Chapter Six: Truces and New Discoveries
As Mace, Hikari and Sora closed the portrait behind them Snape and Harry were left eyeing each other warily. Finally Harry stood and began to pace like a caged lion. After a few minutes of this Snape grew tired of it and snapped, "Potter, sit down before you make me dizzy with all the going round in circles!"
Harry stopped and glared at him, before saying in a slightly heated tone, "I'm trying to keep myself from killing Dumbledore when I next see him, and I'm too restless to sit still at present. Excuse me for being more than a bit hurt and angry at what he's done to us."
"Us?" Snape queried, wondering why Harry would include him in the problem. Harry flopped down onto the couch again and smiled mirthlessly. "Yes us, Professor. He hurt you just as much as he did me with that Occlumency crap, even though most wouldn't acknowledge it. I do however; you didn't deserve to have your trust abused like that, just as I didn't deserve what he forced you to do to me."
Seeing that Snape still looked skeptical he leaned forward and dropped his guard for a few moments, allowing Snape to see that he was sincere in both what he'd just said and what he was about to say. Locking gazes, Harry continued, "I know we didn't have a good history and I know it's your nature to try and bait me but please, can we just let bygones be bygones? I could apologise for everything I ever did, as well as everything my father ever did if that's what you want. I don't want to have to fight you as well as Dumbledore while I'm here."
Snape looked at him evenly. "Agreed Potter, the apologies won't be necessary. You've clearly matured into someone I could see myself getting to know better. What, may I ask do you plan to do regarding Draco?"
"He doesn't insult me and I won't insult him. If it's meant to be friendly teasing then I'll take it as such but I won't tolerate true insults from him. I trusted him with Anakin earlier so we'll see how that worked out. I'm sure my Padawan got lots of lovely blackmail information from him too."
"What exactly do you mean by Padawan, Potter?" Snape asked. Harry smiled and replied, "It's the Jedi term for apprentice Professor. And I belive I've already told you that my name is Harry. I'd appreciate it if you used it. If you can't use it then use Knight Potter, it's more respectful."
Snape nodded at this new information and then sat back. "I stand by my earlier statement Potter; it's difficult to see you as a Master, even when the evidence is clearly in front of me. What's he like?"
"Anakin? He's a good kid. He gets in trouble sometimes but that's more due to teenage thoughtlessness than anything else."
"Must come from having a Potter for a teacher, you're all mad" Snape said with a smirk. Harry glared good naturedly at him and then smirked before replying, "He's a natural when it comes to flying though, maybe I should introduce him to Quidditch."
Snape groaned before engaging Harry in a discussion on the Jedi and what the relationships were like within the Order and other things. Harry got him to laugh when he described his dealings with various politicians and also sounded Snape out about Palpatine. This brought Snape up short as he considered the situation.
"Hmm, and you say your scar hurts when around him Harry?" After 2 hours Snape was more comfortable using Harry's name than he was when they started. Harry nodded.
"Yes, and twice now I've seen an odd look in his eyes when he looks at me, it's like he views me as a threat. He's very interested in Anakin too, and I'm suspicious of that so I've gone to great lengths to limit their interaction."
"That might be wise, given your apprentice's power level. You mentioned that you and he were alike in some ways which made you more suitable to train him than others?"
Harry sighed and then said, "Hold on, I need to talk to him to find out what he's comfortable with you knowing."
Snape sat back and watched as Harry closed his eyes. He wasn't able to hear the mental conversation although it was clear that there was one happening. After a few minutes Harry opened his eyes.
"He's ok with me telling you most of it, as long as you swear never to reveal it to anyone else." Snape nodded and then replied, "I, Severus Snape swear to never reveal what you tell me about Anakin Skywalker to anyone else as long as I live." The magic in the room responded, binding Snape to his word. Harry nodded, satisfied and then sat forward.
"Right. The first thing you need to know is this, Anakin is our Chosen One. He is the subject of an annoyingly vague prophecy that says that at some point in the future he will bring balance to the Force. I think you now know one of the reasons why I was suited to teach him."
