Author's Note: Sorry it took so long. School was a nightmare and I really can't talk about it now. I'm now on Easter break so I have one or two days to enjoy myself before having to dive back into school life.
Hermione threw her shoe at the annoying alarm clock and sank back into her bed when the annoying destroyer of dreams fell silent. "Finally!" she thought to herself as she burrowed deeper into her blankets and pillows. She heard a familiar 'pop' and groaned. "Go away, Rita." She mumbled from her pillow.
"Good morning, Hermione." Hermione's accomplice in presenting information to the rest of the Daily Prophet banned Hogwarts smiled and perched herself on the end of Hermione's bed. "Have I got some news for you!" The bug-like woman confided.
"News?" Hermione lifted her blanket and eyebrow at the same time. "Not this early." She groaned and pulled the blanket back over her head. "No news before dawn, please." She said, just noticing that the sun had yet to make an appearance. She felt something hit her legs.
"It's an advance copy of the Daily Prophet. The headline will interest you." Rita said with her glee coming through in her voice.
Hermione sat up and brushed her hair out of her face. She saw Rita eye it and she glared at the reporter. "Not a word about my hair." Hermione picked up the newspaper and opened it. She gave a gasp and dropped it a second later. The headline stood out clearly "Where is the Boy-Who-Lived? - Dumbledore Forbids Harry Potter Contact with Peers". Hermione gave a little grin. "He did it!"
"That he did. It seems our Minister Fudge has decided that Dumbledore is working against the interests of wizarding society and the Boy-Who-Lived's welfare." Rita gave a conspiratorial look to Hogwarts' most surprising rule breaker. "Word has it that Aurors are going to Mr. Potter's house at, oh, six a.m."
Hermione looked at her alarm clock and nearly shrieked. "It's five-thirty! Oh, where did I put their number?" She kicked off her blankets and rushed to her desk. She started digging through her papers.
"Clouds, Hermione?" Rita asked of Hermione's pajamas.
"Better than cat-eye glasses." Hermione snapped. "Ah! Here it is!" Hermione snatched up the paper that held the Dursley's phone number and rushed downstairs to the phone. Rita followed at a more sedate pace and settled on the bottom step while Hermione punched in the number. "Come on, come on." She mumbled to herself. "Mrs. Dursley? It's Hermione Granger. Yes. Sorry for calling so early, but I wanted to let you know that Aurors are coming to your house in about half an hour. Yes. Right. No, I can't tell you who told me, but I trust them. Right. You're welcome." Hermione hung up the phone and collapsed next to Rita. "Thank you for coming."
"You're welcome. I did as I promised." Rita patted Hermione's hand.
"Tea?" Hermione offered.
"That would be lovely." Rita said. "Would you be willing to answer a few questions?" Rita asked as she followed Hermione into the kitchen.
"That depends on whether or not I can be anonymous." Hermione said with a smile as she put water on to boil.
"Anonymous is fine." Rita's notebook and normal quill appeared for Hermione's anonymous statement.
Harry woke up to the sound of Sensei's voice. He rolled over and nodded to the man to show that he was awake. Sensei nodded and left. Harry was exempt from sparring and anything that could leave marks, but he still had to work out every morning. He would return to his normal training schedule once the play ended.
He hopped out of bed and narrowly avoided colliding with his desk. His Mini-Messenger was doing a little tap dance. "Lightsaber." He said as he picked it up. Hermione's handwriting appeared.
-Fudge snapped! He released an article to the Daily Prophet criticizing Dumbledore. The headline "Where is the Boy-Who-Lived? - Dumbledore Forbids Harry Potter Contact with Peers" What do you think?
Harry snatched his pen and sat down at his desk to write out his reply.
-What do I think? I think this is going to cause some problems. Dumbledore doesn't like having his authority questioned. Stay with our friends, Mi. Stay out of his way. Take someone with you if you are called to his office. Please be careful, Mi.
-I can handle him, Skywalker. My mum is calling me. I'll talk to you later?
-Ok. Please take care, Mi.
Harry pushed away from his desk and sighed. It felt like things were starting to go out of control. Dumbledore was now backed into a corner, Hermione was under siege, Voldemort was turning strategies, and Fudge was starting to become wise to the fact that Harry was not at Hogwarts.
"Deshi?" Sensei said from the hallway.
