Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and locations set in the Harry Potter world. This is for fun dudes.
Warnings: This story will be a slash story. M/M. Those of you paying attention can probably guess the pairing. I don't want to offend, so if this is not for you then best to find a new story. I will not write anything graphic, but this is a romance between two men.
A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and alerts! Gives me the warm fuzzies. Keep 'em coming ya'll!
I have no beta so all mistakes are mine. Mea Culpa.
On with the show!
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Chapter 4: Simply Walk Beside Me
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Harry couldn't sleep. He had bid Ron another goodnight after he finally fought the redhead for his pillow back and while Ron had no trouble passing out, Harry couldn't seem to find his dreamland. His only companions were the walls of his four poster bed and Ron's snoring. Ron's loud snoring. This wasn't going to work. He was still too wired about tomorrow. Or was it today? How late was it? It really didn't matter. He wouldn't be going to sleep anytime soon and staring at the top of his bed hangings was getting very boring. That's it. He was going for a walk. He knew he was taking a risk in getting caught, but years of midnight walks had taught him how to be sneaky. Last year he became so good at sneaking around, in fact, that he would only get caught about a quarter of the time. So his chances tonight seemed pretty good. Plus, there was no way he was going to stick around to listen to Ron's snores any longer. So, getting up carefully he threw on his old jumper and jeans and grabbed his invisibility cloak—just in case—and headed down to the common room and out the portrait door.
A quick tempus told him it was around 12:15 in the morning. That wasn't too bad. Maybe he could walk around and tire himself out and still get a little sleep before...Oh, who was he kidding? His insomnia was legendary, or it should be. With his previous visions from Voldemort and his ongoing nightmares from the war if he couldn't get to sleep by midnight then chances are he was going to be seeing the morning hours and possibly the sunrise. Tomorrow....well, today, was not going to be pleasant. He hated the spotlight and all the attention he received from being the Boy-Who-Lived and when people find out about his wing situation he was probably going to be thrust full force back again. He might have accepted the fact that this was going to happen and that he would survive it, but there was nothing in there about liking it and not pouting severely when no one was looking. Harry continued to walk, letting his feet carry him where they would while his brain went on autopilot.
The castle always had an eerie feeling to it at night. The moonlight would usually shine through the windows in the hallways giving everywhere a faint blue glow, but tonight saw the sky filled with clouds and the castle almost pitch black. The quiet was so overpowering that Harry would swear that he could hear the buzz of the castle wards. With only a sparse number of candles scattered amongst the many hallways and stairwells the only way to navigate without fatal injury was with a Lumos spell. Harry didn't use one tonight though. He had walked the halls so many times that he was able to get around with only those few candles as his guide. Well, at least that's what he thought. He had just sidestepped a suit of armor when he walked right into something warm and sturdy.
Oho, gravity works. Down he went; apparently he wasn't the only who literally fell victim to the great law of nature, though.
"Lumos!" Harry immediately recognized the voice and almost instantly he came face to face with a very irate looking Severus Snape sitting on the floor. Well forget his good chances of not getting caught. Crap. See!? It was always him catching Harry breaking rules. New friend or no, he was sooo loosing house points for this.
"Potter!...Harry!" Darn it! Severus was still having trouble with that, "What are you doing out of bed at this hour? It is not safe to go walking around in the dark, in addition, there is the blatant breaking of school rules, something for which you seem to think you can do whenever you please..."
"I'm sorry Severus. I couldn't sleep and thought perhaps walking around would tire me out." Harry did not mention that Severus himself was walking around without a light. He didn't think that would go over too well.
"That is still no excuse to put your safety and school rules in complete disregard." Severus was in full Snape mode apparently. But he hadn't deducted points or given him a detention which was a good sign.
Severus looked at the teen in front of him. He knew he should deduct points right then and there. A detention would not be out of order either, but he understood Harry's reasoning behind the midnight wanderings. It was why he himself had always agreed to take the night watch. He was a night person by nature and enjoyed the solitude the castle at night provided; something he suspected he held in common with the young Gryffindor. During sixth year Severus had often caught Harry walking along the corridors after hours. At first he would catch him, take points, give detentions and berate him for his lack of intelligence during such a volatile and dangerous time. After a while though he began to simply let Harry have his late night strolls and would follow him to ensure his safety. If anyone had ever found him out he would have lied and said he simply was waiting to see if and when Potter would break more school rules to ensure maximum punishment. The truth, however, was that through their training Severus realized just to what extent the war had taken a toll on Harry, and these walks in the moonlight seemed to help the young man clear his head. He would only occasionally make his presents known to give Harry a detention. He may have understood and sympathized, but he had to still make the point known that Harry shouldn't be breaking the rules. That was back when he was Snape. Now he was suppose to be Severus, Harry's friend. How should a friend react in a situation like this?
"What is on your mind Harry? You seem preoccupied and your history with nocturnal wanderings suggests that there is an issue you are trying to work out." Neither seemed to notice that they were still sitting on the ground.
"Oh, Ummm," Harry hesitated. What was Severus doing? He was asking in concern of Harry's well being. Severus was reaching out and trying to be his friend; to get to know him. This realization left Harry on uncharted ground. He knew hoe Snape would react in a situation like this. He hadn't a solitary clue how Severus was going to do.
