DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is the creative work of JK Rowling. I do not own the Harry Potter characters.
Thank you juliedecarson for the wonderful job you do beta'ing this story (And I'm sorry that I keep forgetting to thank you in previous chapters).
Most Evil Plan
Chapter 6
Halloween
"Severus, I do hope that you are here to join me for tea and not to make another attempt to convince me of the benefits of your plan."
"Headmaster, if you would only take the time to realize how perfect it is," Severus beseeched.
"Perfect for whom?" Albus asked indignantly, "You?"
"Well, yes," Severus reluctantly admitted, before adding a quick, "But also for Potter."
Albus just peered over his half-moon spectacles and looked at Severus in disbelief.
"No, honestly," Severus stated, preparing to make his case for the last time. "Potter will not be any happier than I am regarding the Dark Lord's latest scheme. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the purpose of the Dark Lord's plan holds true. After all, Potter is such a delicate boy," Severus said with a grimace, fighting to keep the sarcasm and feelings of hatred to himself. That definitely wouldn't prove his veracity to the headmaster. "And he's been through so much, shouldn't we, as his professors, try to protect him from harm, be it physical or emotional?"
"Excellent point," Albus agreed, eyes twinkling, "Luckily for us, you know the plan and can help Harry from being harmed by it."
Severus groaned as he realized he just dug himself in deeper.
"You mustn't give the child any reason to doubt you," Albus continued, "After all, as you said we are here to protect him from harm.
"Plus," Albus added, knowing that Severus was on the verge of admitting defeat, "How could you leave your Slytherins? After all, aren't you the only one in the school on their side?"
Severus hated when the headmaster used his own words and arguments against him. How manipulative of him, unfortunately, the man had a point, Severus thought. Practically every other student in the school viewed Slytherins as evil incarnate. In fact, Severus was positive some of the professors felt the same.
Of course, he really couldn't afford to leave his students now. He has spent so much time and energy trying to get them to make their own decisions in regards to Voldemort. To abandon them now could undo all the good he might have done. Not to mention that there were very few Slytherins on staff to take over his head of house duties.
Still, he would not admit defeat so easily.
"Sir, I am not an actor, I do not believe that I can play the role assigned to me," Severus confessed.
"Nonsense, my boy," Albus dismissed. "You have been playing a role for the past twenty years. All we are doing is amending it."
Severus grunted in acknowledgment, the headmaster did have a point there, as well. If he managed to portray the loyal greasy-git death eater for the last twenty years, especially with Voldemort being back the last fifteen months, then surely he could handle this most recent role. No matter how much he was offended by it.
"Now, the only question is do we tell Harry?"
"NO!" Severus loudly objected.
"Why ever not, Severus?"
"He's a Gryffindor, he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag," Severus protested.
"I think you will find that there is more to Harry than meets the eye."
"Regardless, my life depends on him not letting anything slip. I can't afford for him to make an error. If he knows, then Weasley and Granger would be informed and before we know what is happening, the whole school would know what is true and what isn't," Severus declared. "We cannot inform him of the plan."
"Very well," Albus stated. "Of course, you know that this now means that you will have to try much harder to come across as genuine."
Severus groaned as he realized the truth of that statement. "Fine, at least my life will be in my own hands and not at the whim of a foolhardy Gryffindor."
"Severus, Halloween will soon be upon us."
"Yes, my lord."
"I trust everything is ready for my plan?"
"Yes, my lord," Severus answered quietly. "I just need to do a little more testing to confirm that nothing else would interfere with the results."
"Excellent. Soon we shall watch as my plan unfurls," Voldemort gloated.
"Yes, my lord," Severus agreed, hoping that this would be the last time he would have to say that, or at least, the last time for a while.
"Ah, Severus, I am going to miss your obedience. You have shown such loyalty and dedication to me."
Severus barely held back a grimace; why did that sound like something one might say at a funeral?
"As you know, once the plan is implemented next week, you will no longer be able to be graced by my presence. You will, however, have my diary at your disposal to keep me informed of the situation. If anything happens, you are to inform me at once," Voldemort commanded.
"Yes, my lord."
"At your earliest convenience," Severus read this as 'drop everything', "you are to inform me once the plan was initiated. I want to read all about Potter's reaction."
"Yes, my lord," Severus agreed. "My lord, how am I to explain the results to Pot-Harry? He is a curious child," more like nosy brat, Severus thought, "by nature. He will want to know how this came about."