Snape nodded. "Yes, you would be uniquely qualified to help him with the stress of dealing with prophecies. What else?" Harry sighed. "Like me, Anakin didn't join the Order at infancy. I found him when he was nine; he and his mother were slaves. I managed to free Anakin but not his mother. The separation was hard for him although I think having me to latch onto helped the separation issue a bit. You know what my childhood was like Professor; I was able to relate to him on those issues as well. The last issue is power. His power level is off our normal scale, as is mine. The head of the Jedi Council is at the top of the scale, and Anakin and I are beyond that. We measure power in terms of midichlorian concentrations, midichlorians being what allows us to feel the Force. Master Yoda, the head of the Council is at 19,500. The top of the scale is set at 20 000 just so you know.
My midichlorian count is 22,500. Anakin's is 23,500. I was the closest in terms of raw power so I can help him control it if he loses control for whatever reason."
Snape was flabbergasted, he knew that Harry had been powerful when he was a student but to sit and hear that his former most hated student was more powerful than his entire Council, not to mention that his apprentice was even more powerful shocked him. Finally he found his voice.
"What happens if Anakin ever goes Dark?" he asked. Harry's eyes blazed for a second before he regained control. "That won't happen. If it does though, then it will be my duty to hunt him down and either bring him back to the Light or kill him. Understandably, I don't like thinking of it and I am doing everything I can to ensure that Anakin doesn't fall."
"Understood and I apologise for raising the issue" Snape said quietly. Harry nodded in acceptance and the pair sat quietly, the conversation stopped briefly. Finally Snape asked, "How do you handle discipline, I can't imagine you telling anyone off really."
Harry smirked. "That is a question best left for Anakin to answer, if he wants to. I will say that I have never used physical discipline although it's never seemed to stop Anakin from fearing that I'm suddenly going to start every time he's in trouble."
Snape nodded and then rose. "I think I'll head out and see if I can track down our apprentices, I have to hear about this, I get the feeling that you would downplay it, where an apprentice generally loves to complain about how strict their master is. Not that I can see you being strict with him at any rate." Harry rose too and pinned the Potions Master with a look that suddenly made Snape feel like a student. "You think so Professor? Have fun trying to convince Anakin of that. I would almost pay money to see the attempt. I might not have been the best behaved when I was younger but I grew up."
Snape watched as Harry strode past him and out the portrait, heading towards the great hall, in search of lunch as it was nearing that time. He shook his head, suddenly wondering if Harry might be stricter with Anakin in private than he let on. It was certainly that way with him and the Slytherin students. Oh well, the only person he was going to get answers to that from was Anakin so he might as well go and find him.
Draco and Anakin had indeed had a good time swapping stories of their respective masters. Draco told Anakin about the rivalry between himself and Harry, and the mutual loathing between Harry and Snape, while Anakin told Draco about what Harry was like now, and the differences made Draco's level of respect for his old rival rise. Harry had clearly grown up while he'd been away.
Breaking a comfortable silence, Draco asked, "So what's he like regarding rule breaking. He used to break the rules when he was here seemingly all the time."
Anakin laughed. "He's not as strict as some of the Masters but he doesn't like bullying. He'll enjoy a prank or two as long as it's tasteful, but he won't tolerate me putting myself in danger if it can be avoided. That's what led to my last punishment."
Draco raised an eyebrow, inviting an elaboration of the comment but before he could ask, a silky voice spoke from behind them.
"I believe that Harry wants to speak to you Draco, he's in the Great Hall having lunch. I'll escort Anakin there; I want to talk with him."
"Ok Severus. Where did Syra go?" Draco asked, noticing the absence of the other Jedi Padawan who had until now been firmly attached to them. Anakin answered his question.
"He went off to be with his Master and Master Jinn when we stopped the tour and started discussing Master Harry. He's ok." Draco nodded and then smiled at Anakin.
"I'm getting to like you Skywalker, don't get yourself killed. Oh and despite what you might have heard about Sev here, he's not a monster." He ducked the swat that Snape aimed at his head and walked quickly off down the hall. Snape shook his head and then turned to regard Anakin with a neutral look, pleased that the apprentice met his gaze evenly. He lightly probed his shields, only to discover that they were like Harry's, damn near impenetrable.
"He's trained you well, I can't get into your head" he admitted. Anakin narrowed his eyes. "Was there some reason you wanted to get into my head Professor?" he asked. Snape shook his head. "No, I just wanted to see how strong your shields were compared with your masters. Anakin shook his head again, and muttered, "Is that how you know everything about the students, you go poking round in their heads?"
