"Harry, I think I've figured it out!" Hermione exclaimed, looking up from the book she had had her nose buried in for the last hour.
Harry looked away from his homework and gave Hermione a hopeful look.
"Okay, I know this might sound pretty bad at first, but hear me out."
Harry nodded, eager to hear what Hermione had to say.
"You know how Death Eaters have the Dark Mark on them? And the Dark Mark is pretty much how they communicate with…You Know Who, well I thought about that and how about we do something similar so that you can communicate with Draco?"
"You want me to put a Dark Mark on Draco?" Harry exclaimed, shock coursing through his system.
"What? No, of course not!" Hermione rushed, her eyes widening.
Madam Pince cleared her throat and Harry reminded himself that they were at the library.
"What I mean is, why don't we create something with a similar system? Like an object that you can change the numbers on to represent a date and time, then you can find a place where you two will always meet up."
"Okay I can get with that, but how are we going to do that?"
"Well first we need an object to give to Draco that won't stand out, something that is an ordinary object that wouldn't be suspected of him to carry around."
"What about a coin?" Harry suddenly thought.
Hermione's eyes glistened with that classic look of hers. "Yes that's perfect, we can make a fake gallion for the both of you, a gallion where we change the numerals to a date and time."
"What about finding a place? Using an abandoned classroom is getting risky enough."
Hermione's eyebrows pinched together as she thought. "I don't know, we'll have to keep thinking on that one. Maybe we can ask the Weasley twins for help, I'm sure they know all about secret rooms and corridors."
Harry nodded, agreeing. With their homework and research done, they packed up and gave sheepish smiles to a glaring Madam Pince as they left the library. They discussed further on what they should do about a secret meeting place as they made their way back to the common room. Ron was stuck in detention for the Saturday with McGonagall for 'accidentally' setting Pansy Parkinson's feather on fire who was giggling about Hermione's bushy hair and buck teeth with her friends.
Draco had profusely apologised that night they met up, which Harry wouldn't take the apology for—Draco shouldn't have to apologise, Parkinson did. Draco had been on edge the last week, every little thing the Slytherins usually did in rivalry with the Gryffindors set Draco off in a frenzy, thinking that Harry would amount the blame onto him and not want to be friends with him anymore, and each time Harry reminded Draco that whatever the Slytherins did, it didn't affect how he felt about Draco. Draco was his friend and as long as it wasnt Draco doing all these things, there was nothing to blame him for.
But the week had been taxing and Draco had been acting weirder and weirder each time they met up when they could sneak away. He seemed sleep deprived, heavy eyebags setting underneath his pale eyes. He seemed to be constantly on edge, as if something was about to come around the corner at any moment and get him.
Harry had received a note from Draco during dinner to meet Draco at their usual abandoned classroom. Harry took out his invisibility cloak from his cloak pocket and threw it over himself as he walked down the corridor towards their meeting spot. Harry looked around carefully before opening the door and closing it behind him, finding that Draco had not arrived yet.
Harry waited patiently for Draco to arrive, and finally perked up when the door opened twenty minutes later.
"Sorry I'm late, I got held up," Draco sighed, closing the door with a soft click.
"All good." Harry smiled, welcoming Draco in.
"How have you been?" Draco asked, flopping down into a chair with a sigh.
Harry echoed Dracos sigh as he too flopped down on a chair that looked as if it would break at any moment. "As good as I can be I suppose, homework's starting to pile up and I still have a week left of detention with Snape."
"That's rough buddy." Draco rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, the bags under them looking more prominent than ever.
"Hey, are you sleeping okay?" Harry asked softly, hoping he wasn't broaching a sensitive subject.
"Not really, I…I do sleep, but I keep waking up feeling like I haven't slept at all. I don't know what's wrong." Draco frowned at the ground, looking pale in the dull lit room, a single candle flickering with the draft of the room.
"Maybe you should get checked by Madam Pomfrey, I'm sure she has something for you to help."
"Yeah maybe I will, I'll go to her tomorrow if I still feel like I haven't slept."
Harry took his word and did not ask again about his lack of sleep, then he remembered his discussion with Hermione.
