CHAPTER 12
A/N: Dear all, thank you for all your reviews! I have completely forgotten to respond to questions in your reviews. Please accept my apologies. Also, I may have to update less frequently (1-2 times a week) because I am drowning in my Master's thesis and a mountain of translation work, to say nothing of the new university term which will start next week…The auburn-haired Ravenclaw boy Kevin belongs to me. Okay, now for the answers!
shogi: "De Amicitia" means "On friendship" and is a reference to Laelius: de amicitia by Marcus Tullius Cicero. I had to take Latin for seven years in high school and I always liked the title. And no, Severus did not get bare "down there". He learnt about its effects from the experience of others…;-)
Elpin: I'm glad both our Harrys draw. In my first Snarry, Harry learnt to play the piano. In the second one, he learnt sign language and telepathy. So in this fic, I wanted him to learn another art :-) I'll read your Snarry.
Kayla: Loved the naughty review for Chapter 10…
Those who commented on art/drawing becoming important: well observed!
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The term had started, and the castle was humming with life. Hagrid had returned from France in an excellent mood; Ginny had greeted Harry with a squashy hug on the day after the Feast and Luna had immediately proceeded to congratulate him dreamily on his marriage to Severus.
"I am sure Potions lessons will be better now that he has married you. He is a rather short-tempered man," Luna remarked with her usual bluntness.
"I am not so sure, Luna," Harry replied briskly. "He tends to keep his private and teaching life very separate."
This, of course, was not at all the true reason for Severus's teaching personality, but he considered his marriage far too private to tell anyone about the true state of affairs between him and Severus. He was, after all, withholding this information even from his best friends. Only Nessa knew.
"What do his rooms look like? Are they really filled with chains and axes?" Ginny asked with a chuckle.
Harry grinned.
"Nah, they're not. They're quite nice, actually. No Slytherin colours…well, except for a Slytherin banner. But the rest is elegant."
"Is he treating you well?"
"Yes," Harry said very shortly. Ginny understood that Harry's marriage was not a welcome topic and quickly changed the subject.
"Have you heard about the new art class?" she asked. "I was wondering whether I should participate, but I really am more interested in Quidditch."
"I just signed up for it on the notice board," Harry replied.
"Oh, I must sign up too!" Luna said, "I have always wanted to draw a Crumpled-horned Snorkack properly."
She glided away with a quill, leaving Harry and Ginny struggling to look as deadpan as possible.
"Harry, if Sn – I mean, your husband is, er, giving you a hard time, send a letter to Mom and Dad, or tell Dumbledore. You look like you've lost weight."
"It's okay, Ginny. Really. Didn't Hermione and Ron tell you?"
"They did, but you don't give much news about your marriage in your letters, do you?"
"It's fine, Ginny, really," Harry said somewhat impatiently, "Severus is okay. He's got no problem with me bringing friends to the dungeons, provided they stay in my bedroom, of course. You and Luna are welcome to visit me anytime."
"Really? How nice!" Luna exclaimed, who had just returned from the notice board.
An auburn-haired Ravenclaw boy approached Ginny, who went a bit pink.
"Oh, hi Kevin," she said, beaming. "I'll see you around, Harry. Take care."
"We'll see each other on Friday evenings for the art class, Harry," Luna said.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward."
Severus raised a disdainful eyebrow when Harry informed him on his whereabouts on Friday evenings.
"I frankly thought that the world of art would be a bit too high for you, Potter," he remarked.
"I stopped being surprised at your thinking processes long ago," Harry retorted coolly. "You think you know everything."
Severus's lip curled as he looked Harry up and down in a condescending manner. Harry had grown steadily, but he was not as tall as either Ron or Severus. It was therefore easy for Severus to make Harry feel inferior in many ways.
"I would have attributed knowing everything to your know-it-all friend Miss Granger," Severus answered.
"You dislike Hermione because she's brilliant and not a show-off. And because she's muggle-born."
The black eyes narrowed.
"Be careful, Potter."
"You had better be careful," Harry hissed. "You can't deny that you never praised Hermione for her potions, and hers were always the best. You never ever gave her any credit."
Severus stepped towards Harry, who stayed where he was.
"Are you trying to tell me how to teach a class, Potter?" he spat.
"No, I'm not doing anything of the sort! I just refuse to have you criticise my friend for no reason at all. And if someone criticised you, I'd defend you, because although you are not interested in me and in what I do, you're still my husband and Protector. I've got to go for my training lessons now."
Harry turned and marched off.
Friday evening arrived; Harry and Luna went together to the classroom and eagerly stepped inside. A black cloak was neatly folded on a chair and a pretty woman of Indian descent was tapping her wand against a large case on the floor. It sprung open, revealing all kinds of drawing material. Workboxes filled with drawing tools were lying neatly on each table.
"Ah, that must be Professor Mukherjee," a student behind Harry and Luna said in an awed voice.
"Her art is being exhibited at the Wizarding Art Gallery in London," someone else whispered.
The witch turned and smiled at them, her blue sari making a rustling sound. Her eyes were as black as Severus's, but they were bright as a bird's. She was about Harry's height.
"Please sit down," she said in a cheerful voice which matched her eyes and smile. A large crowd of students from ranging from fourth to seventh year trooped into the classroom. A scraping of chairs ensued as people sat down.
The witch's keen eyes travelled over them. Harry thought he saw a flicker of recognition as she looked at him.
"I am very happy to see so many of you who have come to attend this class. I feel honoured to teach you the principles and technique of sketching and drawing at this school. My name is Sonia Mukherjee, and instead of simply reading out your names, I think it would be nice if each student introduced himself and herself. Please tell me and your fellow-students what you find interesting about art and what you expect from this course."
