AN: Howdy, everyone! It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that, but I got really busy with life and didn't have time to work on this story much. I'm hoping that I can work on it more in December and get it wrapped up within a few months. I really love this story of course, but I do want to put more energy and time into Hidden In Plain Sight, which is probably my favorite story that I've written so far.
Anyway, that all being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter. There isn't really any Snape and Harry interaction in it, but it does pave the road to the next few stages of the story.
Lucius Malfoy had been in for a surprise when he was called into a meeting for the board of governors, who were only supposed to have weekly meetings. This time was different, however, given how Amelia Bones looked downright furious. She was usually poised and blank, but now, there was a dangerous fury behind her eyes.
Being that he was the co-chairman, he had come early with Amelia, but the witch seemed to get here before he did.
"Lucius," Amelia turned to him, her lips thinned into a line that signaled her anger. "We appear to have a serious situation at Hogwarts regarding the Headmaster." She informed, stepping closer to hand him a letter than he immediately recognized as being from Gringotts. Grimacing, Lucius took the letter and gave a resigned sigh.
"Dare I imagine what Dumbledore has done this time?" The wizard inquired, watching as Amelia gave another twitch of displeasure as she shook her head in disgust. Lucius rose an eyebrow at the reaction and hummed, starting to understand the severity of the situation. "Worse than usual, I'd gather." He stated calmly, finally taking the plunge and looking at the letter himself.
As all events of this caliber must be reported, the Goblin Nation hereby informs The Hogwarts Board Of Governors of the transgression committed by Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, specifically of abusing his position and harassing a student for the past several months.
At approximately five in the morning, Harry James Potter-Black arrived at Gringotts and filed a restraining order against the Headmaster, which went into immediate effect thanks to Magic.
Lucius did a double take at that, knowing the implications of magic overriding any sort of court hearing. It was an extremely rare event, often happening only once every fifty or so years. To know that Magic willed the restraining order into effect meant Dumbledore had likely crossed his last line.
Because this went into immediate effect, there was no need for any paperwork to be filled by the Board, as Magic had also done that itself.
Lord Potter-Black has declined to comment on the incident and wishes the events not be disclosed as of yet. If further action is required, Lord Potter-Black has agreed to directly go to you.
He has granted me the liberty to inform the Board that Headmaster Dumbledore has been trying to force him to fight in the war, even going as far as to try and suggest leaving Hogwarts in the past. Lord Potter-Black has expressed his disapproval at these methods, becoming concerned with how the Headmaster is letting politics influence their education.
If anything else is to occur, you will immediately be notified;
-Grufgon, Head Goblin of Gringotts,
-Jagrofth, overseer of the Restraining order.
If it weren't for the fact that Lucius knew of Potter's true allegiance (or lack thereof), he would have been more shocked at the information in his hands. He frowned though, wondering what Dumbledore had done to finally press the young wizard into filing a magical restraining order.
"This is alarming, Amelia." Lucius admitted, re-reading over specific parts in the letter, humming in thought. "The fact that the Headmaster is inherently trying to enforce his views on the impressionable students is…" Lucius carried off with a disappointed shake of his head. "It is dangerous and manipulative of him to do such a thing." He stated, looking at the letter with a disapproving glare.
"I can assume that because Harry Potter is a Lord, he had intended to settle this issue himself." He had to applaud the younger wizard for his feat of independence and maturity.
"I can commend him for that," Amelia responded, but there was something akin to frustration in her eyes. "but we seem to be at a predicament now." She admitted with another frown, looking away from the wizard. "While he has set forth to solve this issue on his own, is it not our job to protect the individuals that attend this school?" She asked, making Lucius falter and watch her start another mini rant.
"Yes, he legally an adult now, but he is still a student." Amelia stated, running her fingers over one of her rings, clearly in thought. "And it is our sworn duty to protect all students in Hogwarts, which includes the ones who are of age. You and I both have children of age in attendance at this very moment. Do they not fall under the same protection?"
It was times like these that Lucius was thankful that Madam Bones wasn't on Dumbledore's side, like many assumed. She was as neutral as they came, caring more for justice and law of every magical creature.