"Oh Draco, I just remembered, Hermione has thought of a way to help us communicate with each other discreetly, instead of you sending paper aeroplanes at my head during class or dinner." Harry glared at him, knowing that Draco secretly enjoyed the reaction that Harry always had when he got spooked by his aeroplanes.
"Yes, that would be nice, I'm really sick of making those things." Draco smirked, Harry replied with another glare.
"So what's this idea then?" Draco said, putting on an air of disinterest, but Harry knew he was excited.
"Well, we thought about how we could use a common object that wouldn't been suspicious for you to carry around, like a galleon, and we would charm it to change the numbers on it for a date and time to meet up. We haven't finalised anything yet or how we will do it, but it seems like a pretty good idea to me."
Draco nodded, his eyes clouding as he thought.
"Sounds like a sufficient plan, so when this item is finalised, how will you be able to communicate with me where to meet up? We can't keep meeting in this room, it's risky enough as is."
"Yeah that's what I thought too; we're gonna talk to the Weasley twins to see if they know any secret rooms or corridors where we can meet from now on, but until then we'll have to keep rotating around abandoned and empty classrooms."
"Which means risking meeting each other beforehand to confirm a location."
"Yes." Harry nodded.
Draco sighed, suddenly looking as exhausted as he likely felt.
"Let's go to bed for the night, you look like you're about to drop dead." Harry took Draco's shoulder and led him to the door. He placed Dracos fake invisibility cloak over his shoulder, Draco giving him a thankful smile before leaving the room, walking away as quickly as he fatigued body would allow him.
Harry quickly put his own cloak over himself and left the room, closing the door behind and making his way to Gryffindor Tower. He worried about Draco as he hurried back, not taking any mind to his own surroundings and nearly bumped into a person standing still in the middle of the hall. Harry gasped as he stumbled backwards, nearly falling on his butt; the person who he had nearly run into turned around and Harry's heart pounded. He had nearly run into Blaise Zabini.
Zabini looked around with a confused look on his face, he stepped towards Harry. Harry, as quietly as he could, took a step back, holding in his breath.
"Who's there?" Zabini called out, reaching out his arm and sweeping the air in front of him, narrowly missing Harry.
Zabini looked around for another moment, his wand materialising in his hand, but he gave up as Harry struggled to keep himself from being found and turned around, continuing to walk towards the boys bathroom.
Harry wondered why Blaise was heading towards the boys bathroom on this floor when the dungeons had their own. His suspicion wanted him to follow him, but his common sense screamed for him to not, it was too risky.
But Harry had not been sorted into Gryffindor for nothing.
Blaise entered the boys bathroom with casual composure, but Harry could tell by the tense line of his shoulders that he was on edge. Harry followed as quietly as he could, catching the door with his foot before it shut and slipping through it as quickly as he could. Zabini looked back to the door as it shut close and Harry held his breath once again.
"I'm here," Zabini said and a stall door opened, revealing Snape.
"What do you have to report?" Snape said, his voice low and slow, but a tone that he had never heard from Snape before. The sound shuddered through Harry.
Harry watched with bated breath, his hands damp with sweat and heart erratically pumping.
"He met up with Harry again, I couldn't catch what they were saying but it seems they are coming up with a solution to their problem, it's going to be hard to follow them still if they manage to complete them."
"That stupid boy, does he not understand the position he is putting himself in by continuing to…" Snape sighed, stopping himself from finishing what he was going to say, but Harry had already inferred what was left unsaid.
"Can't you just tell him this yourself instead of getting me to tail him like this is some sort of…conspiracy," Zabini said and Harry thought it seemed too late for that.
"I need you to continue to watch him until I can convince Draco to leave that Potter alone; before he causes damage to himself that is irreversible."
Zabini nodded, submitting. "Yes, Sir."
"Now, go back to your dorms before you're missed—I won't defend you if you're caught out after curfew."
"Goodnight Professor." Zabini nodded and walked out the door, just missing brushing against the shoulder of Harry by a hair's width.
"Potter, I suppose you heard all of this," Snape said into the air, his eyes zoning in on Harry where he stood. Harry desperately held in the gasp that nearly escaped, praying to Merlin that he could luck himself out of this.
Snape sighed. He remained where he was however Harry could tell his patience was running thin. "No need to pretend, Potter, I know you are there. Show yourself."