"Coming, Sensei." Harry said as he pulled on his uniform. He hoped that his laps would number less than twenty. He was still tired from his performance the night before and there would be another one that night. Such was life.
Paul shifted the folders under his arm and thought about his last session with Harry. The boy was going in leaps and bounds with his aunt. Paul had found from whom he had inherited his stubbornness, for Harry's aunt was just as stubborn as the nephew. It was almost frightening to see how much they were alike in some respects and then be completely opposite in others.
"Paul!" He heard Harry shout from behind him. He turned in time to see Harry round the corner and try to stop. He smirked as the boy slid across the floor and into the wall. "Ow! Who waxed the floor?" He said as he picked himself up and hurtled towards Paul again. "Paul! Please say I can go! Please! It says I need your permission to go and I need to go! It will complete my life. Please? Pleeeeease?"
"Why don't you tell me what you're begging for first?" Paul said with a patient smile.
"You know what I'm begging for. There's a London trip for theater. We get to spend a weekend in London and see a musical and something from Shakespeare. Bug also told me that we'll be staying up late and junk food will be involved, just like normal kids. Please, Paul?" Harry gave his best impression of puppy eyes to date as he waited for Paul's answer. Harry thought the 'normal kid' argument would clench it for Paul. He was always going on about how Harry should act like a 'normal kid'.
"I don't know." Paul hedged for a few minutes. "You still have to ask your aunt."
"I don't need to ask her. I can pay for it myself. There's no need to bother her about it." Harry said with a confused expression. "Please, Paul?"
Paul studied Harry for a minute. What Harry had said was true. Harry could pay for the trip himself. Remus would be more than glad to draw the money out for Harry and make all arrangements. Remus had met with Paul several times about Harry's status in the wizarding world and the impact Harry had on it and the impact the status had on Harry. They both agreed that Harry needed to try being a normal kid as much as possible. The fame and wealth was daunting to Paul and he was thirty some odd years old. He couldn't imagine being Harry's age and expected to carry out his responsibilities or fame. There was another issue that could be addressed here. Harry needed to accept Petunia's authority for now, until he was seventeen in the wizarding world, or eighteen in the normal one.
"Your aunt is your legal guardian. She will need to give her permission for you to go to London. There's a permission form she'll need to sign. I'll send it to her, but you need to ask first." Paul told Harry. He watched as Harry's face fell and blanked. Paul felt the first tendrils of cold appear around him and ignored it. Harry needed his focus.
"What if she says no?" Harry asked. Paul almost gave his permission at the look on Harry's face. He looked so forlorn at the thought of not being able to go to London.
"You won't know until you ask her." Paul told Harry. Harry shrugged and sighed. "Let me know when you want to call her. If she says yes, then I can mail out a permission slip. Okay?" Paul asked.
"Okay." Harry said as he turned and walked away. He looked to be deep in thought and Paul wanted to say it was how to convince his aunt how to say 'yes', but Paul knew that that was not the subject of Harry's thoughts. It felt more like a strategy of how to carry on without the trip in his future. Paul frowned and made a note to himself to call Petunia and explain about the trip and how much it meant to Harry to be able to go. He only hoped that Petunia would allow it.
The next few days passed quickly for Harry. He still had classes everyday, workouts with Sensei, therapy with Paul, and his Hogwarts curriculum to follow. He wanted to dive into his bed and sleep a thousand years, but felt that he would not want to wake up if he did manage to sleep.
He had noticed that his emotions were a little unpredictable lately and they were affecting his rest. He couldn't really explain why, but he would be fine one minute and ready to cry in the next. Paul had noticed and started working with Harry on various calming techniques, but nothing seemed to be working. Worse still, they could feel temperature changes happening all the time as Harry switched between his emotions. Harry had no explanation for it. Paul had given a few ideas, but Harry hesitated to think about them. He was in control; no one else had control over him. Bleys could not influence what was going on with him now.
The only good thing to come out of the calming techniques was a new type of therapy for him and his relatives. Well, Petunia, at any rate. He could only discuss his feelings with her when he was either at a breaking point (uncomfortable for both of them) or almost asleep. Harry had chosen the almost asleep stage, as his magic made the room cold when he was really upset. He found he felt better after each session, as he was able to tell his aunt exactly as he felt without repercussions. He could cry and she would let him. He could ask questions and she would answer them if she had the answer. They still had their moments of misunderstandings (she refused to allow any magic outside of homework, even once Harry turned seventeen) and disagreements (Harry refused to discuss a 'bedtime' rule; he would sleep when he wanted and not before!), but they were slowly starting to develop a relationship that could possibly work once Harry returned home. There was no longer an "if" in the subject.