Man, it was never this awkward when he first came to Hogwarts and made friends. Well, maybe a little...or a lot. Making new friends was awkward as hell. Add to the fact that your new friend use to make your life miserable and is at least twenty years older than you and you have yourself knee deep in an awkward mess. But if Severus was trying, then Harry needed to as well. He needed to tell him the truth about all of this. Besides, he didn't want the man to hear about this from Rita Skeater. Harry shuddered at the thought. No, if they were friends he needed to tell him himself. Harry had been feeling the beginnings of hyperHarry ever since he bumped into Severus and he pushed it aside as best he could and blamed it on the nerves he had for the prospect of being in trouble and the loss of points and now his confession to the potion's professor. Now where did he put that backbone...?
"Actually, Sir—Severus—there is something I need to talk to you about." Aha! There's that backbone! Besides the fumble with the man's name that was very good.
"Surely you did not leave your dorm at this ungodly hour simply to find me did you?
"Well, no. but I probably should tell you before breakfast this morning so this works out just fine." Why were they still sitting on the floor?
Severus was now curious. What could Harry possibly have to tell him that was so urgent that he needed to be said before breakfast? "Alright, what is it you wish to tell me?"
"Okay, um...so have you heard the rumor going around that I may have a creature inheritance? It started when I lost all that height after Opening Feast."
"I was aware of the rumor; it seemed like typical childishness." Severus finally realized where he was. Sitting on the floor, most undignified. He began to stand up in his ever smooth manner of moving and Harry followed suit in the exact opposite, tripping a little as he did so.
"So, um...yea.." Harry mumbled. Well, where did that backbone go now?
"Harry in order for me to actually listen to your problem, you actually have to say your problem. I had hoped your English would have improved over the years." Harry recognized the patented Snape Sarcasm, but it wasn't said with the same bite as it has in the past. Holy blast ended skrewts—Severus was teasing him. Yes, Harry was definitely in uncharted territory, but it actually lessened his nerves about telling the man. Somewhat.
"Yes, yes, thank you. Okay. Well, could we possibly go to a classroom?" Harry did not want another teacher or Mr. Filch to walk up on them. They could find out on their own. He just wanted to tell Severus.
The aforementioned Severus now had a pretty good idea what was going on, though he kept his face impassive. This must be interesting if Harry is asking for privacy. "I assure you Harry that we are very much alone. There are only a few other teachers up this late and they all have patrol on different wings of the castle. If it would ease your anxiety in the current situation there is a classroom just down the hall."
Harry wondered if Severus talked that way all the time; so formally. Harry nodded his head silently and followed Severus down the hall and into the room. By the different wall hangings and the writing on the chalkboard Harry figured it was an ancient runes classroom.
"Well, we are away from the glaring public eye. What did you need to say to me Harry?"
"I am a magical creature." Ha-ha! He had done it! Now he just waited for Severus's shocked reaction.
"I already knew."
Of course he did. Nothing surprised this man. "How?"
"Quite easily. I had a my suspicions when I inquired about your recent changes in appearance on Friday and my test came back that you were not suffering from any potion effects." Harry blushed at the remembered burp. Severus continued, "Those suspicions were confirmed when you requested my knowledge about the rumor regarding you and a creature inheritance and then sought privacy."
That did seem too easy.
"Would you like to know what kind?" Harry didn't know why he was nervous. Or antsy. Or jittery. Or had the urge to laugh again. Maybe it was because Severus's was one of the opinions he valued the most. Was that why he was so nervous to tell him in the first place? Was he was worried Severus would react poorly to the news?
"I still don't see why this couldn't wait when—"
"Because I registered my creature inheritance with the ministry and come tomorrow at breakfast I have no doubt that this will be all over the papers and all of the students and teachers will know and probably go crazy and I wanted you to know before this mess started since you are my...well, friend and a friend shouldn't find out this kind of thing from a gossiping newspaper reporter and I should have told you sooner, and I'm really sorry," Harry finished and finally took a deep breath. Was that all one sentence?
Severus couldn't find argument with the hurried speech other than the timing. Harry seemed so nervous he wondered what on earth the inheritance could be from that would cause the boy such anxiety.
"If you do not mind, yes, I would be inclined to be cognizant of your new transformation."
"Huh?"
Severus sighed. Harry rather thought Hermione could take sighing lessons from him. He was quite good. "Yes, Harry, I want to know what inheritance you received."
"Oh, why didn't you say so?" Harry ignored the glare shot his way by the potions master as he took a few steps away and pointed his wand to his back and murmured the spell he had learned from Hermione that would cause the opening in the back of his three sizes too big shirt. Severus may not have been surprised about the creature inheritance part, but Harry had a sneaking suspicion the man would never guess what kind.
Harry closed his eyes and felt that same surge rush through him as his wings expanded out but it was different this time. He stumbled and fell to the floor with the force of it and missed the faint glow that surrounded him this time. 'Huh,' Harry thought, 'didn't seem that intense before in professor Dumbledore's office or this evening when I went flying. Maybe I am just getting tired.' He looked up from his spot on the floor and finally got the reaction he was waiting for.