Harry did not want to show himself, rather he wanted to run out of this bathroom as fast as his two feet would take him, but something told him that was a losing battle.
"I don't have all night Potter," Snape barked.
Harry gave in to defeat, he would take any punishment needed, as long as Draco didn't become involved.
Harry stepped forward and slowly slipped off the invisibility cloak, giving Professor Snape a tentative smile.
"Potter, you have heard more than I would like you to know, but I suppose it is best not to keep you out of the dark anymore." Harry was a little taken aback by the coolness of Snape's voice, he had not expected such level headedness from the usually crabby professor.
"Come, let's not keep speaking here." And with that Snape hurried by Harry, striding out the bathroom with his chin high and shoulders set back.
Harry followed with bemusement. He had not been expecting this at all and suddenly felt suspicious, why was Professor Snape acting so… civilised?
Harry followed Snape all the way to his office in the dungeons. Harry worried what would happen if he was seen with Snape, but thankfully it was after curfew and there seemed to be no students loitering around. That did not mean however, there wouldn't be eyes following them.
Snape entered his office and Harry hesitantly followed him in, he had never been in Snape's office before and found the room to be much more…mundane than he had expected. The room was furnished with simple but necessary furnishings: a desk littered with papers, a small couch by the blazing fire, two large bookshelves over capacitated with books. The wallpaper was Slytherin green with silver swirling lines accentuating it, giving the room that finished look it needed to pull all of it together
"Sit, Potter, we don't have all night."
Harry obediently sat down on a wooden chair in front of Snape's desk. He observed the desk more closely, the papers seemed to be essays waiting to be graded and other things that he couldn't place. The only other objects that occupied the desk was an unfinished glass of what seemed to be firewhisky and inked quills along with multiple ink pots.
"Now Potter tell me, why do you continue to meet with Draco Malfoy when you both know the consequences that he will face."
Harry's spine straightened and he opened his mouth to quickly defend Draco and himself, but then found that he could not find the words.
Snape's lip curled and he looked away from Harry. Harry looked down to his shoes then, suddenly feeling stupidly idiotic.
"I…he's my friend sir, I can't just…abandon him," Harry somehow managed to form the words, speaking down to his shoes.
"Are you aware of the sacrifices that Draco has to make with this friendship that he seems so stubborn on continuing with you?" Snape snapped, turning to Harry now, his nostrils flaring.
"I know his father is against it, but if we can just convince him somehow…" Harry began, but the expression that Snape still wore suddenly made all of his reasonings sound childish.
"You are evidently not familiar with Mr Malfoy. That man is more stubborn than his son, he will not change his ways unless he is forced to witness the consequences of them."
"Are you going to stop us from being friends then?" Harry frowned, feeling his temper rise.
Snape sighed again and stopped his brooding standing, sitting down at his desk.
"No I am not, although I wish to. I already know Draco has become irrepairingly attached to you and it would only bring him more pain if I was to do so."
Where had Severus Snape gone and who was this man sitting in front of him?
Harry leaned back into his chair and observed Snape more closely, wondering if perhaps this was someone under a polyjuice potion or perhaps Snape had been imperiused?
"I'm sorry, but who are you and where is the Professor that I know?" Harry said.
Snapes eyebrows drew together. "Harry, this is not time for one of your jokes."
Harry did a double take. Did…did Professor Snape just call him Harry?
Snape seemed to notice his mistake and looked away from Harry, pointedly ignoring the shocked expression on the boy's face.
"Potter, all I ask of you is to be wary. If I can get Mr Zabini to follow you around so easily, imagine how many others can do so. If you want this…"—Snape hesitated—"...friendship to continue, then you are going to have to work harder to conceal it."
"So how am I supposed to do that? We are already being as careful as we can be, and we are planning on creating a system that's more discreet, we just need more time."
"Time, Mr Potter, is something that you do not have."
"Professor Snape please, I don't know what you want from me," Harry cried, wondering what he was supposed to do to convince Snape that he truly was trying his best to protect Draco and stay friends with him.
"Potter, I feel that your parents and Dumbledore have not been serious enough with you, you need a serious wake up call. You are the Boy Who Lived, the boy who ended the wizarding war, took down You Know Who—but now he is returning, in fragments at the moment, however who knows when he could fully return, and when that day comes, how prepared are you going to be for that?"