Petunia had told him about Aurors showing up the day an article about him appeared in the Daily Prophet. The Aurors had tried to bluster their way in but found that the wards on the house would not permit them into the actual house. They could only stand on the front step and call attention to themselves due to their robes. Harry had found the story particularly funny and asked Petunia to take some pictures so he could see their faces.
Harry had written a letter to Petunia, explaining about the trip to London and why Harry felt he needed to go. He had not received an answer as to whether or not she would allow him to go, but Harry had alerted Remus about the trip and asked to have funds ready, just in case she did decide that Harry could go. Harry had tried to keep from sounding too pathetic about it, but he knew his voice trembled the slightest bit when Remus asked a few questions about it.
Vernon was another story. Harry and Vernon both were not interested in establishing a relationship like the one Petunia and Harry were building. Harry did not want Vernon as a major part of his life (and certainly not as a parental figure). Vernon said he would house Harry until the boy was ready to leave, but not to expect anything more than that. Harry was happy with the idea and nothing Paul could say changed his mind. He had Remus; he didn't need Vernon anymore except to provide dinner conversation and atmosphere.
Harry broke out of his thoughts and glanced at his watch. He was going to be late! Scratch that, he was already late. He swore under his breath and picked up his pace to get to his first class. He could already hear the news program they watched every morning from the hallway. He opened the door to his classroom and stopped as the class turned as one and started at him. The way they were staring…it wasn't a "you're late" stare. "What?" He asked his classmates. He noticed that his teacher was off to the side with a mobile phone to his ear. What was going on?
Julie pointed up at the screen. He turned and saw his picture being displayed. What in the world? The news anchor's voice came on. "Police need your help to locate this sixteen year old boy, Harry James Potter. He is needed for questioning as a witness to several murders. He has green eyes, black hair, and a unique scar in the shape of a lightening bolt in the middle of his forehead. Again, please call the number on your screen if you have any information." Harry reached up out of reflex and smoothed his hair over his scar.
Harry's teacher slid his cell phone into his pocket and came forward. "Harry, is it?" The man said. "It's going to be okay." Harry felt the need to back up against the door. "I've just called them and someone is on the way."
"What!" Harry rasped as he fumbled for the doorknob. "You don't understand." He croaked as he managed to grasp the doorknob. His teacher stepped forward and put his hands on Harry's shoulders.
"You're going to be okay, son." His teacher told him. Funny. Harry had liked the man before this.
"No." Harry opened the doorknob and slipped out of the man's grasp. He stumbled into the hallway and backed away from his teacher. "You don't understand, sir."
"Harry." The man reached out a hand to Harry.
"My name is Evan!" Harry snapped. He couldn't allow the man to continue using his name. Harry felt his breath start coming in gasps. Oh, no. He knew what this was. Panic attack. He heard the front secretary's voice coming up the stairs. Harry's eyes bugged as Kingsley Shacklebolt's face appeared, along with another man Harry did not know. They were both dressed like Muggles, but Harry knew that their wands were there. Harry fought for breath. He couldn't go back. Not yet.
"Harry." Shacklebolt said as he crested the last step. Harry's control snapped. He ran. "Harry! No!" Shacklebolt called after him.
How had they managed to get here so quickly? He glanced behind him and turned back around to put on some speed. They were gaining on him. He wasn't sure where he was going. Just away. He stumbled as Kingsley caught up to him and tried to grab him around the waist. Ha. Harry was too tall for the Auror to grab him like he used to. Harry's mind cleared and he threw back his head into Shacklebolt's nose. Harry heard a muttered curse and he hid a smile as the Auror loosened his grasp enough to allow Harry to free an arm. Harry drove his elbow into Shacklebolt's stomach. The larger Auror dropped him and the other ran up and raised his wand, obviously surprised that Harry was putting up a fight. Harry tossed a small bit of magic at the man and was satisfied to see the man's wand go flying from his hand. He turned to face Shacklebolt and kicked the man's wand out of his hand.
"Harry, we're here to take you home." Shacklebolt said calmly.
"I'm not going back there." Harry told him.
