Chapter 10:

Harry,

I didn't see her in the cafe. But she sure got every word. I wish you could get hold of a pensieve. I'd drop my memory in there and we could look more carefully.

Interesting thing happened after you'd left the village. Talk to the Weasley twins (they so look like their father). They were trying to get Bagman to pay up. Seems he owes them money after the world cup. Now I'm not being mean, but I know the twins aren't rich. If Bagman couldn't cover his gambling debt to them, he owes others. He's a known gambler. His quidditch talent kept him out of Azkaban. The inmates knew he was one of them. Gave information about the Ministry to the other side.

He may give you extra hints, or try to 'help' you. It isn't for your benefit. It's either his financial gain, or he really is a Death Eater. Avoid him, Harry.

Take care,

Sirius

Well that's scary, thought Harry.

It was the first week of February. There were a mere three weeks until the second task. Harry had learned a heating charm. After Harry had learned of the charm, read the theory and practised it with Hermione he'd asked Snape for some pointers. Even Snape had argued that away as not helping. That was just hypothermia prevention!

"Good evening, Potter," said Snape, "What's it to be this evening?"

They'd altered their session format a bit. Snape knew Harry was researching. Well, Hermione was researching, Harry was learning. Harry could ask Snape questions. Snape would only answer with a question. That way Snape never told Harry an answer.

"Is there a charm to breathe underwater?"

"Have you found one?"

"Can I transfigure myself to breathe underwater?"

"Have you found a spell to do that?"

"Is there a plant that can help?"

"Have you looked around a shop?"

"You're not being helpful!"

"You're asking foolish questions! You're normally better than this," Snape grouched.

"Sorry, I've been sidetracked."

"You've been sidetracked from research that will keep you alive?" asked Snape cuttingly.

"No, it's about that. Can I ask you about Ludo Bagman?"

"You can ask," said Snape, the tone indicating the rest of his unspoken sentence.

"Was he really a Death Eater?"

"Why do you ask? Have you been reading papers again?" asked Snape, curiously.

"No, he's not paid a gambling debt to the twins."

"They're not old enough to gamble."

"He took their money. Is he really broke?"

"The twins might not get their money back, put it that way."

"You know he gave me the hint about my egg? And full marks last task? Well, is he betting on me to win? And he's helping me? Or, is he a Death Eater out to get me?"

Harry knew he sounded worried. He knew he shouldn't be mentioning this stuff to Snape, but Harry was worried. He wanted to know it was just the money thing.

"Why do you think he's a Death Eater?" asked Snape curiously.

"He gave information about the Ministry to Voldemort's side."

"Says who?" asked Snape.

Snape knew that to be true. Goblet Snr had said as much. But information had been a way to stay alive back then. Snape didn't begrudge Bagman doing that. If a Death Eater came to you in the night and asked for information, you gave it in the hope that you'd see the sun come up next day.

Harry went silent.

Snape waited. He could wait. The boy would answer eventually.

"Sirius told me," he said quietly. "In a letter," he added hurriedly.

Severus fought to remain calm. The incident at the shack last year angered him. Albus had spoken to him at length afterwards. Severus didn't want to believe it had been Pettigrew and not Black. Blaming Black for both his school days unhappiness and the death of Lily fitted. The fact that one of those things had been Pettigrew didn't make him hate Black less. Neither had finding out Albus had strapped the bastard for the Lupin incident. Severus still hated Black. Passionately. He'd love just half an hour alone with him. Black would beg on his knees for Severus to stop.

Objectively, Snape accepted that Black had not betrayed the Potters, that he had not killed twelve muggles, and that he'd spent years in Azkaban for a crime he hadn't committed. But Severus wasn't forgiving, and Black had been a key element preventing him from being with Lily. Severus still felt Black guilty of her death. In exactly the same way he himself was guilty of her death.

So Severus wasn't exactly objective when Potter told him he was in communication with Black.

"You have been communicating with Black?" spat Severus.

Potter looked afraid. He stammered his answer, "Y… Y… Yes, sir."

"How long for? What have you told him? How do you know no-one has intercepted the letters? How do you even know you're communicating with Black?" His questions started out angry, they ended in a hiss.

"He's not a murderer. He's innocent," said Potter quietly.

Severus slammed his hand down on the desk. "Answer my questions, Potter!" Severus roared.