Severus looked like a fish. A very tall, ominous fish, but a fish none the less. His mouth seemed like it wanted to talk but it just didn't have the ability to do so. Where was a camera when you needed one? The one and possibly only time Harry James Potter would shock Severus Snape speechless. Harry tried desperately to convert all of this to memory. Severus continued to do an excellent guppy impression until he must have realized what he was doing because in a flash his mouth was shut and the initial shocked expression was reigned in; just a little though. The stoic man still held a lot of disbelief in his eyes.
"You are a—"
"Fairy. You got it."
Severus stared at the translucent and white wings. He would have never thought Harry would have had such a creature inheritance. But considering the young man's penchant for mischief and grace in the air he had a hard time figuring out why he never considered this a possibility.
"I would have said fae."
"Oh trust me, fae would have been great. It doesn't rhyme. But Hermione looked it up and Dumbledore confirmed it. I'm a fairy. Just...you know, a big one." Harry looked at Severus as he finally stood back up from the floor. He fluttered his wings and Severus's eyes grew larger.
"Can I ask what kind?"
Harry felt himself going over to the dark side. Hyper Harry was winning out. Must be the late hour. "Yes, you can."
Silence filled the room.
"Well?"
"You asked if you could ask. I told you that you could." Harry said with a grin.
"Enough of this, you knew what I meant and that was only mildly funny at best. What kind of a fairy are you?"
"I'm a Diligarian. And before you ask," Harry put his hand up and pushed on, answering Severus's unvoiced question, "It is an ancient race that hasn't been seen in hundreds of years and I really don't know much about them. Professor Dumbledore just recently gave me a book about them."
Severus finally understood what all of this was about. Harry was right, the press and the rest of the wizarding world were going to be in an uproar over the savior of the wizarding world gaining a fairy inheritance. He was touched that Harry had wanted to tell him face to face instead of having him be surprised by the media and three ring circus. Even if it was spur of the moment and early in the wee hours of the day. He continued to stare at the wings and the teen they were attached to. A very stunning site. Severus shook the thoughts from his head.
"Are you able to hide your wings again?"
"Feels gross, but yes, I can."
"Good. It is late. I will escort you back to your hall." Severus said. He wasn't about to admit it, even to himself, that he was a little sad to see the beautiful wings go away.
As they walked back to Gryffindors' hallway Harry told Severus what he could about Diligarians. He left out a few things. He didn't broach the topics of mates or the fact that they were apparently a seductive race because oh yea, he would rather wash Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris than talk about that with...well, anybody. He did, however, talked about his slight trepidation over the expected reaction of peers and the rest of the wizarding world.
"I guess I am worried a little bit about the fact that Diligarians are rare. In fact the book we found them in said they were extinct."
"You are worried this will cause self imposed feelings of exile or unnecessary exaltation to the point of loneliness?"
"No, I'm worried they're going to put me in a zoo."
Severus stopped for a moment in their walk and then abruptly started to chuckle. The sound was very faint, but it was there and it was a sound Harry thought the man was incapable of. His shock must have been faintly evident on his face...okay, he was gaping and the older man.
"First of all they do not put humanoid creatures in wizarding zoos. Secondly, yes, I am indeed able to laugh. Is that really so hard to believe?"
Harry just continued to gape, "If I answer that truthfully, will you take points?"
Severus actually chuckled again! Harry was certain that he had walked into a parallel universe where everything seemed the same, but subtle changes made it a crazy, mixed up world. What other different things happened in this new world. Was grass still green? Quidditch still the best sport ever? Were all Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans now just one flavor: earwax? Harry finally stopped this wild tangent and waited for Severus to answer his question.
He didn't answer though; he just began walking again and Harry, really trying not to press his luck for the evening too much, never answered the original question of one potion master's abilities to laugh and walked after the man. Without realizing it this whole time he had fallen into his old habit of walking behind the professor. They continued to walk for a few moments in silence until—
"There is a muggle saying, Harry, which states, 'Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk in front of me, for I may not follow. Simply walk beside be, and be my friend.'"
"That sounds like something Professor Dumbledore would say."
"Whom do you think I got the saying from? That was an attempt to say politely that I do not want you following me like that. Walk beside me."
Harry began to giggle as he quickened his step to catch up to Severus. He heard the man mumble something like "Brat" and he had to bite his sleeve to keep from laughing even more. The rest of the trip was passed in amiable silence side by side as the two made their way through the labyrinth of stairs and hallways. Equals.
Finally, they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Thank you, Severus for walking me up here...and for listening."
"It is no problem. I also wanted to say...thank you for confiding in me and if you need to, please come and talk with me." Severus was getting use to this slowly but surely. Friends say thank you. So he says thank you.
Harry nodded and turned to wake up the Fat Lady when he felt a tap to his back. He turned and found Severus's wand pointed at him.
"You still had a hole in your shirt."
"Oh," Harry blushed, "Thanks...ummm...Goodnight Severus."
"Goodnight Harry."
Harry turned back again and heard the sound of footsteps walking back down the hallway. He was glad that he had told Severus but he had to admit that the encounter was very strange. Severus didn't even—
"Oh and Harry..."
The raven haired teen turned to look at Severus's retreating back.
"...Twenty points from Gryffindor for being out after curfew."
