movements of his hips he had been attempting, "They're coming for me?"

Snape growled, "Stupid boy, of course they are coming for you… you and that tail of yours."

Snape gripped Potters arm tightly and dragged him down the hall, his wand pointed directly ahead. They move faster down the hall, Snape counting the green stones in the floor, quicker and quicker they move… that is until they stop. Stone 63.

Harry presses his body against Snape's as his potions professor waved his wand, chanting at the blank stone before him, tapping once the stone slowly ground open revealing another long narrow hallway.

Harry peaked under Snape's arm as they entered a large apartment, it was a classic 8, four doors on either side of the main hall. Harry moved around Snape as the head of Slytherin watched the stone ground back into place.

"Is this yours?" Harry asked moving further down the hall, opening the first door he came to. It was a large formal living room with a stone and wood fireplace taking up an entire wall. Harry moved to the next room, a guest washroom, the next a potions lab, small but tidy, two bedrooms, a kitchen area, office space/library and less formal sitting area, with a well worn sofa and oversized chairs to match.

"It is Potter," Snape said closing the doors as he moved down the hall, "I beg you to stop invading my space. Into the lab with you." he gave Harry a shove toward the door following the boy into the room to close and getting hit in the face with tail.

ssHPss

Snape ignored Harry Potter as he moved around his private lab. He watched the boy fidget in his place near the door. He'd let him fidget a little longer. The boy had caused enough problems for today and it wasn't even noon yet. He knew Potter was bursting with question unfortunately he had very few answers, he didn't know any better than the boy did what was happening. He also didn't know who, where, how and there was no solution insight.

But this lump on Potters back was the strangest thing he had ever seen, the lump that turned into a tail. Not the lump itself or the tail itself but the reaction people had when near it or touching it.

Lumps or tails were a common hex for children to charm their enemies with but one that caused such a… sensual reaction like this was hard and not that common. Finding the counter hex was going to be a difficult process, if it was a hex they were trying to undo. It definitely was not going to be something a simple finite incantation was going to end.

Snape started pulling vials with stoppers from the cabinet on the north wall, "Remove your robes and those tattered pants. Up on the desk when done." he turned bringing the tray of instruments with him.

Harry disrobed, "Professor…"

"Hush Potter." Snape extended Harry's arm and set about taking small samples of blood, plucked a few samples of hair from Harry's head and walked away.

After watching Snape work for nearly half an hours Harry couldn't hold back anymore. "Why do you think it is only you can be around me?"

"I'm sure I don't know." Snape poured a yellow liquid in with his blood.

"Don't you find it odd that you can be around me and not be effected?"

"Its my understanding that everything involving you is odd Mister Potter"

Harry pulled one leg up on the desk to rest his chin upon it, letting the other bare leg dangle, swaying it back and forth. Harry pulled his tail around him to get a better look at it, coarse black hairs covered it coming to a point at the end where a white puffy ball graced the tip.

Harry ran his hand the length of it, fluffy up the tip a bit, narrow his eyes Harry gave the puff another look. There seemed to be something moving within the tail. Dropping it and jumping from the desk, Harry turned around twice before he remembered the tail was attached to him. Looking up Harry grinned shyly as Snape watched him shaking his head at his stupidity.

"Sorry…" he scratched franticly behind his ears, and then gave his rear end a healthy scratch, "There's something in my tail moving about."

Snape growled dropping the wooden spoon he had been holding onto.

"Back on the desk Potter," Snape grabbed the swaying tale out of mid sway and pulled it toward him, with barely a look, "Great Merlin Potter, you have billo's."

Harry gave him a blank look and shrugged.

"Billo's Potter, you have the magical equivalent of fleas."

TBC…

Didn't quite get to everything in this chapter. Part two will post soon.