"To Hogwarts, I mean." Shacklebolt clarified for Harry.
"I'm not going back!" Harry snarled. Didn't anyone listen to him?
"You don't have a choice, Harry." Shacklebolt said with an apologetic look.
Harry faced off against them for a second before doing something rude and drastic: he kicked each of them in the groin and watched as they dropped to the ground. "Sorry!" he shot over his shoulder as he took off again. He knew that he had only bought himself some time. A numbing charm would sort them out in just a few seconds, once they got over their shock of having been kicked in a very private place.
Harry dashed around the corner and nearly felt his heart stop as someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him backwards into a small hallway. He opened his mouth to scream, in hopes that someone would hear him. A familiar calloused hand clamped over his mouth. "Calm, deshi." Harry immediately stopped fighting and went limp in his teacher's arms. "Those men? Your world?" Sensei removed his hand from Harry's mouth.
Harry gasped in air and reached up to hold onto Sensei's arm around his chest. "Yes, Sensei. They're here to take me back." Harry whispered, afraid to go louder than that.
"Hmm." Sensei's arm tightened around Harry, almost as though Sensei knew Harry needed it. "Come, deshi." Sensei released Harry, but immediately pulled Harry close to him and put an arm around his shoulders. He led Harry down the hallway and to a side door Harry had not noticed before. Come to think of it, Harry had not followed his old habit of sneaking around at night here as he usually did at Hogwarts. The door led to the gym. Sensei shouted something to Rick, who was practicing in the middle of the floor. Harry was surprised to not understand what was being said. What were they speaking? "Come, deshi." Sensei said as he reappeared from his office. He barked out one last order to Rick as he led Harry out another door. Harry stayed close to his teacher, his head down and heart in his throat. He could almost feel wands pointing at him, ready to stun him and whisk him back to Hogwarts and the Boy Who Lived.
"Deshi." Sensei opened a door to outside and motioned Harry through. Sensei pulled Harry close again and ushered him towards a parking lot behind the school. The lights on the car flashed once, Sensei opened the passenger door, and nudged Harry towards the seat. "Seatbelt." The man ordered. Harry obeyed without comment.
He and Sensei had had a long talk after Diagon Alley about Harry being in Sensei's hands. The man had made himself clear: Harry was to obey Sensei's orders in times of danger without question. The look on the man's face warned Harry that the man would not allow Harry to be harmed by magic again.
Sensei started the car and pulled out of the parking lot just as doors opened on the side. Harry could just make out the Aurors as Sensei turned the corner. Harry relaxed into his seat and took a deep breath. That had been close! He looked at Sensei for a few seconds before moving his book bag to the back seat. "Where are we going, Sensei?"
"My home. For a little while." Sensei told him with a small smile.
"Oh, okay." Harry said. It would be a little awkward, going to his teacher's home, but he would be back at St. Jude's for dinner, at the latest. Sensei chuckled next to him and Harry looked at the man with a vague uneasiness. That little laugh never meant good things to Harry. "What?" He asked the man.
"My daughters will be pleased." He told Harry with a laugh. "A new boy in the house."
Harry threw a disgusted look at his teacher before turning to stare out the window. Girls. There was some foreign territory.
"Come in. Shoes by the door." Harry toed off his trainers and followed his teacher into the house. "My home is yours." Sensei said, motioning Harry to the couch in the sitting room. A large racket at the window caused Harry to jump up from the couch and look for a hiding place. He wasn't scared; no, he was just still on edge from being pursued by one person he used to trust. "Calm, deshi. I will check." Sensei pushed away the curtains and looked through the glass. "An owl."
Harry thought for a few seconds before inching towards the window. This was the first time since Diagon Alley that he had left St. Jude's and he wondered if there were some kind of wards on the place that kept owls away from him. He peeked through the curtains, careful to hide his face from view, and looked at the owl. "It's Hedwig. She's mine." Harry told him. "It's safe to let her in."
Sensei opened the window and Hedwig flew straight to Harry. She landed on his outstretched arm and studied her master. He looked much better than the last time she had seen him and she settled her wings, satisfied that the boy's relation had made the correct decision. She fluffed up her feathers in happiness. "Hey, girl. I missed you." Hedwig's feathers fluffed up further in pleasure and she held her letter forward with great pride at a job well done.