Potter shrank back in his chair. Severus couldn't see the expression on his own face.

"Summer. About the tournament. I don't know," murmured Potter.

"And?" snarled Severus.

The boy was silent.

"Answer me!" snapped Snape.

"I m… met him in Hogsmeade," replied Harry.

Severus had to stop. He could feel anger and hatred. He could strangle the boy for being so naive. Let's arrange to meet the wanted criminal in a picturesque wizarding village in Scotland, what could possibly go wrong?!

He stood up. He threw floo powder into the fire.

"Headmaster's study!"

The floo flared to life.

"Now, Potter!" snapped Severus.

The boy thankfully scurried through quickly.

"Mr Potter, Professor Snape, how can I help?"

"He's yours for the evening," snapped Severus. "He can explain why he's been meeting with a wanted criminal in Hogsmeade."

Severus left the way he came, closing the floo behind him.

"Open the door or I break it down," said Severus, knocking persistently on Minerva's door. It was 11pm. Severus had gone up to the room of requirement for the remainder of the evening, set up a duelling dummy and sparred. He was tired and bruised. He'd perhaps set it on a few settings too high. He'd been angry. At everything. Now he was spent. He'd gone back to his quarters and grabbed a hot shower and the bottle of scotch Minerva had left last month and two glasses.

"What's he done this time?" Minerva asked, taking the glass and inviting Severus in.

"Harry! You've been gone hours! What happened?!" asked Hermione. She'd waited up. It was mid week. Even the seventh years were in bed.

"I told Snape I'd met Sirius in Hogsmeade. He sent me to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore asked me about everything. What I'd written, what he'd written, when I'd sent stuff, which owl I'd used. I didn't think it was a big deal. I kinda realised it was a big deal when Dumbledore pointed out that if anyone got wind of Sirius being here the Dementors would be brought back, and Sirius would be kissed on sight. That there's no proof anything was Pettigrew, even though Dumbledore has given his sworn testimony. Hermione, I could have caused Sirius to be killed."

Hermione's mouth turned into an O.

"I didn't think of it like that," said Hermione, horrified.

"Me neither. Snape was absolutely livid. I said we went to the village together but only I went to see Sirius. I didn't mention you."

"You did stun him last year because of Sirius. That's not going to help."

"Merlin, I'd forgotten that."

Harry bit off the comment he was going to make about Snape and his ruler. Hermione thankfully didn't know that detail.

"Is anyone going to go after Sirius?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. Dumbledore told me that I didn't need to know that kind of detail."

"Oops. He's annoyed."

"Oh, yes, he's pissed alright."

Harry stayed below radar for the remainder of the week. Thankfully it'd been a Wednesday meeting, not a Monday meeting.

It was now the middle of February. The task was in ten days' time. Harry, for all his and Hermione's research, still had no way to breathe underwater.

He'd spent the week terrified that he'd hear news of Sirius being arrested. But there had been silence. But Harry hadn't slept properly all week.

He was now sitting in the library after class on Monday completely trashed. Neville had come with Hermione this evening. He'd come to look up some plants.

"Neville," asked Hermione, "There isn't a plant that'll let you breathe underwater is there?" she asked out of idle hope.

"No idea, but you could write to Dogweed and Deathcap in the village and they'll know if there is. Send a galleon with your letter. It's the minimum payment to open an account. They could send you the plant back if they've got one and put your change on your account, assuming it costs less than the galleon.

Harry just stared. It was that easy. And if there wasn't a plant but there was a charm, there were other people to ask. Hermione could ask anyone for him. She could write to Flourish and Blots and ask them to send him a book on underwater charms.

Harry looked at Hermione. He could see the same idea on her face.

Harry received a note at dinner canceling his mentor session. Snape wasn't at dinner.

Two days later at breakfast Hermione received two packages. One from Dogweed and Deathcap, and one from Flourish and Blots. She didn't open them at the table.

They went up to the sixth floor classroom to open the packages.

"Gillyweed!" exclaimed Hermione. "I've seen this growing on the lake shore, but I've not known what it is. "Ha! It's been staring us in the face all the time."

"What's the book?" Harry asked.

"Diving with Dingus: A beginner's guide to tropical sea diving by D. E. Monkfish. What an appropriate name," mused Hermione. She flicked through the book.