"I…" Harry had no words.
"I have expressed these concerns to Dumbledore myself, but he just says you are too young, but war comes swiftly and does not simply announce itself. If you want to prove to me that you can protect Draco, then show me that you can."
"How?"
"That is something you will have to decide on your own. I can offer my assistance, but I fear that Dumbledore will not agree with my ways of teaching or your guardians."
"Sirius…he wants me to have a normal school life like everyone else, but after last year I just…I feel restless, like I'm supposed to be doing something…saving someone. I feel like I'm stuck in a bubble, a bubble that's going to pop when I'm not ready for it to."
"Then let me help you get ready for that moment…Harry."
Harry looked up to his Professor. Those eyes that usually held so much hate and passion were soft and guarded. They almost reminded him of Remus.
Then the softness left Snape and he straightened himself, composing himself back into that indifferent, cold man.
"You have much to think about, Mr Potter, I'll escort you back to Gryffindor Tower. Until then I suggest you refrain from meeting up with Mr Malfoy until you can come up with a more secure way of doing so."
"Can you tell him that then? If I can't meet him then how will he know?"
"I'm not sure if it is wise to let Draco know I'm involved more than he would like to know. He doesn't like me to be so overbearing."
"Right. I'll figure it out, don't worry, and thanks Professor Snape, I'll think about it all, I promise."
"Thinking, now that will be a good start Mr Potter."
Harry didn't know whether to laugh or to sneer, so he chose to politely smile and get up to leave the room.
Snape followed, escorting Harry back to Gryffindor Tower in a silence awkward enough to cause discomfort. They finally arrive at the entrance to the tower and Harry doesn't know how to say goodbye to the stoic Professor Snape.
"Goodnight, Mr Potter." Snape nodded, deciding for Harry how to go their separate ways. Snape walked away, his footsteps unusually not echoing down the hall, which Harry couldn't tell if it was from a spell or the man was simply that good at gliding silently. Harry shook his head and told himself not to think too much about the mysteries of Professor Snape, for he already had too much to think about.
Harry sneaked back into his dorm, the snoring of his fellow dormmate's stuttering slightly as he slipped into his pjs, but by the time he got into his bed, all usual snoring had resumed and Harry finally felt the pull of sleep wrap around him.
Harry wasn't aware he was dreaming until Draco walked up to him with that soft, unguarded smile of his. When Harry took his hand and held it tightly, a sudden, anxious feeling enveloped him and Draco's smile fell. Draco's hand slipped from his, and Harry really began to panic. Then Harry heard hissing. Hissing that no longer sounded like hissing, but words.
Harry Potter…the Chamber will open…
Harry jolted awake, sweat drenching the sheets and his heart pounding. The dream was still fresh in his mind but he couldn't make any sense of it.
He looked around the room, the first rays of dawn folding into the dormroom. He didn't feel refreshed at all, rather, he felt more exhausted than before he went to sleep, and questions whether he should just try and go back to sleep. But his nerves were on edge and he knew that he would never be able to fall back asleep.
He slowly got himself out of bed and changed into some workout clothes. Maybe a run around the lake would help refresh himself, even though he hated running more than anything. Ron said his goodbyes with a snore.
The jog around the lake helped calm his nerves, but did nothing for his fatigue. Harry tried not to think too much about the nightmare about Draco, or what it could possibly mean, but the hissed words that he still remembered kept echoing around in his mind.
The Chamber will open.
What did that mean? And what chamber? Harry couldn't help but think he'd had enough adventure for only the first week of school and he would quite like a little break. Harry started heading back to the castle but immediately stopped himself when he found Professor Lockhart walking towards him, that too bright smile blinding on his face.
Harry groaned. Professor Lockhart had done nothing but disappoint all expectations Harry had slightly harboured about his new DADA teacher within the last week. The man obviously had no idea what he was teaching and boasted more about past adventures than he taught. Harry was learning more from reading his second year DADA textbook that he had borrowed from the Weasley twins, as Lockhart did not actually list a textbook for this year, but his own autobiography, than he was from the lessons themselves.
"Harry, my boy, what a lovely surprise to see you this morning!" Lockhart beamed, Harry held back a wince. He did not have the energy to be polite this morning.