"That is up to your discretion, Severus. Whatever you think will do the most damage. Affair, hostage, potion accident, do not bother me with the details."
"Yes, my lord," Severus replied, sarcastically thinking how glad he was that that was settled.
"I noticed that your first instinct is to refer to him as Potter, still."
"Yes, my lord. Since it is best that I still refer to him as Potter in class it has been most difficult calling him by his first name when I am in your presence."
"Understandable," Voldemort agreed, with a cautioning tone, "However, after Thursday, I hope that that would change."
"My lord, if I may?" Severus inquired, preparing himself to be punished if the Dark Lord didn't like what he had to say. "Since the results are to be as much a surprise to me as it is to him, perhaps it would be best for the two of us to gradually work to the point where I refer to him by his first name? I fear that if I were to suddenly refer to him as 'Harry' because of the results, it might raise his suspicions. If not from him, then surely from others."
"Perhaps you are right," Voldemort conceded, as Severus breathed a sigh or relief that he would not be punished for his impertinence. "However, you must be pleasant to him, regardless of what you call him. You need to convince him that you actually care about him and his feelings. We cannot get him to accept you if you continue to torment him and assign detentions for trivial matters."
"Yes, my lord," Severus agreed reluctantly, after all, if one wanted to stay healthy, they didn't disagree with the Dark Lord. Before leaving, Severus cautiously inquired, "My lord, being nice and pleasant? Does that refer to all Gryffindors or just Po-Harry?"
"At least he agreed that if I was suddenly nice or familiar to Potter-"
"Harry," Albus corrected with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Potter," Severus stressed stubbornly, "and immediately called him by his first name once the results were revealed it might cause some to become suspicious. Referring to him by his given name will be done gradually. I was also cautioned not to torment or assign detentions to him for trivial matters," Severus concluded.
"That is good news," Albus agreed.
"Oh, no, headmaster," Severus smirked, "That isn't the good news. The good news is that the Dark Lord insisted that 'playing nice' with Harry does not have to carry over to all the other Gryffindors. And as far as Potter's detentions, well, with the way that he attracts trouble, I'm sure there will be plenty of reasons to assign him detentions for matters that aren't considered trivial. Sadly, though, his detentions would have to be served with Filch, after all, we wouldn't want anyone to say that I was biased or playing favorites, would we?"
"Severus," Albus cautioned. "I'm not quite sure that this is what Voldemort had in mind. I know that it's not what I had planned."
"What?" Severus asked innocently. "Albus, if the situation was true and not some scheme of the Dark Lord's, how would you expect me to behave?"
Albus peered at Severus while he contemplated that question. "Very well, I suppose I wouldn't expect you to treat him differently from other students."
Severus smirked, "Or perhaps be even more strict? After all, due to our relation, his behavior is a reflection of me."
Albus groaned, realizing that this situation might not be the miracle he hoped for. "Perhaps," he agreed. "Then again, due to this plan and the nature of your relationship," the headmaster emphasized, eyes twinkling brightly, "You are in the ideal spot to assist Mr. Potter through his challenges."
"Excuse me?" Severus inquired. Surely he misinterpreted Albus's words.
"No, no, the more I think of this, the better it appears. Someone has to help Mr. Potter handle the death of his godfather, and the role he played in it. I imagine the poor boy must be consumed with guilt." Perhaps not consumed, the headmaster silently acknowledge to himself, still, as he previously said, this could just be what the healer ordered.
"Someone?" Severus echoed, surely the headmaster wasn't thinking about-
"Yes, someone. You."
He was, Severus realized with a groan.
"After all," The headmaster pointed out, "Voldemort would expect you to get close to the child; we might as well use that to our advantage. Plus, no one else has had any success."
"And what makes you think that I would?" Severus asked, doubtful that Potter would listen to him, especially in matters concerning his godmutt. Hiding his grin, Severus realized that all he had to do was try once, and when Potter refused to discuss it with him, as of course, Potter would, then he could honestly tell the headmaster that he tried.
"Why, due to the nature of your relation, of course," the headmaster answered with a knowing smile. "Plus your experience as the Head of Slytherin has enabled you to help troubled teens before, Mr. Potter is no different. There are many things that Harry needs your assistance with: the death of Sirius and his role that contributed to it; his use of an unforgivable on Bellatrix; controlling his temper; his possession by Voldemort; his need to learn occlumency; are only a few that come to mind. Yes, I can see that you are the ideal candidate to counsel the child."