"Bubblehead charm or turning into a shark. Not sure I'd fancy either of those. What's the Gillyweed?"

"You eat it and you grow gills, according to the pamphlet it comes with," said Harry.

"Do you think the password to the prefects' bathroom is still Pine Fresh?" asked Hermione.

"I can ask Cedric tomorrow and we sneak in there late, but it'll have to be after curfew, we won't get in otherwise," said Harry.

"You have a cloak. We can use that. And the map."

"Who are you and where's rule abiding Hermione gone?" asked Harry.

"First of all, keeping you safe, secondly, I really want to see these work," said Hermione.

"It's now 'Yellow Submarine', but don't get caught. It's not the holidays anymore," said Cedric.

"Thank you," said Harry gratefully. Cedric nodded and they went their separate ways.

Snape had canceled Harry's session again. Harry wasn't sure what to do about that. It was just over one week from the second task. Now admittedly, the idea was don't learn too much, try your best and fail miserably. That was on track, but Harry was not sure how to approach Snape after he'd done something quite so reckless. He had offended Snape. Snape was obviously still annoyed about Harry going to Hogsmeade to meet Sirius. Snape was probably regretting saying he didn't mentor with a ruler, thought Harry. That thought was followed by the one that said he hadn't done it in a mentoring session. Harry banished that thought. He didn't like where its logic would end up. He'd rather Snape continued to avoid him.

They made it to the bathroom without incident. Hermione locked the door behind them.

"Very nice!" she said appreciatively. "You said it was big, but I didn't quite understand how big."

Harry took off his robes and clothes. He'd already got his trunks on underneath. He ran a deep bath.

"We could test the heating charm while we're here," said Hermione.

"Can we do that last?" asked Harry with a whine. "I like being warm."

"Wimp!" said Hermione with a grin.

"Definitely."

They tried the bubble head charm first. It was rather nice. It created a shield around his face. He felt like a cosmonaut. Hermione had read about it in the library now that she knew what it was called. The charm passed oxygen from the water through the shield, and carbon dioxide back through the other way.

Neither of them fancied transfiguring into a shark. Doing that wrong would be dangerous. If Harry lived he knew Snape would take a ruler to him, mentoring promise or not.

"How long does Gillyweed last?"

"They've sent you six ounces. That's enough for three hours under water. We're just testing now. Use half an ounce, you can have fifteen minutes that way."

Hermione used a weighing spell to break off the right amount. Harry swallowed it. He was glad he was in the bath at the time. It was quite disconcerting to find you couldn't breathe in air.

He loved it. It was so smooth. Like flying, but in water. Harry didn't swim well though. Primary school swimming lessons hadn't been very effective, but he could get from A to B.

He knew when fifteen minutes were up. He ran out of oxygen. He kicked to the surface and gasped for air.

"I really need to be near the surface when the time runs out, but that's the way to go," said Harry.

They tested the heating charm next. Hermione rather enjoyed chilling the pool with a Freezing Charm while Harry went a shade of blue until he got it right.

When they were done it was half past eleven. Well past curfew. Harry had had a hot shower, dried off and changed. They got under the cloak, activated the map, turned the light out in the bathroom and Hermione cast a Lumos. They were silent.

The corridor was clear. They eased quietly out of the bathroom and closed the door behind them. They were traveling light for less bulk under the cloak. The Gillyweed and book were in Hermione's pocket. There was no evidence of where they'd been. They just had to get back without getting caught.

And the twins did this for fun? Harry thought.

They made it to the entrance hall and crossed to the bottom of the Gryffindor staircase. A dot appeared nearby. Mrs Norris. They ducked into an alcove part way up the stairs to wait for them both to move on. Hopefully Filch wouldn't come up here. They watched the map. Harry frowned. He pointed without speaking. Moody had a late night visitor to his office. In the office with him was Mr Crouch. They exchanged a glance. Weird, but something to talk about later. Much later, when Professor Snape wasn't on the staircase above them. Harry saw the dot and then looked actually up. Sure enough there were footsteps above coming down the stairs. They were in an alcove. They were invisible. He would walk right by. They couldn't go down. Filch was now at the bottom. They both breathed lightly, and above all, silently.