Harry smiled politely. "Yes, hello Professor." He started to walk towards the castle, not risking to pause for conversation with the eager Professor.
"In a hurry this morning are we?" Lockhart laughed, following after Harry.
Harry held back what he really wanted to say with a quick smile, trying to show through body language that he really did not want to converse this morning. But Lockhart, either through ignorance or stupidity, smiled back at Harry and flew into a conversation about one of his endeavours with a wild Gryffin.
"—and with a binding charm, I finally managed to disarm the beast and stop it from ravaging that poor village," Lockhart finished, just in time too, for they had arrived back at the castle.
Harry smiled, feigning excitement. "Awesome, Professor."
"Perhaps I could give you some extra lessons after classes? Give you some tips and such?"
Harry would rather die.
"Uh, thanks Professor, but I have detentions with Professor Snape at the moment."
"Oh well, after them perhaps?"
Harry suddenly felt violent.
"I'll see, Professor, lots of homework and all." Harry really hoped he would take the hint this time.
"Right then Harry, well don't hesitate to come to me whenever you're in a tight spot for some advice!" Lockhart beamed, that blinding smile of his once again burning Harry's eyes.
"Thanks Professor." And with a quick goodbye wave, Harry just about bolted back to his dorm before Lockhart snared him into another one of his fantastical tales.
Gryffindor House had awakened now, and Harry gave some polite smiles to blushing first years and familiar second and third years that were still loitering around the common room before heading to breakfast. Sleeping in was an option, but it was best to keep to a regular schedule, it made facing Mondays less jolting.
"Harry, where have you been?" Hermione waltzed up to Harry, worry etched into her features.
Harry smiled, finally glad to see a friend, especially Hermione. "Morning Hermione."
"You never came back last night?"
"Oh, sorry about that, I saw Draco and well, I'll explain later when Ron wakes up. I'm gonna head for a shower before breakfast and be back in ten!" With that, Harry went up the stairs by two and rushed into his room, most of the boys already up and getting ready for the day.
"Morning Harry," Neville greeted first, hopping on the spot as he tried to pull on jeans.
"Morning Neville," Harry chuckled, amused by the display. The other boys said their good mornings, to which Harry replied kindly before he headed towards the bathroom that they all shared and knocked on the door to make sure no one was in there before entering himself.
The warm shower was much needed for his aching muscles and although he still felt utterly exhausted from his lack of sleep, or more of quality of sleep, Harry felt as ready for the day as he would be. As Harry was changing into more casual clothes, Ron greeted him with a clap on the back and a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth.
"Where'er you las' nigh' 'arry?" Ron asked, spitting more toothpaste on Harry's face.
"Ron, spit," Harry groaned, wiping off a fleck on his glasses.
"Oh 'orry mate," Ron laughed, rushing to the bathroom and cleaning himself up.
"Sorry, I forget sometimes. Anyways, where were you last night? Did you even go to bed? You look knackered?"
"Yeah I did go to bed, I just didn't get good sleep that's all, and I promised Hermione I'd explain to the both of you together, but I'm starving so lets get some breakfast first."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Ron beamed. The thought of breakfast appeared to hasten him and soon the trio was making their way to the dining hall.
After breakfast the library was the chosen destination of their conversation. The trio made their way there after collecting their homework. Whilst they walked to the library, Harry wondered how he was going to begin to explain about Snape without causing an outcry from Ron.
He still hasn't thought much about Snape's proposition. Snape had not been the kindest Professor to him since last year—well he hadn't really been kind to anyone at all—but to witness such a different side of him last night, somehow made Harry see him differently. Harry suddenly remembered then that Snape was not only a Professor, but he was an ex-Death Eater and Draco's godfather. He was a man that had fought on both sides of a war and somehow came out of it without so much as a slap on the hand. There was a lot about Snape that Harry did not understand, and he wasn't sure if he ever did want to understand him.
However, Snape had something that perhaps no one else in Hogwarts had: experience fighting alongside Voldemort.
Which meant, if Snape truly was wanting to help prepare Harry for whatever future may come, then Snape might just be the best teacher for it. Harry, so lost in his thoughts, hadn't noticed Hermione trying to call for his attention.
"Earth to Harry! Harry, are you there?" Hermione waved her hand in front of Harry who shook his head, giving her his attention.