Harry took the letter with a smile and scratched Hedwig's head as reward. "You're such a smart owl." He worked to get through all of the feathers on her head and Hedwig settled down on his arm to enjoy her reward. Harry moved back to the window. "Why don't you find a close tree to rest in? I'll come find you later if I need you." Harry was surprised to find that Hedwig only clamped her talons around Harry's arm all the tighter and stared at the letter in his hand. "Told to wait for a reply, did you?" Hedwig bobbed her head once and hooted. "Alright. Find a perch on the window sill then, until I'm done."
"A beautiful creature, deshi." Sensei said as Harry turned to his letter.
"Yes, she is. She's been my friend for the last six years." Harry looked down at his letter to find only his first name written on it. He recognized Remus's hand writing and opened the envelope. He pulled out the Muggle stationary and opened it.
Harry,
Paul called us and told us what has happened. We never thought that Fudge would go this far to find you. Paul assures me that your teacher was a trembling mass of nerves by the time he finished with him. We are working on getting the "dogs" called off. The Aurors have been at your aunt's home several times, but they cannot make it past the front step. The wards that no longer allow Professor Dumbledore on your street are protecting your family from the Aurors and Minister Fudge. I am with your aunt right now. We are studying the laws to make sure that he cannot do this.
We are not going to allow him to take you. You are not an object, Harry, and that's what he's trying to make of you. We will not allow it. If everything has gone to plan, you are at your Sensei's house right now, probably feeling terribly betrayed by not knowing that we have been planning behind your back. We're sorry, but your aunt demanded that you be taken care of at all costs. Sensei volunteered his home as a safe house, should the worst happen and someone discovered you at St. Jude's. Oh, your aunt wants to write a bit to you. Take care of yourself, Harry.
Harry,
Please follow the rules of Sensei Leonard's home until we can figure out how to keep you safe. I would have done something else if I knew how to keep you safe, but I am unable to protect you except through the wards. That and there are those Aurors coming up at all hours. I didn't want you to feel like you were in prison here. You'll be able to relax at Sensei's and won't find yourself looking over your shoulder. He promised to keep you safe until you can return. Please stay safe, Harry. I'll be calling later this evening so we can talk.
Love,
Aunt Petunia
Harry folded the letter over and looked up at Sensei. "You could have told me, you know." He told the man. Harry picked up his book bag and slid the letter into his journal. The letter was the first Petunia had ever written him. Even better, she had written "love" as the closing. He was not sentimental!
"Yes, but where would the fun be?" Sensei asked as he stood up from his chair. "Something to drink?" He asked.
"Yes, please." Harry said as he dug through his book bag for paper and a pen. Sensei disappeared into the kitchen and Harry made a triumphant noise as his hand hit something. He found his literature notebook and felt a firm satisfaction as he ripped out a sheet of paper. His teacher, the traitor, had said that no one should remove paper from the notebook. Harry was tempted to rip out another sheet of paper, but restrained himself so that he could write his reply for which either Petunia or Remus had asked.
Dear Aunt Petunia and Remus,
You're right. I am where you set up. It's nice and kind of isolated from the rest of the neighborhood. I am also a little disturbed that you didn't see fit to release this information to me (yes, we've been watching spy movies again. The other guys can't get enough of them). I will trust your judgment for now because you are the adults. I would like a full explanation when I return to St. Jude's or home, whichever comes first.
Remus, please make sure you take your potion later this week. And take care of yourself. Have you looked at cars like I asked? You need one and I won't take "no" for an answer.
Aunt Petunia, please be careful. Aurors are really good police and I'm afraid that they will be a little zealous in trying to find me. So long as they aren't Unspeakables. You'll have to ask Remus what those are. I'm still not sure. May I please go to London? Please? It will complete a vital part of my dramatic education. Please? Will you accept a bribe of me never getting into trouble again? Please? Okay, I'll quit bothering you for now. I promise to follow every single one of Sensei's instructions while at his home. I'll stay safe and I guess I'll talk to you later tonight.
Your nephew,
Harry
Harry folded the paper and slid it into the envelope that originally carried his letter and crossed out his name before adding his aunt's name on the front. He called his owl and folded the flap into the envelope. "Hedwig, please take this to either Aunt Petunia or Remus. Do not let it be intercepted." Hedwig gave him an affronted look and Harry read it carefully. "Yes, I know you're the smartest owl in the world. And the most beautiful. Just be careful, okay? I don't want to lose you just because people are looking for me." Harry said calmly. Hedwig head-butted Harry and took the envelope in her beak.