Snape was doing curfew duty. He quite liked it. That and breakfast duty in the great hall early. The students were quiet before breakfast and 99.9% of them weren't out of bed for curfew duty. He liked walking the quiet corridors. They were peaceful. It gave him time to think.

He should have had Potter in for a session tonight. Monday, sure, make a point. Potter had been irresponsible. But he should have kept their tonight's meeting. His N.E.W.T class had asked for extra help though. He'd only just finished by seven and he hadn't the patience to deal with whatever whinging Potter would have done. The cancelation had stood. He was heading down the Gryffindor stairs when he decided he'd schedule a meeting for tomorrow evening instead. That'd give them three sessions before the task. Plenty of time.

What was that smell?

Severus stopped. It was shampoo. How strange. It was gone again. Severus turned and walked back up the stairs. Just here on this small landing on the corner. Below him was Argus. It certainly wasn't his shampoo. He stood and looked down over the balcony, watching Mrs Norris amble along the hallway.

Severus was alive because for three years he'd lived on his nerves, terrified of the slightest out of place sound. Any sound could have been a Death Eater come to kill him, his double agent status discovered. Behind him he heard a footstep.

He moved mostly on instinct. He spun quickly reaching out with his hand not his wand at throat height. Silence the intruder.

There was a scream. An Invisibility cloak fell. The scream was Miss Granger's. The throat he had his hand round was Potter's.

He released his grip as if burnt. Potter took a breath. Both students were terrified. A parchment floated to the floor, dropped from Potter's hand in shock. All three of them stood there looking at each other.

Severus recovered first. He picked up the parchment, whisked the cloak off Potter's body, turning what was a disembodied head into a whole Potter.

"Come."

He headed to his office.

Severus reached his office first, a good half corridor length ahead of the students. He sat in his chair and waited.

Potter stood in his doorway. Severus pointed to a spot in front of his desk. Both students stood there.

"This isn't a mentoring session, Mr Potter."

Potter swallowed, his eyeballs moved to indicate Miss Granger.

"Miss Granger doesn't know, does she, Mr Potter?" asked Severus silkily.

"No, sir," said Potter hoarsely.

"For someone who doesn't break the rules, Miss Granger, you've picked a poor time to start."

"It… It… was my idea," said Potter, "Hermione tried to stop me."

"Silence, Mr Potter, lying increases the count."

Potter's mouth shut immediately.

Severus looked down at the item he'd picked up. Just a map of the place. Never mind. Oh, interesting… He watched it, fascinated. Then he read the title on the top. His expression changed.

"Where. Did. You. Get. This?"

Silence. Severus put up a silencing charm around himself and Potter, excluding Miss Granger.

"Answer me now, Potter, honestly, or swear I will put you over my desk and tan your hide until you squeal."

Potter was terrified. "The twins."

"And where did they get it?" Severus snapped immediately.

"Filch's office. Drawer of confiscated things."

"And after last year when Lupin took it?"

"He gave me it back."

Severus lowered the charm and leaned back in his chair.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" he asked. "How does it work?"

"Can I show you?" Potter asked, rushing to be compliant.

Snape indicated the map with his hand. The boy drew his wand. "Mischief managed." The map went blank.

He tapped the map again. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." The map activated.

Severus pocketed the map, looking both students in the eye.

"You are out of your tower after curfew. Mr Potter, what do you think I do with Slytherins who I find out of the dungeon after curfew?"

Potter closed his eyes briefly and opened them. He glanced at Granger.

"For Miss Granger's benefit, because I sure she doesn't know."

"Please."

"No, Mr Potter. Answer the question."

Potter shut his eyes, not wanting to look anywhere near Granger.

"Professor Snape keeps a ruler in his desk drawer. He doesn't give Slytherins detention. They go over his desk instead."

The shock on Granger's face was worth it.

Snape reached into his drawer.

"So, the only question remaining," he said, placing the ruler on the desk, "Is which one of you is going to be first?"

"I'll take hers!" said Harry.

"Harry! Don't you even dare!" said Hermione angrily.

"It's my fault we're out here. I'm the one entered into the tournament."

"For the Gryffindor stupidity of that alone, I am tempted to take you up on your offer," growled Snape, "It is Wednesday evening. You'd go over my desk now and Friday morning. You wouldn't sit comfortably until Sunday. Potter, how long have I been mentoring you?! Have you learnt nothing Slytherin in all that time?! Around this point of the discussion Slytherins test out their bargaining skills. So, Potter, what have you learned?"