"Sorry Hermione, just lost in thought. What's up?"
"We're here now at the library, aren't you going to tell us what happened last night?"
Harry began explaining everything, finding that there really weren't any details to omit. Ron frowned when Harry began explaining his conversation with Snape, but Hermione too seemed deep in thought.
"So Snape is willing to train you to fight against…You Know Who?" Hermione summarised.
"Yeah, I guess that's what he means, but I don't know. I'd have to speak to Sirius and Remus about this, and I'm almost certain they'll be one hundred percent against this."
"Well is that what you want, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know yet. I haven't had enough time to think about it really, but let's face it, Snape isn't wrong. Voldemort is returning; his soul at least still exists. I don't know yet what role I play in all that, am I simply just the baby who somehow defeated one of the most feared wizards of our time? Or am I something more than that?"
"That's a lot on your shoulders Harry," Hermione noted.
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
"Well mate, think about it; this year seems like it is going to be pretty quiet, Snape seems to be off the baddy list and so far the first week has gone by without a hitch. Maybe you can ask for the year to think and then go into third year with a decision made. You're twelve, not even a blimey teenager yet!" Ron exclaimed and Harry smiled at his friend fondly. When the moment came down to it, Ron really could give the best advice.
"Yeah, you're right Ron, I don't need to be thinking about that right now. But first things first, we need to figure out this Draco situation and then this year can really become smooth sailing."
Hermione beamed, bringing out a book from her bag. "Oh yes, I already started planning on the fake galleon and what to do with it."
"And here we go," Ron murmured, but his eyes shone with warmth as Hermione began explaining away her far too detailed plans.
After much planning and homework, the trio made their way to their dorms to return their books and begin the journey to the great hall for lunch, their stomachs already growling for food. Harry felt better after talking to his best friends and found that he really appreciated Rons advice. Snape had really made it seem like a war was going to happen any second, but that just seemed so unlikely. He rather he had more time to think than Snape let on.
Draco however was still at the forefront of his mind. The galleon plan was coming along smoothly, Hermione just had to find one last spell to link their two galleons together and then all that was left was to find a more reliable meeting place for the both of them.
They dropped off their bags at Gryffindor Tower and, as they were heading back to the great hall, Harry noticed a flyer on the bulletin board: a flyer for Quidditch tryout sign-ups! Harry read it excitedly, he was eager to properly earn himself a spot on the quidditch team this year and to just get back on the field.
"You gonna try out this year?" Ron asked, noticing what Harry was reading.
"Of course I am, are you?"
"Nah, I would never make it, you know how rubbish I am at it," Ron sighed, brushing aside Harry's ridiculous question.
"Rubbish, you're a brilliant keeper…when you aren't being watched," Harry finished sheepishly.
"Exactly, I clam up when I'm around others, don't worry dear future seeker, I'll cheer for you from the sidelines."
"Fine, but you should reconsider."
"Yeah, yeah." Ron patted him on the shoulder, leading him towards the exit.
They ate lunch quickly, Harry noticing that Draco was nowhere to be seen at his table. He tried not to be worried about it and hoped that he would be there for dinner so that he could send him his note to meet again tonight.
By the time dinner came around, Harry already had his paper aeroplane ready for launch. He sat down at his usual spot and piled his plate up with the foods closest to him, keeping an eye out for that blond head.
Draco then walked into the hall, a small smile on his face as he walked along with Blaise Zabini. Harry quickly quelled the tendril of venom curling in his gut, he would not let Zabini get in the way of his and Draco's friendship, and there was nothing wrong with Draco being friends with Zabini, even if he was a git.
Harry, with a casual but discreet flick of his wand, sent the paper aeroplane flying to Draco, hitting him on the side of the head. Dracos lips curled into a sneer as he got hit, but the sneer fell as he saw what it was.. Draco tried not to look excited as he unfolded the plane.
Hello, pompous Draco Malfoy, I wish for an audience with your liege.
The letter was left unsigned for anonymity, but Draco instantly knew just from the curve of the handwriting who had written this letter. Blaise read the letter over his shoulder, giving him a knowing, exasperated look.
"You two are idiots," Blaise sighed.
"Shut up!" Draco bit back.
But he couldn't help but think that Blaise was right.
They were idiots.