Harry watched her fly out of the window and smiled. He had missed her! Sensei came back into the room at the moment, carrying two steaming mugs. Harry smiled and accepted his, juggling it from one hand to the other as he waited for it to cool. "Did your owl leave?" Sensei asked with a slightly curious voice.
"Yes. She is a post carrier for magical people. My aunt used her to send a letter to me and she requested a letter back from me. I think Hedwig will be back sooner or later. She usually appears where I am most of the time. I don't know what kept her from St. Jude's." Harry said as he moved from the window and back to the couch.
"Hmm." Sensei said with a sigh.
Harry studied the room around him while he sipped at his tea. The sitting room was just that, for sitting. There was no television, books, or radio. Nothing but a couch, two chairs, and a coffee table occupied the floor space. The floors were hardwood and a light tan color. The walls themselves were white with a few paintings on the walls. Harry wasn't sure what of, but it looked to be fields of some kind. "They are of Japan." Sensei's voice broke Harry out of his thoughts.
"Pardon?" Harry said, his brain not quite caught up with him.
"The paintings. They are paintings of Japan, done when I was just a little younger than you." Sensei explained.
"You did them?" Harry asked.
"You are not the only one with secrets, deshi." Sensei said with a smile. "Come. I will show you where you are sleeping tonight." Sensei said as he put down his cup.
"Won't I be going back to St. Jude's tonight?" Harry asked. "I can't miss too much school."
"No worrying, deshi. You will be here a few days. My wife will be happy to have another young one around." He said with a smile. "Paul will bring your things later tonight when he brings Rick home." Harry blinked as he realized that the sentences Sensei had just strung together were the most perfect Harry had heard from his teacher. He stood and followed Sensei down the hallway and up the stairs. "Bathroom here." Sensei said, showing him the room. "My room, if you need me during the night. Rick's room." Sensei said, motioning to the door. "My daughters' room. They are thirteen and twelve and will pursue you." Sensei warned Harry with a smirk. Harry gave a good-natured groan and rolled his eyes. "Guest room." Sensei said finally. He flicked on the light and Harry saw a room done up in sky blue and crème. "Leave your book bag here." Harry nodded and set it just inside the door. "Now, for the fun."
Harry followed his Sensei to the front door where he and Sensei pulled on their shoes. Sensei led him around the house to the garden behind the house where Harry saw another building. Sensei opened the door and pushed three buttons by the door. Harry's eyes widened as he saw what the building contained. "Yes, my own dojo." Sensei said. "You will be joining the classes. I have a uniform for you." Harry felt his jaw threaten to touch the floor. The gym at school was fine, but this! This was wonderful! He finally registered what Sensei said and looked up at the man. Sensei was looking at him with a predatory look. Harry could almost feel that he was going to be working out constantly. It felt like a last desperate push of some kind. "This will be fun." Sensei said to Harry. Harry could only nod.
Hermione sighed and pushed her hair out of her face for the thousandth time during the lesson. She only hoped that it wouldn't catch fire from the flame under her potion. She frowned and thought about the message Harry had sent her. She couldn't believe that Fudge would go as far as he did. Announcing Harry's name on television would have been enough to send her into a panic, but the picture? That just made her thoughts a little homicidal. Hermione could almost consider choking the life out of Fudge entertainment at this point.
Dumbledore was not happy at all. He had tried to corner her several times in the past three days since the article first came out. She had managed to avoid him by ducking into the girls' bathroom (even though she had to spend twenty minutes talking to Moaning Myrtle), checking herself into the Hospital Wing through the help of one of the twins' newest products, which was guaranteed to give the eater unexplainable spots for twenty-four hours, and dodging about like she was an agent in a Bond film. She was heartily sick of it! She was ready to go a bit spare and was considering new ways of removing herself from Dumbledore's influence. She even considered falling off a broom, except that everyone would see through that within seconds. Hermione was well-known for her firm dislike of being on a broom. The yearly flying lessons she had to endure were bad enough. Getting on one of her own volition, well, she just wasn't ready to try it.