There's the Snape he knew! Back on terra firma! Despite the loss of points Harry smiled and said the password to a very grumpy, half-asleep Fat Lady. He actually managed to get some sleep that night.
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Harry woke up before Ron. How this surprising feat was accomplished the world may never know, but it was true. Harry was awake. So when Ron threw open the curtain with all intent to holler at the young hero he was much remised to find Harry already awake with his new book open.
"Dash it! I had a great song to wake you up too. Oh, and you hummed in your sleep again. Hows the book Tink?" Ron said as he leaned over to get a look, "Bloody hell, what language is this written in?"
"I'm not sure. I recognize some of the words; they're just spelled funny...so it seems to be in English." Harry said as he passed the book over to Ron. He had been staring at it for quite some time and the only accomplishment he had made was a headache.
"We should have 'mione look at it. She may know." Ron looked at the book for all of two seconds before he closed it up. He wasn't about to fry his brain over gibberish.
"And if she doesn't?" Harry asked as he threw off the covers and got up to began to get ready for his shower.
"Have faith Tink! Hermione always knows. It's part of her charm." Ron had sat down on his bed and was putting on his shoes. His tie was no where to be seen. Harry had some time in the shower then. If ever Ron lost his tie it would be a good twenty minutes before he found it again. It was always found in the strangest locations. Like in his shoe or under another persons bed. It was a talent.
"Yea I guess...wait...Tink!?"
"Yea," Ron shrugged with a grin, "Tinkerbelle is such a long name. Tink is a great nickname." Ron stated as he jumped up to begin the search for the missing tie.
"Have I told you that I hate you?"
"Not today." Ron laughed as he dodged a pair of socks that were thrown by his green eyed friend. "And you really gotta stop throwing your things at me. One day I may not give them back."
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"It's Old English. You can't honestly tell me you two can't read this?" Hermione said as they were walking down the stairs to breakfast. She had been ecstatic to see the book and had had her nose buried in it ever since they left the common room. There had been several occasions where either Ron or Harry had to pull her out of the way from walking into something...like a wall.
"Oh yes we most certainly can! That just seemed like a bunch of letters scrambled together." Ron was already miffed and did not need Hermione telling him what he should or shouldn't know. It had taken him thirty minutes to find his tie—which had found a way under his trunk—and they were now late for breakfast. To top it all off Hermione had refused to do an ironing charm on the tie on the grounds that he should take care of his belongings. So wrinkled tie and all, Ron sped up to get to his breakfast.
"Ron, several of the older texts in our library are written in Old English."
"So?"
"So you are impossible. Both of you."
"This means you can read it right?" Harry asked hopefully. He was having a hard time keeping up with Ron's stride and had to break out into a jog to catch-up.
"Of course!"
Harry hoped beyond hope that he had a good puppy dog face on. The best way to get Hermione to do something was to have a puppy dog face.
"Alright, I will read it for you. But you should really learn how to read Old English. Several fascinating books are only available in....Stop looking at me like that Ronald Weasley!"
The two began to bicker as they got closer and closer to the Great Hall and for some reason this brought some comfort to Harry. This was normal. Here in a few minutes they would make up and be lovebirds again. In fact Harry suspected that they both enjoyed their arguments. Harry opened up the doors to the Great Hall as he heard Hermione saying something about Ron, "having absolutely no motivation about his NEWTS" when—
Silence.
The whole Great Hall was silent. That weird silence that you only hear about but you don't think even exists. All eyes were turned toward the doors and to the trio that had just entered.
"And so it begins" Ron whispered as the three continued walking towards their table.
"I wonder if they have been doing this every single time the door opens waiting till I came in." He could feel all the eyes following him. Hermione had told him in the common room that the best thing to do with all of this was to ignore it and he would try. Even if it killed him. They sat down at their usual spots. Almost immediately they were bombarded by their Gryffindor comrades.
"Is it true?" Seamus said earnestly, "What they're saying in the Prophet—is it true?"
"First let me see the paper, then I will tell you if it's true or not." Harry received the paper and sure enough on the front page:
Harry Potter – Magical Creature!
By Rita Skeater
It was reported that on Saturday, September 12th, that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived-to-Become-the-Man-Who-Conquered, registered with the Magical Creatures Department that he, in fact, had received a magical creature inheritance. This shock to the wizarding community begs the question: why the secrecy? Why the conspiracy to cover this up? Harry Potter has been in the public eye since his infancy and yet no one has stepped forward to disclose the Hero's heritage. And what is this heritage you may ask?
Harry Potter is a Diligarian. An ancient and rare fairy race that was thought to be extinct and also thought to be very powerful. Was this secret power that no one thought to tell the rest of the wizarding world about the real reason the Boy Hero defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? I asked leading fairy expert Gertrude Spindleton...
Harry didn't finish reading. He had a good idea what was in the rest of the article though. Blah, Blah, Blah, Conspiracy, Blah, Blah, Harry was actually really a superhero of amazing strength and power, Blah, Blah, and Rita Skeater had been known this all along, The End. For the past year Rita Skeater had been writing basically the same article about Harry with all sorts of conspiracies claiming he apparently was some sort of super being.
"Huh. This one actually has at least a shred of truth to it. Ms. Skeater must be slipping." Harry said as he handed the paper to Ron.