What exactly has he gotten himself into? Once more Severus groaned, how come at the end of these meetings with Albus he always ended up in a worse position than before? What exactly was the headmaster trying to do to him?
"I need your assistance," Severus stated, after allowing the headmaster entry into his labs.
"Oh my, I haven't been involved with potions since I discovered the twelve uses of Dragon Blood," Albus stated, "But I will gladly assist in any way I can. Recently my focus has been on transfiguration. Taught that subject for many years before becoming headmaster, you know."
"I do not need any assistance with the potion," Severus stated clearly, slightly insulted that the headmaster would think he did.
"Then what do you need?"
"I need your help administering the potion. After last year's incidents with Veritaserum, I doubt Potter would accept any type of refreshment from me. Not to mention the fact that I would have no reason to offer him such a thing without raising suspicion."
"If you had taken my advice and befriended the boy, you wouldn't be in this predicament."
"That is not going to happen," Severus vehemently denied. "So kindly refrain from suggesting it again."
"Of course, of course," the headmaster cheerfully agreed. "Now, how can I help?"
Severus withdrew a small bottle of clear liquid from a locked drawer in his desk. "He needs to drink this twenty-four hours before Halloween's potions class. It can be mixed in pumpkin juice or tea, or added to biscuits that does not contain nuts."
"Not a problem, I'll find a way to pour it into one of his drinks," Albus stated reaching for the vial.
Severus pulled his hand back, refusing to relinquish the potion just yet. "Make sure that Potter and only Potter is the one drinking this potion. I do not want anyone else's and most definitely not the entire class's results to be off. That would not earn me favor with the Dark Lord, especially if his plan is ruined."
"Indeed, that would be disastrous," Albus stated, picturing what would happen if the more than one student's results were manipulated to show the results that Voldemort ordered. "I'll ask Harry up to my office on Wednesday for tea."
"The potion will remain in his blood stream for approximately four weeks, unless he loses a significant amount of blood due to any accidents."
"Fine, fine," Albus said, once more reaching for the vial.
"That means that until the Dark Lord's plan is carried out, he will need to take this potion once a month, to prevent plans from unraveling."
"Understood, I will be more than glad to help you administer this potion in the coming months," The headmaster said finally taking a hold of the vial from Severus's hands, before heading towards the door.
"Of course, after this initial dose," the headmaster said as he exited the room, "Perhaps you and Mr. Potter will come to an understanding where you might be able to offer him some refreshment without raising any suspicions."
As the elderly wizard left the potion lab, a speechless potion master stared after him in shock.
Snape watched as Potter and Granger entered the potion classroom that morning. After seeing them glance at the board, Severus heard the two students groan.
He had predicted that as Potter's reaction to being paired with Malfoy, but couldn't identify the reason for the know-it-all's groan. Unless of course it was in sympathy for her friend.
After a few minutes of staring at the board in dismay, Snape watched as Hermione nudged Harry to his seat. Within moments the remainder of the class entered and sat with their assigned partners.
"Enough!" Severus said as he closed the classroom door, halting all conversation. "Today's potion is on the board, get to work."
"Sir?" Hermione asked, raising a hand. "Why this potion?"
"Do you have a problem with this potion, Miss Granger? Perhaps a secret you don't want revealed?" Snape smirked. Merlin he hoped it wasn't that. He didn't know what he would do if other students besides Mr. Potter didn't believe their results.
"No sir," Hermione denied, "But we've been tested on various potions all week, each one increasing in difficulty. This potion seems to be a step backwards."
"Five points from Gryffindor for questioning a teacher, Miss Granger," Severus said, realizing the cause of that student's groan. "I am assuming that your study session did not include this particular potion, since it is, as you said, 'a step backwards'? What better way to determine your skill level than to prepare a potion without memorizing the steps beforehand."
Hermione turned red at the professor's words. She did study some of the more difficult potions in anticipation of today's class and even recommended that others do the same.
"A test of your skills, Miss Granger, is a test, regardless of what order the potions are assigned. However, perhaps you and your partner would like to brew another potion today, and take a zero for class work?" Severus sneered.
"No, sir," Zabini injected with a glare towards Hermione.
"Very well, then get to work." With those words Severus returned to his desk to watch how the students progressed, keeping an eye on Malfoy and Potter.