She reached up to add some lacewings to her cauldron when she noticed her hand shaking and she drew it back. It was happening. She was going spare. She took a deep breath and tried again, happy to see that she managed to do so without losing her calm. She studied the next step and stirred as her book directed. She felt more than saw her professor pass in front of her, but she registered that something was in her cauldron that was not supposed to be there. She took two seconds to identify the item, another two to figure out that it was potentially dangerous for it to be there, and another to realize that her cauldron was about to explode. A phrase from an old Muggle movie popped into her head and it was out of her mouth before she realized she had even thought of it.
"HIT THE DECK!" Hermione leapt under her desk. All of the Muggle born students and most of the half-bloods followed her shouted instructions. The purebloods did as any smart person would do on a sinking ship. They followed the rats, or in this case, Muggle born and half-blood students.
Hermione's cauldron exploded in an astonishing light and sound displayed that she dared to think pretty. The entire room lit up and potion base started to rain down on the desks. Hermione's brain analyzed it and she realized that water was actually falling in the classroom. Her potion had turned from a volatile substance to water. She remembered that Professor Snape had passed in front of her cauldron just before it blew up. That man had set her up!
She jumped as Professor Snape's livid face appeared in front of her and pulled her out from under the desk. "Everyone dump your cauldrons, gather your things, and leave!" He snarled at the class while keeping a firm hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Now!" he barked to the unresponsive class. Her classmates jumped as one and hurried to obey the professor's orders. Many a student shot Hermione a sympathetic look as he or she rushed out of the door. Drake, Hermione noticed, stayed behind.
The door shut behind the last student and Professor Snape removed his hand from her shoulder. Hermione reached up and rubbed it out of reflex. She looked at Snape, wondering what the man was going to do now. "Relax, Miss Granger. You are not in trouble." Snape told her.
"I should think not!" She snapped. "I was almost done with that, you know! You ruined all of my work." She plopped down on the nearest stool and actually pouted. Okay, that was a sign of her mental state, right there. She never pouted. Or whined. None of it.
Snape raised an expressive eyebrow and looked the classroom door. "Thank goodness the day is over." He said to himself. He walked back to Hermione and looked down at her. "Even I call tell something is troubling you. It can distract you and today's little staged explosion could have far worse repercussions." Snape told her.
"Are you asking me to confide in you?" She asked in shock.
"I don't know of anyone else on staff who knows what I know. Miss Granger, I'm going to put this bluntly with no regard for the sympathy and compassion that most females require for I consider you a rational creature." Hermione was shocked. He considered her rational? "I hope you will bear with me." Snape told her. He bent down so he could look her in the eye. "You look exhausted and I'm sure you haven't slept much in the past three days. You're not eating well and you have developed a certain tic near your right eye and your hands were shaking earlier. This all started when that newspaper article came out and Albus suddenly became curious about you." Snape told her. "You are a wreck."
"Thank you for noticing, Professor." Hermione said with a sarcastic tone. She only wanted to go curl up in bed for a few hours with a good book and some chocolate. After a long hot bath. Was that so wrong?
Snape stood and stared down at her. He made an odd noise and started walking to the door that led to his office. "Draco, Miss Granger." He said as he opened the door. Hermione got up from her stool and followed behind Draco. She was surprised when she was led into a living room of sorts. "Yes, we are in my quarters. I have decided that since you have such a blatant disregard for potion safety rules that you will spend every free moment you have with me until you learn such important rules. You are a sixth year, after all." Hermione wanted to hug her potions professor. He was protecting her from Dumbledore. She wouldn't need to fall off her broom!
Draco pulled Hermione over to a couch and pushed her down on it. "Why don't you have a nap?" Draco asked as he rifled through a chest next to the couch and produced a knitted afghan. "You look like you could use it. We'll wake you in time for dinner." He said.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue. She didn't need a nap! She was not a three year old overtired from her big day out somewhere. She…Professor Snape raised an eyebrow at her and she toed off her shoes, took off her robe, and accepted the afghan from Drake with a heartfelt thanks. A pillow appeared on the couch and she settled down as the two of them disappeared into what looked to be a potions laboratory. She figured that Professor Snape would want to keep one in his chambers so that students would not bother his own personal equipment and stores of ingredients. She drifted off to the sound of talking between the two of them about something to do with the potion they were making.
Author's Note: That was my longest chapter ever! Okay, if you have questions, just click on my name and then click on forums. Then you can leave me a message. Come on, you know you want to! Thanks, as always, to all who reviewed. You are my inspiration!