"I am in agreeance, Amelia. There simply isn't much we can do with this," Lucius points out, wanting to make sure they get everything out before the others arrive, some with a more…affiliation towards Dumbledore. "We can't interfere with a Lord's business."
"Maybe not," She agrees, a sudden calculating look in her eyes that make Malfoy barely able to withhold a grin. "But I think it's due time for the Board to check in on Hogwarts, just to…get a look at how things are being run." Lucius hummed, allowing himself to smirk.
"How long has it been since Hogwarts has been inspected?" He asked innocently, to which Amelia smirked in return.
"Too long, I'd say. I think it's time we got rid of the divide between the Board members." She confessed with a small sigh. "I know we've both been doing all we can to unify the other members, but nothing has ever seemed to work." She glanced at the paper Lucius was still holding, thoughts forming in her head. "Hopefully, this will be an eye-opener for them."
"One can only hope," Lucius mumbles in agreement, a thoughtful look on his aristocratic features. "I think this will help us achieve that." Malfoy admits. "Not only has a student filed a restraining order, but it was also a Lord who happens to be Harry Potter." Lucius stated, already imaging the gasps of horror that were going to occur in an hour. "While there are many who are loyal to Dumbledore, I believe that a great deal of them only align themselves with him because up until this moment, Harry Potter seemed to follow him." Bones merely nods at the theory.
"I think you have a point, Lucius." Amelia mumbles softly, thinking of some of the events she had witnessed over the years. Dumbledore supposedly had Harry Potter on his side, which was sure to grab the attraction of numerous wizarding families. "My niece keeps me informed of her year at Hogwarts, and she has written about Lord Potter-Black several times, mentioning how he seems to have changed this year." Madam Bones stops and shakes her head. "Given the restraining order, I believe it is safe to assume that Lord Potter-Black no longer associates with Dumbledore, or his Order." Knowing he had to play it safe, Malfoy nodded.
"If that is the case, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. With his distancing from the Headmaster, we can likely change the Board into a fully neutral faction, like it should have been in the first place." He suggested, to which she smiled a bit.
"Well, they'll be here soon. I suppose it's time we both decided what to do from here."
"Did you make another two-way journal?" Hermione asked as she sat beside Harry on the sofa, happy that no one else was here. Harry smirked and nodded at her, placing his quill down.
"Two, actually. Ever since the events of the other night, I decided to have a separate journal for Severus, and for Tom." He explained, holding back a grin at the way his friend practically gasped.
"Tom?" Her eyes were wide as she quickly looked to the very protected journal in her friends hand. "You're talking to Tom?" Snorting at her reaction, Harry nodded again.
"Yep. Ever since Dumbledore got all creepy the other day, he's been worried about me." Harry explained, glancing at the journal too. "He's also keeping me updated about Skeeter." Harry spat, making Hermione grimace.
"Dreadful woman." She mumbled with another grimace, crossing her arms at the gall of that reporter, shaking her head in distaste.
"Apparently, Tom has the same opinion." Harry admitted, glancing to the journal that was in his hand. "He said suing her wouldn't do any good. She's been known to weasel her way out of a lot of things." There was a small frown on his face, sighing at the thought of others going through the same problems he did.
"That's horrible." The witch commented, looking furious. "It's invasion of privacy! She shouldn't be able get away with that!"
"Hermione, you know I hate keeping secrets from you…" Harry trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But you won't have to worry about her getting away with anything else." At the look she gives him, her eyes wide, Harry smiles slightly.
"Harry?" Hermione prodded, giving him her full attention. Grimacing, he looks away for a moment, before turning back to her.
"Tom is…uh…very protective of me, I've found out." Harry admits, flushing at the look she gives him. "And he didn't take kindly to what she or Dumbledore had done to me." He explains, biting his lips. Hermione regards him at that, observing him.
"Do you approve of these…methods he's using?" She questions. When Harry looks at her, he can't see any judgement there, just curiosity.
"Honestly, not really." He admits. "I've never approved of killing and you know that. It hasn't changed, but…" The green-eyed wizard falters, frowning a bit. "The thought of her snooping around and uncovering something about me…" He trails off, causing Hermione to part her lips in understanding.