"So is it true?" Dean asked.
"The part about me being a superhero? Definitely not. Besides I would hate to wear spandex."
"Huh? Spandex? We're talking about the part where you are a...a...what was it called?
"Diligarian" Hermione supplied. She was still engrossed in the ancient book Dumbledore had given them.
"Yea that."
Sometimes the best thing in an awkward situation is to simply talk about it as if it were normal.
What in the world is normal anyways?
"Yea, I am."
The rest of the Great Hall, which had still been silent, heard the omission and those who didn't hear it because of distance were quickly filled in by the sudden uproar of whispers. A split second later Harry was bombarded by a mob of people all asking questions.
"Do you have wings?"
"Can you really control people through your thoughts?" Hmmm Maybe Harry should have read the rest of the article.
"How do you hide your wings?"
"Is it true you can shoot lightning from your fingertips?" Yea, Harry really should have finished that article. What had Rita Skeater written about him? The questions were still coming. People were starting to push and shove to get closer.
"Enough!"
The hall quieted down again and everyone turned to see where the shout had come from.
Malfoy?
"If you all are really so pathetic that something as normal as a creature inheritance gets you all flustered and fanatic then there is really no hope for the lot of you." Malfoy said loudly; his usual sneer and air of self-importance in full force. "Really, is this how you thank a war hero? He doesn't even look any different. Really, it is just Potter."
With that Draco sauntered out of the Great Hall; his usual following of girl groupies tagging along behind. The crowed seemed to snap back to its senses and the rush of earlier was broken. People began to return to their seats and Harry could tell that there were still whispers about him, but it seemed that they were going to at least back off a little bit. Had that just happened? Had he imagined that?
"Maybe I am imagining things," Ron stated as he stared at the doorway, "but... did Draco Malfoy, Ferret Man himself, just...help....Harry?"
"Oh grow up Ron," Hermione said from behind the book. Must be a good read. "Malfoy hasn't been that bad since the war. He stopped harassing Harry at least."
"Still, I think hell just got a bit colder."
"Ronald! Language!" even while chastising Hermione didn't take her eyes off her page. Yes, it must be a very good read.
"That was really weird though." Harry said as he popped a piece of orange into his mouth. He still felt eyes on him him, but people had been staring ever since the rumor had started last week.
"Well, you two are kindred spirits now. You have something in common. Plus, it probably makes him a little jealous that his own inheritance was treated as old hat while you are receiving all of this attention. Veela are quite narcissistic at times." Hermione reasoned.
"Well he can take all of the attention he wants. I certainly don't want it."
The trio continued to eat breakfast. Hermione was still absorbed in the Diligarian book and Ron started talking with Harry about an article in the Daily Prophet about the Chudley Cannons while they ate breakfast. After a few minutes Dean, Seamus, and Neville joined in, though the three would still shoot looks in Harry's direction, trying to see a change. Harry didn't notice though. He looked up at the head table and got a small thumbs-up from Professor Dumbledore. He also met eyes with Severus's...well right now he was Professor Snape's—eyes. There was no big acknowledgement, but a miniscule nod. It was almost unperceivable, but it was there and it made Harry feel all the more better.
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The day passed with relative ease. The teachers had not treated him as if anything was different. McGonagall was still strict, Flitwick was still flighty, and Hagrid had simply given him a pat on the back and apologized for not being able to help much.
"I'm 'fraid I dunno much o' this magical creature you turned into 'arry. Fairies arn' really my specialty."
"That's okay Hagrid; they're not my specialty either."
His fellow students had gotten over the shock of all of this and had reverted back to what all kids do in such situations. They make jokes, tease and spread rumors. Harry had several coming up to him asking about different magical powers that he was apparently now in possession of. Some of them sounded pretty cool and Harry had a running list going of things to ask Hermione later in the evening if he did, in fact, have those powers.
"Ohhhh that's a good one," Ron said as a first year Ravenclaw scurried away. The small boy had asked his question and had barely waited for a response before running scared in the opposite direction. "I hope you can walk through solid walls. Think about how much you can get away with! That is going on the list right under laser vision."
"Half of these powers don't even sound real." Harry said with a frown, but he wrote it down anyway. "I wonder where they are coming up with these things."
A few people, namely Slytherins, had discovered the rhyming aspect of Harry's inheritance. They went around half yelling – half singing, "Harry the Fairy, Harry the Fairy!" Others would call out names such as "fairy princess" and "pixie boy". The Pixie boy one actually caught on and by that afternoon even most of the Hufflepuffs were calling him some form of "Pixie".
Between all of the questions and trying to ignore all the name-calling, Harry was exhausted come the end of the day and fell gracelessly into an oversized armchair in the common room. While his fellow Lions had still been shocked they had not teased him too bad. Mostly they were just overly quiet around him. The only bothersome thing was that Collin was now asking every five minutes to see Harry's wings so that he could get a picture.
"Collin I'm sorry, but no. I am not going to show off my wings. I am still just Harry and having wings doesn't change that in the least. I just want to be treated as I was before all of this so the wings will stay hidden. I am still me." Harry said this for the benefit of the whole common room that he knew was listening in. He would not show his wings because he was normal. Harry Potter version of normal, but normal none the less. So he would look as he always did. At this point Ron and Hermione had come back from their nightly stroll. Ha-ha! Harry was saved! Then he got a look at his two best friends and knew something was up. Hermione was flustered and looking frantically around the common room and Ron looked more puzzled than ever.