She gestured at the student closest to her. Harry, who was sitting right in front with Luna next to him, thought of what he wanted to say – it would be his turn in another thirty seconds. Soon, the witch nodded at him.
"My name is Harry Potter."
Many heads turned in his direction, but Harry was used to this by now, although he disliked it. He continued:
"I actually graduated this summer, but I have to stay at Hogwarts for safety's reason. Erm…I am married to Professor Snape and I assist him in small tasks where his Potions research is concerned. I am training to become a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Uhm, so that's just a little about me. I'm attending this class because I like to sketch and draw in my free time. I've got a sketchbook, and it helps me express things I can't express in words. I would like to learn more about drawing and mastering various techniques and styles; and I think it would be really helpful to draw with other people and exchange ideas, because I've always kept pretty much to myself about my drawing."
"Thank you, Mr Potter. Feedback and interaction will be as important as discovering and refining your individual style. And, as you mentioned, art is another way of expressing the way you experience your world."
She smiled at him and went on to Luna.
"Great class!" Harry said after it was over.
"Professor Mukherjee is very good," Luna agreed. The other students were equally impressed, talking excitedly about the future lessons.
"Mr Potter? May I please have a word?" Professor Mukherjee called.
"I'll wait for you, Harry," Luna said, trotting away happily. The witch closed the door quietly and looked at Harry. She was young, perhaps four or five years older than Tonks. She wore her black hair in a fashionable bob.
"I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry," she said without preamble. "I am on familiar terms with the Headmaster well and have spoken with your husband before. I know that you are taking Duelling lessons with King."
"King?"
"That's what everybody calls Kingsley Shacklebolt," she said with a twinkle reminiscent of Dumbledore. She became serious.
"I am aware that you are more than capable of looking after yourself. Albus has told me a lot about you. Have you not wondered why the Order has not asked you to become a member even though a year has passed since you turned seventeen?"
"Yes, I was wondering about that," Harry said slowly. He remembered feeling very resentful and angry when he had turned seventeen and no one had spoken about him joining the Order, especially after what he had been through.
"Now that you are protected by a blood bond and are strengthening your protection by taking training lessons, the Order members think that you are more than mature enough to join them."
Harry nodded. It made sense that he needed some kind of approved practical training to join.
"But then…are you here to protect me or because of the art class?" Harry asked, hoping that he did not sound rude. He liked the witch; she did not talk down to him and seemed to be very good-natured.
Her eyes twinkled again.
"The latter, though I will naturally protect if you should ever be in danger; but seeing that you are married to a powerful wizard and are being trained by three members of the Order under Albus's eye…I would say that you reasonably well protected. I daresay you do get tired of hearing that you have to be protected, though."
"Yeah, I do," Harry admitted.
"It goes both ways – you are protecting us too," she said, adjusting her pallu°. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
They shook hands, and Harry left, agreeably surprised. Luna was making drawing signs in the air when Harry joined her. He thought of going back down to the dungeons to join the dour Potions Master. He didn't appreciate the idea of returning to his solitude.
"Would you like to see my room?" he asked Luna.
"Oh, certainly, Harry!" she beamed. Together, they went down to the dungeons. Nessa the serpent looked sceptically at Luna.
"Nessa, this is my friend Luna," Harry said. Luna looked eager.
"You wouldn't happen to have seen a Crumpled-horned Snorkack, would you?"
Nessa stared at her beadily and shook her head.
"Pity," Luna sighed.
Harry said the password and the portrait opened. Severus Snape was standing in the hall with a book in his hand. He sneered as Harry and Luna came inside.
"Good evening, Professor," Luna said dreamily. Severus gave Harry a look which clearly expressed his opinion of Harry's choice of friends.
"Sir, I wanted to ask you if you had a Crumpled-horned Snorkack among your Potions ingredients."
Severus eyed her contemptuously. Harry desperately wished that he could remain as unruffled as Luna, who hardly even seemed to be aware of Severus's unfriendly gaze.
"I do not harbour any fictitious creatures in my stores," he said crossly.
"You are being rather rude, sir," Luna remarked mistily. "It must be the Nargles."
Harry realised that it was high time to intervene.
"Erm, Luna, my room is this way. And, uh, Severus is a bit stressed. Potions research."
Harry showed Luna around, talked a little with her and reluctantly saw her off at the entrance. When he closed the door behind her, Severus, who was sitting on the sofa with his book, directed a level stare at Harry.
"A bit stressed?" he asked.
Harry cleared his throat.
"I found out that the art teacher is a member of the Phoenix Order," he said.
No answer.
"She said that she had spoken to you before."
"She is a capable witch," Severus remarked in a bored tone and continued reading his book. The statement, coming from Severus, was ample praise. Harry was about to return to his bedroom when Severus clutched at his left forearm.
Harry hurried to him and sat down on the sofa. Severus's face was blank, masking the discomfort.
"Is there nothing at all to alleviate the pain?" Harry asked softly.
Severus glared at him.
"Don't you think I would have done that if I could? Imbecile question," he snapped viciously.
Harry, who was more than well accustomed to Severus's acrid temper, took the comment with quiet composure and added after a few moments' thought:
"Maybe when you have gone through pain for a very long time, then you become so used to it that you don't think it's worth counteracting."
Severus looked at him sharply; and Harry knew that his words had touched upon the truth.
"I have to go," Severus said, rising from the sofa and grabbing his travelling cloak.
Harry sighed and sat down on the place which Severus had occupied only a few moments ago. It was still warm from his body heat.
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°Pallu: part of the sari which is draped over the shoulder. According to which region of India the wearer comes from or to the sari fashions, the pallu falls either over the back or over the front of the body, depending on how the sari is draped.