"I see," She nods slowly, having not thought of that until now. In the past, Harry didn't have as much to hide as he did now, and if Skeeter were to uncover it. "It's for your protection." She states, making Harry nod.
"Including yours and the twins," He states immediately after. "While you're not part of the other side directly, you are against Dumbledore as much as I am. Everyone knows how close we are, and while not everyone would question you, there would be plenty of people who would." Harry explains sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't want to see you suffer for being connected to me."
Hermione was looking at her friend with wide eyes, her expression full of tenderness as she quickly wrapped her arms around him, holding on tightly.
"Harry," She mumbled, almost moved to tears by the other wizard. "You're always looking out for your friends," Pausing, she let out a soft breath while keeping her eyes tightly shut. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me for that." He soothed, rubbing her back slowly as he retuned the embrace. "I want all of us to be protected and if that means getting rid of Skeeter, then I don't have much of a choice." Harry tried to joke, earning a playful punch to his shoulder from Hermione, who was beginning to pull away.
"I know I don't, but it means a lot to me that you're always so thoughtful of your friends." She gives him a watery smile, reaching down to squeeze his hands gently. "Besides that, what do you usually talk with him about?" Hermione asked, letting the hand go after a few moments.
"He's been venting about how stupid some of his followers are and calls me a brat when I say something funny." Harry grins, glancing towards the notebook. "Honestly though, we don't talk that much. I never thought about it until now, but being a Dark Lord requires a lot of paperwork." Hermione snorted.
"Okay then….what about Professor Snape?" She innocently questioned, earning a light flush from her friend, who glanced to the other notebook.
"It's not like that!" Harry stammered a bit, rubbing the back of his neck again. "I mean…" He falters, clearing his throat. "After what Dumbledore did the other night, Severus has been on edge."
"How so?" Hermione asked, eyes lighting up at the new information. Flushing more, Harry ran a hand though his unruly hair, disheveling it even further.
"Uh, it's kind of hard to explain." The emerald-eyed wizard admitted, face still tinted a light shade of pink. "The only word I can think of is…protective…" Harry finally supplied, flushing more when Hermione smirked at him.
"Protective, huh?" She tapped her chin slowly, as if in thought. "That's a rather interesting word." Again, Harry flushed more and merely shrugged.
"I think he feels obligated to, to an extent at least." Harry sighed, shaking his head. Hermione rolled her eyes, sighing softly.
"Merlin, Harry." The bushy-haired witch chuckled, looking into her friend's eye with a small smile. "You're oblivious, aren't you?" The confusion on his face made her nearly laugh again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He inquired, frowning when no answer was given. "Mione-" Harry tried again.
"I think Professor Snape cares for you more than you realize." She admitted with a soft smile, patting his shoulder slowly. "Honestly, it sounds like you try to downplay how much he cares about you sometimes." She gave him a look at that, hoping he would confess why. Harry grimaced at that and looked away, biting his lips.
"I don't inherently mean to do that." The wizard admitted, a frown on his lips. "It's easier for me to do that, that way I don't allow myself to develop hope that Severus could ever reciprocate my feelings."
"And is there a reason that you feel that Severus could never feel that way about you?" There was genuine interest and confusion on her face and Harry felt himself give into it.
"I don't know, I just think he'd prefer someone older than me. Someone who actually has their life together and a stable career. What can I offer him? I'm still a student, one that he's still teaching at that."
"Only for a few more months." Hermione reminded, making her friend give a dry snort. "Besides, you two do have a lot in common. Especially when it comes to your brains." She smiled when Harry finally let out a true laugh.
"And our hatred of Dumbledore." Harry replied with a smirk, his somber disposition starting to vanish. Catching the shift in emotions. Hermione was quick to latch onto it, needing to get it off her chest.
"Seriously though, Harry." Hermione spoke up, looking into the emerald eyes. "Don't assume the worst. It's obvious that he cares a lot about you, and I haven't even been able to see a lot of it. From what I have seen, you appear to be at the center of his attention." She withheld a smirk at the newfound flush. "I think it's more than safe to hope."