"Hermione," he said as he walked up to them, "What on earth is wrong?"
Hermione turned around and looked at him intently. Well that's not good. "Oh Harry! There you are!" She said in a whisper, "We have got to talk. I have gotten into a part of the book that details general traits of your race. Come on!" With this she dragged the two boys out of the common room.
"What's up with her?"
"No idea. I went to the library hopefully find her to do some studying and—"
"Wait, you were going to study?" Harry eyed his friend suspiciously.
Ron turned a bit pink, "...Didn't say what I wanted to study. Anyways when I got there she was rushing out and dragged me to find you."
"Hush you two and follow me."
"Yes mam." The boys chorused and they fell instep behind their friend.
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"Why all the secrecy?" Harry asked as Hermione cast another silencing and warding charm around the empty classroom. This one had only a few desk and chairs and a chalk board. Probably unused. "Everyone knows what I am anyway."
"You want your privacy intact or not?"
Oh, Harry really did not like where this was going. The raven haired teen sat down in one of the empty chairs and began to loosen his tie. "Yes, I do, so what's this all about?" Ron had sat down right next to Harry and they both watched as the young witch began to pace back and forth.
"Well, the book by Lord McTorning is really very fascinating. Apparently he was a mate of a Diligarian and proceeded to keep a log about what he observed in his lover and did outside research on the race as well. He lived in whales back during the time when the Anglo-Saxons first began to—"
"Mione, what has this got to do with Harry?"
Harry secretly agreed but did not want to upset Hermione. After all, she was the only one who could read the book.
"Its fine Ron, please continue Hermione."
"Since you asked nicely Harry—see Ron, you don't have to be tactless—I will jump straight to some of his findings.
"For one thing a Diligarian's wings can change colors. That is why picture you saw in that one book simply showed blue wings while you had white. In this book they have drawings and descriptions of all types of colors."
"What changes it?"
"Your mood mostly, that and interaction with different stimuli."
"Okay, so I am a walking mood ring. What else?"
"What's a mood ring?"
"Never mind Ron, I'll explain later," Hermione said, "I haven't read through the entire section yet. The author, McTorning, is talking a lot about meeting his Diligarian mate whom he calls Snowlight."
"Stop talking about mates Hermione." Harry said. He promises he said it. He never whines.
"Hush Harry. Now if you have a full inheritance and not a half then you have some other things to look forward to like—"
"Laser vision?!"
"What? Laser vision? Where did you get an idea like that Ron?" Hermione was getting highly annoyed at being interrupted all the time.
"Well," Harry explained, "People have been asking about powers I might have. We have a list."
"Let me see that."
Harry dug the note out of his pocket and handed it to his very smart friend. Please, let him have cool powers. Hermione looked at the list for a moment and then started laughing. Not a good sign.
"You don't have any of these powers," Hermione said as she handed the not back, "In fact, where did people find these powers? Comic books? Most of the time a magical creatures powers aren't nearly that...ummm...well, silly and useless."
"Hey!" Ron interjected, "Laser vision is not silly! Certainly not useless either!"
Hermione sighed, "Harry if you have a full inheritance then you can see magical auras and have a connection to nature."
"....uh..." Harry was at a loss. Ron wasn't.
"And how the hell are those not 'useless' or silly? What in the world does 'connection to nature' mean anyway? And seeing auras? What's that? Sounds like a load of tosh if you ask me!"
"Well, no on is asking you Ron. For one thing an aura is a person's magical life force. Apparently Diligarians can see these forces and can tell a person's mood based off of them. From what I can gather the connection to nature means a whole lot of things. You may have the ability to make plants grow."
"I can already do that. It's called gardening."
"Not like that. The way McTorning explains it sounds like Snowlight could make a flower grow simply by placing her hand on the ground."
"Alright, super green thumb. What else does it mean about a connection?"
"So far that is all he has elaborated on. He just keeps on saying a connection with nature."
"Well that will definitely make me popular with Professor Sprout. Oh, hey, does it say anything more about the transformation of a Diligarian?"
"Well, Snowlight was a Diligarian by birth. Not an inheritance like you, but it does talk about her coming of age quite a bit. Especially since I am still on the first section. Why?"
"I want to know why I shrunk so much and then grew again."
"You grew?"
Harry was not impressed. Of course he had grown! Sure he was still a shrimp, but he came up to Ron's neck now and he was about the same height as Hermione. Okay, so Hermione was still an inch or two taller.
"Yes I grew! How could you not notice? I grew about three inches the night I...got my wings." Even as Harry said that he saw the flaw in his statement.
"I think the wings won out in the fight to gain our attention Tink." Ron said simply.
"Point taken, but still, I did grow." Harry said as he stood up from his chair so that Hermione could get a look at him.
"I am not sure. I can give you a theory though; it is actually why I dragged you here to talk about anyway."
Ah more theories. Harry sat back down in his chair and began rubbing his face with his hands. "Sure. Lay it on me." He said at last as he lifted his head.