He knew the Dark Lord's reasons for wanting the two paired together that day, the only problem, Severus realized, was getting the two to work together without destroying the potion, or the plan.
The time went by quickly with only a few minor skirmishes. Mostly Granger and Zabini arguing on the proper way to chop daisy roots or Potter and Malfoy arguing about practically everything.
After forty minutes of brewing Snape gave a final instruction to the class, normally this wasn't something he would do, especially during a 'test', however, he couldn't risk anyone, especially Potter, forgetting to pour the potion into vials. Since it wasn't part of the actual potions steps, he felt justified since he wasn't giving any steps away, just insuring that each individual would be graded on their own merits.
"Do not add the final ingredient to the cauldron. Before you add the last ingredient, fill two vials with the potion, one for you and one for your partner, as it will be necessary to test the potion, and for me to determine whether you pass or fail. I'm sure no one here wants to fail because their partner didn't follow the final steps accurately." The last sentence was stated with a glare to the students of other houses that were paired with Slytherins.
Severus walked around before coming to rest on the other side of the room, away from Potter's and Malfoy's work station. From the corner of his eye he saw the two students divide the potion in half and Potter add his blood as the final ingredient before capping and shaking the vial, mixing the blood in with the potion.
As he pretended to watch another set of students prepare their potion for the final step, he saw Potter drip the liquid onto a piece of parchment.
Mentally he counted backwards. Right as he reached one, Severus heard Malfoy gasp.
"Uh!"
"Is there a problem, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus asked as he headed towards their station.
"Yes, sir, Potter did his potion wrong."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry growled as he stared at the results of his potion.
"Mr. Potter?" Severus questioned, looking at his student, not at the results.
"I don't know," Harry mumbled, still in shock.
"He messed up as usual," Malfoy sneered.
"Wouldn't that mean that your potion is also messed up?" One of the Gryffindor's called, trying to defend Harry.
"Five points from Gryffindor," Severus stated, smirking, "Get back to work." Things were working better than he hoped. If a few more student's tried to defend the Gryffindor Golden Boy, this day just might be salvageable, he thought.
"What!" Malfoy screeched, realizing that he shouldn't be so happy about Potter's mistakes since they were partners that day. At once, Malfoy started to add his blood to his vial.
Severus shook his head at the boy's antics. He was so eager to get his Gryffindor rival in trouble, that he often ended up in just as much trouble himself.
"Sir?" Hermione interjected, "I was watching them and I didn't see them do anything wrong."
Severus smirked. Not only was he going to be able to deduct more points from Gryffindor, but the know-it-all confirmed to the class that Potter's potion was correct.
"Thank you for your endorsement, Miss Granger," Snape sneered. "Five points from Gryffindor, your eyes should be on your own work."
"This isn't possible," Harry mumbled, staring at the parchment in front of him. "This just isn't possible."
Shaking his head, Harry took the vial of his potion mixed with his blood and placed three drops on another piece of parchment.
"Sir," Malfoy called, "My results are correct."
"Let me see," Severus stated as he took the offered parchment.
"Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black Malfoy," Snape read. "Indeed it is correct. Excellent job, Mr. Malfoy, ten points to Slytherin."
"Mr. Potter, hand me your parchment," Severus directed.
"Er, can you wait a moment, sir?" Harry asked. "I would like to try it again."
"Mr. Potter, you do not have the time or energy to brew the potion again."
"I know, sir," Harry stated, trying to find an excuse not to show his results to the potion master. "Er, there was something on the parchment and I need to drop the liquid again."
"Very well," Snape sneered, "You have five minutes respite. Miss Granger, your results?"
As Snape turned away from Potter's work station he heard Harry incant 'Incendio' and set the parchments with his results on fire.
"Here, sir," Hermione stated passing her parchment to the professor.
"Adequate. Mr. Zabini?" Severus stated before taking the offered parchment. "Excellent."
As Severus wanted around the room, keeping an eye on a distraught Potter, he could hear the students talking.
"Malfoy," Zabini hissed, "What did Potter's results show?"
Malfoy just shook his head, not wanting to say anything out loud.
"Come on, Malfoy! It can't be that bad."
Malfoy just glanced in the direction of the potion master before once more looking at Potter's results. The blonde boy paled before shaking his head and pretending to work on that night's essay assignment.