"Merlin, Mione." Harry shook his head, trying to dispel the flush that stained his cheeks. "You make it sound as if Severus feels the same about me, and I find that notion too hard to believe." Hermione sighed softly, feeling resigned at the persistence of the other Gryffindor.
"He looks at you like you're the only person in the room." Hermione admitted to one of her findings, watching as the already flushed cheeks exploded with color. "Whether you believe if he returns your feelings or not, it's clear to anyone who pays attention that you mean a lot to him."
"Hermione- "
"He's a private man, Harry. The fact that he's let you get so close to him is remarkable." The wizard wanted to comment on that, but found no words came forth.
Hermione was right about something.
Severus was a private individual and wasn't one who enjoyed company for prolonged periods of time, yet that was all cast aside when he was around. His potions professor had admitted to enjoying his company on numerous occasions, often letting him stay in his presence even after "detention" was done.
And there was the fact that a few nights ago, he had fallen asleep against Severus' shoulder and hadn't as so much been pushed off. He could recall the gentle feeling of long fingers threading through his hair and stroking it slowly, offering a sense of comfort that warmed his entire being.
For someone who wasn't an outwardly affectionate person in public, the gentle hands in his hair now felt far more intimate than they had previously been. Was it instinctual for Severus to stroke his hair? Had they become that close in the span of three months?
It was feasible. They did spend well over two-hours a day in each other's company, both of them free to be who they truly were. In those "detentions" he wasn't Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, destined to be the savior for the light. Just as Severus was Severus Snape, the double spy whose true alliance was with Dumbledore.
In those detentions, he was Harry Potter, a wizard who was about to carve his own place in the world, and not some golden boy who was going to save everyone. He was free to be himself, just as Severus was.
Perhaps it was that freedom between the two of them that has created the balance of friendship they had now.
In those detentions, he was free to create and practice his own spells, free to read ancient runes and practice the construction of wards. He was free to better his skills in potions, free to let his true knowledge roam.
There were a handful of people who had ever seen the real Harry Potter, and Severus was one of them. His potions professor was becoming one of the most important individuals in his life, a sentiment that he was too afraid to share.
"rry…arry…harry…Harry!" The wizard was jolted from his thoughts as Hermione called out his name.
"Uh, sorry about that. Must have been deep in thought." His friend looked concerned for a moment before pointing towards the journal.
"I can see a faint glow. I assume you have a message." Perking up at that, he reach for the journal he shared with Tom and opened it.
I have gotten word from Lucius that the Board of Governors will be doing a random inspection of Hogwarts tomorrow. They aren't pleased with the headmaster and the fact a student felt the need to get a magical restraining order. There are talks of potential expulsion and removal of the headmaster if they find enough damaging information about him.
While Harry couldn't help but grin at the idea, he felt a twinge of unease at the thought of answering invading questions.
Do you have an idea about how many questions they will ask me? I wanted to remain out of this for the most part, until Dumbledore did something again.
They shouldn't ask you too many questions. If they do, it will likely be based around what you have already provided. I doubt they will ask you anything. Just be careful.
Smiling a bit, Harry started a small reply.
Oh, I always am. Didn't know you cared so much, Tommy.
Remind me to hex you for calling me that next time you visit, Potter. Snickering, Harry scribbled a quick reply.
I think you secretly love the nickname.
Then you and I have vastly different definitions of the word love, brat.
Closing the journal with another snicker, he reached for the one he shared with Severus.
Tom just informed me that the Board of Governors will be performing an inspection tomorrow. They aren't pleased with Dumbledore. Who would have thought?
Harry smirked at his sarcasm, eyes lighting up when he noticed the page glow a few minutes later.
It's about time they did something. Thankfully, they have Lucius and Amelia Bones as the co-chairmen of the group. Amelia is neutral and won't fawn over Albus.
I had a feeling. She was one of the few who actually listened to me during my trial in my fifth year. I have a lot of respect for her and what she does. I have a feeling that Lucius and Amelia won't go easy on Dumbledore. Harry could practically see the small smirk on Severus face as he read the next line.
Indeed. They will destroy Albus.