"Your mate."
No, this would not be pleasant at all. Harry stayed silent in hopes Hermione would take it as a sign that he did not want her to continue. She didn't catch the sign.
"When a Diligarian turns seventeen they become conscious of their mate. A Diligarian is spurred into its final transformation by its mate, but until then they become lethargic. This sound familiar?"
Unfortunately so. Harry just nodded; he didn't trust himself to speak. The term "mate" still made him nervous and in desperate need for something to do with his hands. Without anything at the ready he began picking at his jumper.
"I think Harry, that since you didn't get to interact with your mate right after your birthday and were made to wait when you finally did come into contact your body overcompensated and shrank more than it needed to at first. After more stabilization, however, your body has corrected itself."
Questioned answered. No need to get into anymore awkward conversations about mates and things like that. He stood up and feigned tiredness as he headed for the door. "Well that's all I needed to know. I'm a flower growing mood ring. Let's go back to the common room and—"
"Not so fast Harry James Potter"
She had to use the middle name. Why did this situation warrant the use of his middle name? Ron was snickering. Of course he was. It wasn't his middle name being said by Hermione in her mad voice. He turned back around and tried to put on his puppy dog face. Please let it work.
"That won't work mister. Now sit down" Hermione said as she pointed back at his chair.
Fantastic. Harry trudged at the pace of a dirge back over and flopped clumsily into in the seat. He looked at Ron for back up only to find the red head still thinking it utterly hilarious that it wasn't his butt in trouble. Hermione cleared her throat to bring both of the boy's attention back to her. For the first time the whole conversation Hermione sat down, taking a seat to sit right in front of Harry.
"To continue, I think that you are not done with your transformation, but you have not come into enough contact with your mate. Therefore you need to tell your mate so that a bond may be established."
Harry didn't know what exactly Hermione meant by "bond", but he had heard enough from care of magical creatures to know at least a little bit about mates to blush when Hermione used the term.
"Hermione," Harry tried to reason, "There are so many people in this castle. The chances of me finding out who my mate is straight away stands about as much chance as—"
"I believe I already know who your mate is."
Apparently it stood a very good chance. Harry blinked a few times before asking the all important question. He wanted to know the answer but at the same time it scared the fire out of him.
"Who?" He asked Hermione quietly.
"Professor Snape" Hermione said just as quietly but with no less conviction.
A great silence came over the room. By this it does not mean that the silence was good, wonderful or the sort, but great as in "wow, that's big". A silence where so much is said in the not at all. Harry and Ron stared back at Hermione for quite a while. Both taking in the four syllables they had just heard. It was so quiet that Peeves could be heard knocking down suits of armor three floors up. Not that the three knew this was going on. There were more pressing matters than wayward poltergeists.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Ron finally said, "Could you repeat that. I think I went temporarily crazy for a few minutes." He was rubbing one of his ears as though it had been recently thumped.
"Professor Snape is Harry's mate."
"Oh, so that is what you said." Ron said calmly. There was a half beat pause before— "WHAT!? THERE IS NO WAY SNAPE IS HARRY'S MATE! ARE YOU INSANE?" Ron jumped to his feet and swung his arms around wildly. He had to defend his friend from such crazy, twisted ideas.
"Keep your voice down Ron! And yes, Professor Snape can be Harry's mate. Harry is at his most hyper when he is near the man. Also, his biggest transformation came right after his detention in potions last Friday. Did anything happen during the detention Harry?" Both sets of eyes—one calm, the other incredulous—turned toward a set of startled green ones.
Harry was still in shock. Snape...Severus....couldn't be his mate. Could he? His mind wandered back to his detention Friday. The potion that made him burp smoke, the agreement of friendship....the handshake....the handshake. "I asked him to be my friend. We shook hands. I felt this jolt go through my body, kinda like electricity." He finally answered. His eyes lowered to his hands in his lap. He missed Ron's slack jawed gape and Hermione's little knowing smile.
"I think that proves it. Professor Snape is your mate. Now we just have to—"
"Hang on a minute!" Ron was not going to let this go without a fight. Someone had to be the voice of reason. "Harry can't be with Snape. The guy is foul, greasy, nasty and—"
"He is not!" Harry said loudly as his head shot up from its lowly position, "Don't say those things about him!" Ah, that's not good Harry, not good at all. Hermione's smile got bigger as Ron seemed to go into information overload.
"You like that bastard?"
These words were met with a simultaneous "Ronald Bilius Weasley, watch your language!" and "He is not a bastard!" Harry might have been just as shocked as Ron that Severus was his mate, but he would not sit by and have his new friend called such things.
"Okay, okay, sorry. You like Snape Harry?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know. We just became friends a few days ago. I'm sorry if it bothers you."
"It's just...I didn't even know you were gay." Ron seemed to like a balloon that was quickly deflating.
"I didn't either," Harry admitted quietly, "Are you mad?" Harry wasn't going to admit it, but he was close to tears at that moment. This was Ron. His best friend. His first friend. If Ron hated him because he was friends with Severus and there was a possibility the potions master was his mate then Harry didn't know what—
"No"
"Huh?" Harry said dumbly. His brain trying to play a quick game of catch-up.