Snape looked mildly insulted. "Of course not, most of them have no shielding at all and I can read their emotions right off their faces. It's pitifully easy actually, no fun at all."
Anakin snorted before asking, "So what did you want to talk to me about. I'm assuming that my master told you about my Chosen One status."
"Yes he did. I take it that you're not very enamored of it."
"Not really. I don't like being different. Being the most powerful Jedi is cool but Harry's teaching me that raw power isn't enough to win respect. It's not easy at times, I want to advance further but he won't let me. He usually has good reasons for it, so I don't complain much. I can understand why he won't let me move ahead as fast as I want to even though I don't like it at the time."
Snape nodded. "He's right. You might have the skills to advance but you need time to develop the necessary level of knowledge and wisdom in order to handle the next level."
Anakin nodded before saying, "You still didn't answer my question Professor, why do you want to talk to me."
"I wanted to know what Harry was like as a Master. He's told me that you're generally a good apprentice, just with judgment issues at times. What's he like as a Master?"
Anakin chuckled and his eyes developed a spark of mischief in them. "Where to start" he mused. Snape chuckled, he was about to get lots of blackmail information from the sound of it.
"He's very caring for a start. He always has been he's never made any secret about the fact that he puts my well-being above his. He accepts that on missions he might have to put me in dangerous situations but he won't accept me putting myself in danger just for fun. He likes pranks but not malicious ones and he won't tolerate bullying of any kind."
"What else?" Snape asked when Anakin paused.
"It's impossible to lie to him, not that I would, but he has a way of looking at you that seems like he's looking right through you. He's a good teacher; he can take a complicated problem and explain it in a way that makes it seem easy. He has an ability to connect with people that I'm still developing, but when I'm struggling with something, all I have to do is tell him and he'll do anything within his power to help me resolve it, even though he won't do it for me. I still have to do it, but he'll help me."
"
How strict is he then?" Snape was really interested in the answer. Anakin laughed. "Strict when he has to be. I think of him like my father. He's already told me several times that he considers me to be his son. Normally he guides me in the right direction with gentle nudges and encouragement, but at times if I'm going off the path too far, he is quite capable of becoming very stern and yanking me back onto the right path. I generally try to avoid that situation as much as possible."
"Yes I imagine you would" Snape murmured. "What were you going to tell Draco when I turned up?"
Anakin was about to answer when a voice spoke from behind them, "I think it was about the problem we ran into a few months ago, right Padawan?"
Snape and Anakin jumped. Harry stepped out from the shadows in an alcove next to the entrance to the Great Hall where he'd been standing. Snape glared at Harry in annoyance and snapped, "Great Merlin Potter were you deliberately trying to give us a heart attack?"
Harry smirked. "No, I would have thought that you would sense me, and if not you then Anakin definitely should have been able to. I wasn't hiding my presence at all."
Anakin looked slightly ashamed. "I felt safe with Professor Snape here, so I didn't have my senses activated like I normally would have. Sorry Master."
Harry looked at him and Snape suddenly realized what Anakin had meant when he said that Harry could turn from genial to stern in a second. After looking at Anakin for a few minutes Harry said quietly, "Keep your guard up at all times Anakin, remember who controls the castle. I don't want Dumbledore grabbing hold of you because you weren't paying attention."
"Ok Master. I won't forget again."
"See that you don't. Have you had lunch yet?" Anakin shook his head, so Harry indicated the doors behind him. "I was waiting for you to finish your chat with Draco. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Syra have eaten and are wandering around outside, as is Draco." Switching his gaze to Snape he added "I had a nice chat with him too by the way and we've arranged a truce."
Snape nodded and moved into the Great Hall, Harry walking beside him and Anakin falling back to walk slightly behind Harry. They separated to sit on opposite sides of the table that was set up, with Anakin seated beside Ginny, and Harry and Snape sitting next to each other.
The four split into two with their conversations, Harry and Snape, and Anakin and Ginny. Snape took the opportunity to quietly continue the earlier conversation, and Harry finally answered him.
"That little problem I mentioned earlier had to do with underage drinking and a certain recreational drug which can be quite lethal."
"Drugs? Ok I take it back Potter, you might have been an idiot but you wouldn't have touched drugs" Snape murmured, glancing at Anakin who was deep in conversation with Ginny.