Severus didn't know whether to be grateful or not that Malfoy didn't want to start any rumors about a fellow Slytherin, and in particularly, a professor. On one hand, he was pleased that his students held such respect, a.k.a. fear, of him that they wouldn't cross him. On the other hand, he knew that the Dark Lord's plan counted on Malfoy's willingness to destroy the Gryffindor's life to share what he saw on that parchment. Hopefully, once the shock passed, Malfoy would talk about what he read.
"Harry, what's the matter?" Hermione asked, worried about her friend, as she watched him try his potion again.
"It's not possible, it's just not possible," the raven haired boy whispered bordering on the hysterical, as he set additional pieces of parchment on paper.
"Harry! What does it say?" Getting no response from her friend, Hermione turned to Malfoy, "Malfoy, what does it say?"
Malfoy just shook his head.
"Malfoy! Tell me!" Hermione hissed frantically.
Malfoy once more shook his head, before replying, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Shut up!" Harry screamed at Malfoy, before looking at his parchment again and muttered, "It's not true, it can't be true. It just can't be."
"Five points, Mr. Potter, for creating a disturbance in class," Snape said as he headed back over to their desk. It seemed that Malfoy wasn't willing to play his part, Severus realized. He would just have to find another way to make the results known to the class. Hopefully he could do so with disgracing himself and causing a scene. "Your results?"
"Something's wrong," Harry whispered.
"I would be the first to admit, Potter, that I'm surprised you made it this far, but since your partner's potion is fine and Miss Granger verified that it was brewed correctly, I highly doubt that an error occurred," Snape sneered. "Unless you mistakenly added someone else's blood?"
"No, sir, I added my own blood" Harry denied, shaking his head. "But the results are wrong. They have to be.
"Maybe the parchment's been charmed or maybe the vial was tampered with? Maybe Malfoy did something to the cauldron," Harry continued.
"Hey!" Malfoy protested, "Don't go blaming this on me. I didn't do anything. Although, it would have made a good prank."
"See!" Harry shouted pointing a finger at Malfoy. "He did it!"
Severus almost sighed. This was getting out of hand. "Five points from Gryffindor for blaming a classmate for your inadequacies, and another five for shouting at a professor."
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "He couldn't have done anything. The ministry regards this potion as one of the most secure, since no way has been shown to tamper with it. No way could Malfoy have set something up."
"Hey!" Malfoy yelled, protesting the slight to his intelligence.
"Mr. Malfoy, quiet down," Snape stated, before addressing Harry once more. "Your results, Mr. Potter?"
"No, sir," Harry refused.
"Mr. Potter," Severus began only to be interrupted by his student.
"I'm sorry, sir, but something is wrong. I'd rather take a zero for the day than show these results."
Severus sneered in Harry's direction. "That Mr. Potter is not an option. Now read the results out loud."
"Out loud! No one else had to read them out loud!"
"No one else refused to hand in their results. Out loud, Mr. Potter."
"Sir, it's really not fair that Harry read his results out loud," Hermione contributed.
"Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger," Severus smirked.
Harry glared at his professor before picking up his parchment. Taking a deep breath, he read, "Harry Potter, son of Lily Evans Potter and James Potter."
"That's not what it said," Malfoy protested.
"I am well aware of that," Snape drawled, "Five points from Gryffindor for lying."
"You know!" Harry exclaimed in anger.
"Of course, I know," Severus smirked, "if that is what it said then you wouldn't have been willing to take a zero in my class, now would you?"
Severus snatched the parchment out of Harry's fingers and handed it to Miss Granger, "Miss Granger, read Mr. Potter's results for the class."
Hermione looked apologetically towards Harry before silently reading the parchment. A small gasp escaped her lips as she looked between her professor and her best friend.
"Today, Miss Granger," Snape growled at her, quickly losing his patience at how long this was taking.
"Harry Potter, son of Lily Evans Potter and," Hermione paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "…Severus Snape."
END CHAPTER 6 and stage I of Voldemort's most evil plan…
So…How do you think Harry will react? What about the rest of the class? What about Ron-how will he find out?
AMEVI: Abbas (father) Matris (mother) Expiscor (discover) Verus (true) Identity
And as many of you mentioned-the pseudo part of pseudo-severitus…
You know, I REALLY like this chapter…Hope you guys do as well…Actually, I REALLY like this story :)
WOW! This is a first for me….Harry finds out about his 'parents' in the first six chapters of a fic…(At least as far as posted stories go-I have another that begins with HP already knowing the truth)
8/22/2005