"I'm not mad. A little weirded out that you chose the dungeon bat to be your mate—"
"He didn't choose," Hermione interrupted, "It is a fate thing."
"As I was saying, I am not mad at you. You're my best friend. You may have no taste in love but—"
"I'm not going to tell him." Harry had fixated on what Hermione had only just recently said. It was a "fate thing". Fate. He didn't control it. This fate deal did. As had been the case his whole life. He had lived in the shadow of fate through that stupid prophesy and now that the war was over fate stepped in again and told him he didn't have a choice. That Severus didn't have a choice. The older man had also had a life outside his control and now Harry was suppose to step in and say, "Guess what! You're destined to spend forever with an unintelligent, ugly, immature little child. Enjoy!" No, not going to happen. They were just becoming friends. That was good enough for Harry.
"What? Harry you have to! If he is your mate he has a right to know."
"No. You were right Hermione. This is a fate thing. No choice. And I guarantee, if Severus had the choice he would not choose me." His friends let the name slip slide.
"But what about you Harry?" Ron asked.
"Ron, two minutes ago you were cursing his name. Why would you want me to be with him now?"
"Like I said, I don't like him, but you are a different story. It's just like soul mates. You don't mess with that kind of magic. I know enough about soul mates to know that the only way you will truly be happy is with your mate. If that is Snape, then so be it. Gross as it may be."
"What Ron actually did a great job of explaining until the very end," Hermione said gently as she scooted forward to pat Harry's hand, "Is that if you don't create a bond with your mate you will go back to being sluggish...depressed...you could even die. There is also a chance that Professor Snape could feel ill-effects of not bonding."
"That seems a little melodramatic don't you think?" Harry tried to joke. No one laughed.
"It's true though. Keeping silent would cause terrible problems, plus Professor Snape deserved the right to know. For that matter you don't know how he will react."
No he didn't know. But he had a good idea. He envisioned glass vials being thrown about in anger and a very Snape-ish voice yelling in disgust. Severus had only reluctantly agreed to be his friend. He would not agree to be his mate.
"Promise us you will tell him." Hermione pleaded.
Harry looked back and forth between his two friends. They were right. Severus should know about this since it involved him. He was his friend after all and friends don't keep secrets. Right?
"I promise to tell him as soon as I can."
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"Professor, may I please speak with you?" Harry asked as he approached the Potion Master's desk after class the next day. Today had been a lesson in how to make an advanced healing salve. It was suppose to come out blue. Harry's was orange. Plus it smelled like sawdust. He didn't know what it was, but he wouldn't put it on a burn, that's for sure.
"Yes, Potter, what is it?"
"Well Sir, I wanted to talk to you about....about..."
"Speak up! I have my next class coming in. What do you want?" By all accounts it seemed as though Severus was being his usual Snape self, if it weren't for the hint of amusement in his eyes.
Now or never. "Sir....." Come on, now or never, "....Could I receive additional instruction in potions? I don't feel I am grasping the concepts."
And out of left field comes that little doozy! What was that? That was nothing close to what he was going to tell him. He looked over his shoulder and noticed a few smaller Hufflepuffs setting up their stations. Lack of privacy. That is why he didn't say it now. Not the right time. Too many ears. He would tell him later when they were alone.
Severus did his signature quirk of an eyebrow. "Let me get this straight Potter, you want remedial potions lessons."
Fantastic. Now he was embarrassed. This is getting good. "I wouldn't call it that sir, I just know that I need help and I am asking." He finished quietly. He stared at the quill on Severus's desk. Willing it to fly up and start singing a rendition of the Weird Sister's song, "Merman's Lament". Anything to take the attention away from his red face.
Severus looked at the raven haired lion that seemed to be trying to get a quill to dance with his mind. Was he serious? Did he actually want more lessons from him? Perhaps this was a ploy to find time to talk and get to know one another as friends. That would be right like a sappy Gryffindor. Oddly endearing as Severus thought it was he knew the sweet young man should not be wasting his time on an old codger such as himself. He would simply have to find a way for Harry to back out gracefully. That way they both wouldn't feel guilty.
"I must say that is admirable Mr. Potter. I agree. Once a week I shall instruct you in additional potions assignments. Hopefully by the end of this year we shall have you at least partially ready to take you potion NEWTS. The only time I have available is Friday nights." There. No normal seventeen year old would willingly give up their Friday evenings.
"That's fine sir." Harry said as he still stared down the quill. He thought for a second that it started to move. Then again he was probably going crazy.
So apparently Harry was not the normal seventeen year old. Obviously. Severus pondered it for a few minutes. Harry seemed agitated to the point of capriciousness. He was a somewhat bashful youth, but this was a level of a first year or Longbottom. What was causing this sudden change Severus could not put his finger on what exactly. Harry may have been shy, but he was never this listless. More and more students were coming in. He needed to make this fast. He did enjoy talking and getting to know Harry. If the teen was willing to give up his weekend time then so be it. Maybe he could find out what was wrong. Severus was a Slytherin after all and they knew when to not ask too many questions. "Very well. We shall start this Friday. Until then Mr. Potter, please be on to your next class."
"Yes sir." Harry said as he finally pulled his attention away from the quill and turned and headed out the door.
He would tell Severus on Friday. He promised.
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