"Mhmm, and Anakin won't be touching them ever again either" Harry said. "I intervened just before he was about to start using the drug. He was totally drunk but that was all. My reaction shocked him I think."
"Ok, now I'm curious. I suppose you blew up at him?"
"In a manner of speaking. I've learnt that a quiet tone does far more in terms of intimidation than yelling does. So, instead of yelling at him, I went all cold and quiet. You remember my second year, how Dumbledore looked at me and Ron, as if we'd let him down."
"Yes I remember. How does that have any bearing on, oh I see. Anakin doesn't like disappointing you so if you show him that he's done exactly that, then it works far better. How exactly did you punish him may I ask?"
Harry looked sideways at him. "Grounded him for 2 months, and put him on an electronic leash during that time."
"Electronic leash?"
"Tracking device, set so that if he left the Temple when he wasn't supposed to, I'd know about it. He also had to use itto check in a certain times as well. It was a way for him to regain my trust, which he lost with that stunt. He's regained it though, and I think that he's determined to do nothing to ever lose it again."
"He loves you, and looks up to you. It's to be expected that he wouldn't want to lose your trust again; you're far too untrusting as it is."
Harry smirked before looking over Anakin. Anakin chose that moment to look up and their eyes met. A small smile graced Harry's face and an answering smile crept over Anakin's before they looked away.
Harry rose, as he had finished, and headed towards the doors. Anakin didn't follow, as he was still engaged in conversation with Ginny, and from the way they were looking at Harry and then chuckling, the Knight surmised that they were discussing his student days again. Shaking his head, Harry stepped out onto the front steps and took in the sight of the grounds. Smiling he headed towards the lake, wanting to see if the giant squid was still alive.
He was halfway there when he spotted Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Syra heading towards him. In Qui-Gon's arms was a very familiar looking tabby cat, and Harry choked as he realized that Qui-Gon had no idea who he was holding. A mischievous smirk spread over his face before he schooled it to impassiveness.
'Now this I can have fun with' he thought with an inward grin.
"Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Syra, how do you like Hogwarts so far?"
"It's great Knight Potter, everything's brilliant. I'd never heard of pictures that talk or move, and talking mirrors, it's just, wow" Syra replied enthusiastically. Harry nodded and looked at the two senior Jedi.
"It's very beautiful" Qui-Gon remarked. Obi-Wan nodded agreement. Harry smirked and then rubbed the cat's head, behind the ears. Still rubbing the cat's head he said, "Did you know Padawan, that here, some wizards and witches can turn themselves into animals?"
"No, can they really?" Syra said eagerly. "Can you?"
Harry laughed. "Not yet Padawan but I'm hoping for lessons soon." Stopping his massage of the cat's ears he looked around and said "Isn't that right Professor McGonagall."
As the other three Jedi looked confused, the cat shivered and then transformed, leaving Qui-Gon with his arms wrapped round Professor McGonagall's waist. The Jedi Master let go almost instantaneously, and stepped back, blushing.
"I'm so sorry Ma'am" he said, before glaring at Harry who was looking innocently at them." Harry chuckled. "Not everything is as it appears here Qui-Gon" he said.
McGonagall had recovered herself enough to say, "That's quite alright Master Jinn, when I'm in my feline form I enjoy the same things that a normal cat would enjoy. The feline instincts take over in a small way although I'm still myself, I can think like a human and retain information the same way. It's what makes an Animagus a good spy if you have a need for one."
Turning to glare at Harry she continued, "Although, some of us seem to like making jokes at other's expense."
Harry shrugged. "Come on Minerva, it wasn't you I was getting at. It was a good joke." McGonagall shrugged and then replied, "I suppose so. Do you want to find out your animagus form now or later, after the Order meeting?"
"Now please, I want to be able to keep Dumbledore away from me as long as possible today."
McGonagall looked sharply at him. "Severus told you something, I know he was going to talk to you today. What did he tell you that set you even more against the Headmaster than you were already?"
Harry shrugged. "Nothing really."
"Harry, you might not be a student anymore but I was close friends with your parents and I deserve the truth. Please, tell me."
Sighing, Harry turned round. "Can we go to your office, I don't want people overhearing."