Potter thought. You could see the cogs. That boy should never take up cards.

"You've got the map out of it," he said eventually.

"An item that is a) not yours and b) stolen from Mr Filch's office."

"We're not Slytherins?" said Potter hopefully, "You should by rights take points and hand us over to Professor McGonagall."

"Do I look concerned for your rights, Mr Potter?"

Potter thought some more. Severus saw a moment of triumph pass across the boy's face, followed immediately by something else. He wasn't sure what. The boy swallowed.

Very quietly he said, "I think I'm already in credit, sir."

Oh, that something else. Snape was fairly sure his eyes had the same look in them just thinking about it.

"Yes," said Snape slowly, "I suppose you are," never taking his eyes off Potter's.

"I'll add a double rulering onto the other side of the ledger. Try not to use the rest of the credit before the year is over."

Severus saw the wry humour in Potter's eyes. He would have done well in Slytherin.

"Miss Granger." Granger looked at him in panic. "Do not ask Mr Potter what he's talking about. He will tell you if he wishes."

"Get to bed the pair of you. Don't go out after curfew again. Your credit is running low. Potter, tomorrow at seven to catch up on this evening's lack of mentoring session."

"Sir, I am sorry about writing the letters. I didn't think."

"Not quite as stupid as meeting him."

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me, Mr Potter," said Snape sitting behind his desk, studying the boy sitting in front of him, "Is there anything else you think I might want to know. Need to know. Perhaps to keep you alive?"

Harry was grateful snarky was back. Snarky meant normal.

"Can I ask you something about Mr Crouch?"

"He's not a Death Eater, Mr Potter. He's definitely not one of those," said Snape with conviction.

"It's not that sir, I was just wondering why he's at the castle when it's not a task day?"

"When do you mean?" asked Snape.

"Well, he was here a couple of days before the first task, I thought he was looking for me, but we were hiding from everyone. In case they were 'helpful', remember? And yesterday he was visiting Professor Moody."

"Pardon?" asked Snape. Harry knew his mentor wasn't annoyed by what Harry had said, or deaf, just taken aback. "How do you know he was visiting Professor Moody?"

"We saw him in Moody's office, on the map, when we were trying to hide from you, sir," said Harry hastily.

"Are you sure this map is correct?" asked Snape. Although he knew it was, even the rat had appeared on it. Albus had told him everything. Except for the fact that Potter had the map back.

"Yes sir, even down to Mrs Norris."

"Leave it with me, Potter," said Snape. "And I do mean leave it with me, not run off and ask a professor why they were talking to a member of the Ministry in their own private office."

"Believe me sir, asking Professor Moody anything is the last thing I want to do. His eye is just terrifying."

"So you've said," said Snape slowly, clearly still pondering Crouch. "Moving on. Is there anything else?"

Harry shook his head.

"Although I tested out the heating charm, sir. Last night in the prefects' bathroom. That's where we were. Sorry."

"You shouldn't sound so pleased when you tell a professor you were out after curfew, Potter, it does rather go against the grain."

"Sorry, sir."

Harry wasn't sure why he didn't tell Snape about the Gillyweed. Well that's not quite true. He knew why, he just didn't want to analyse the situation. He knew Snape was trying to keep him safe. He knew Snape knew him and Hermione were studying. For two reasons. First, to stop whoever had cursed the egg from cursing anything else, and second, to keep Harry alive.

There was a fine line between trying hard and succeeding. The Goblet of Fire expected him to meet expectations. But succeeding in breathing underwater meant Harry would have to join in with the task. Snape and Dumbledore didn't want that. They wanted Harry on the surface of the water not dying.

Harry could appreciate that. But Harry was a teenager. He'd had years of taking stick off people at school, and given the aftermath of the last task, all the comments, the pushing, the shoving, the tripping in the corridors, Harry just wanted to participate. Harry had visions of the task with him floating on the water for a hour. It wasn't pretty.

Harry should tell him. He'd be a bit annoyed that they'd actually solved the breathing problem. But that would change the landscape. Snape would be 'unhelpful' in a different way. So Harry didn't.

"So, Mr Potter, how's your backstroke?"