McGonagall looked at him for a minute before turning and leading the way indoors to her office. Once inside the group of 5, for Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Syra had followed, sat down. Harry glanced round before looking at Syra.
"Padawan Veldt, I don't think you need to hear this. Would you please go and find Anakin, and remind him that that Ethics assignment he got the extension on has yet to be finished."
Syra looked undecided so Obi-Wan stepped in. "Do as he says Padawan, and while you're at it, you have assignments of your own to do. Do them in our rooms."
Syra nodded and stood, bowing to Obi-Wan, before bowing to both Qui-Gon and Harry and leaving in search of Anakin. With the apprentice gone, Harry looked at McGonagall.
"Silencing Charm please?" he asked. McGonagall looked at him before flicking her wand. "What is going on Harry?" she asked, exasperated.
"What do you know of Occlumency Minerva?" Harry asked.
"I have an Adept ranking in it. I was curious about it when I was a student so I learnt it. Severus and Dumbledore are Masters of the art I do know that. Why do you ask?"
"Can an Adept teach a student?"
"Yes they can. Why?"
Harry had got up with a snarl. "It makes Dumbledore's actions even more despicable then" he growled before swinging round to face Minerva.
"He told me that Professor Snape was the only person capable of teaching me Occlumency, then he forced Professor Snape to break his oath of causing no harm to students he might teach the art to. In forcing Professor Snape to break that oath, he forced him to mind-rape me. Those Occlumency lessons weren't to close my link with Voldemort, they were meant to widen it, and then Dumbledore hoped to use it to flush the Dark Idiot out and use me to kill him."
Minerva McGonagall prided herself on remaining in control of herself at all times, but hearing what her long time friend and one-time mentor had done to both Snape and Harry shocked her. Shaking her head she asked, "What do you intend to do about it?"
"Nothing at present. I will only bring it up if the right opportunity presents itself. Can we get started on the Animagus form now?"
Minerva seemed to snap back to herself and nodded before bringing out a mirror.
"This mirror is especially enchanted to show someone's Animagus form if they have one. Some people use a potion, but the mirror is quicker. Look into it and you'll see your form.
Harry looked into it and saw not one but two forms. One was a magnificent griffin, with an eagle head and neck, melding into the body of a lion and massive eagle wings on either side. The other was a black falcon, again fairly large. Both animals had piercing green eyes and a faint tuft of white feathers in the shape of a lightning bolt on their foreheads.
"Er, Professor. I've got two forms, is that normal?" he asked. McGonagall looked at him. "Yes it is. Most witches and wizards, if they have the capability for one, often have another lurking somewhere around. They simply choose which one to do that's all. My other form was a lioness."
"Very apt for the Head of Gryffindor" Harry said wryly. "What next Professor?"
"Now concentrate on which form you want to change into. Change your hand into the corresponding,…" McGonagall trailed off as Harry shivered and then changed into the black falcon. The bird looked around before flapping its wings and lifting off for a circuit of the room. It landed on McGonagall's shoulder and walked down her arm, before lifting off again and hovering over a clear patch of floor. It shivered again before turning into Harry again.
"Well, that was interesting" he said with a grin. Noticing the shocked looks being directed at him he said, "What?"
"Most people take a year or so learning how to change. I've never heard of anyone doing it like you just did. How did you do it?"
"I just concentrated on becoming the falcon and let its form superimpose itself over my human form. Then there was a sensation of changing and then I was a bird. I wonder if I could do the griffin form."
"Not in here Harry, maybe the Room of Requirement. You'll have to wait though, the Order meeting is soon. Harry wrinkled his nose but said nothing.
Finally after a 10 minute catch up session where Minerva was brought up to date on what had happened with Harry during the time he was with the Jedi, it was time for the Order meeting. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had left after the animagus demonstration, not really interested in learning how to turn themselves into an animal. They thought it was interesting in itself but weren't comfortable learning it themselves, and had gone down to mix and mingle with the Order members and the Ministry representatives, until Harry and McGonagall were ready to come down.
Harry and McGonagall walked down to the Great Hall, hearing voices from within when they got close. Sensing Anakin's presence Harry realized that Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon must have brought him and Syra down for the meeting.
Opening the doors he motioned to McGonagall to go first and as he entered he shut the doors behind him. It was time to meet with old friends and mend the bridges that had been broken when he'd left.
