Wizards, Elves, Mates--Oh my! - chapter two
Snape stood just inside the door, half glaring at Harry while there was another unknown emotion in his eyes when he looked at George or Fred.
"Potter, sit on the couch and don't touch a thing," Snape snapped before turning to Fred and George, "You will both follow me." He turned and stormed out of the room, his robes billowing out behind him like a dark cloud. The twins released Harry before hurrying to catch up to Professor Snape.
Harry just stood rooted to his spot for a few more moments until the lady at the door called to him in her soothing voice. Looking around, Harry noticed a painting similar to the portrait covering the entrance, except this one hung above the fireplace. The lady was chuckling lightly.
"He did say sit, not stand there looking like a snake's already swallowed half of you." When Harry still didn't move, she tsked. "For Merlin's sake, it's not like the couch is going to bite your bottom."
"With Snape I wouldn't be surprised if it did, or if it swallowed unwelcome guests after injecting its victim with some sort of poison."
"Well aren't you a creative one! You would have been a better protector than my husband ever was."
"And who was... your husband?" Harry questioned, half afraid of the answer.
"Merlin. That man was so caught up in his magic and potions he barely noticed the raids that came almost every night. But he was sweet so I always forgave him. Oh look, you've got me rambling." She clicked her tongue in an amused way. "If you want to know some interesting protection spells and potions, he has a very good book on them. It's that black and silver one on the fourth shelf, second case in." She nodded her head to the wall before waving merrily and stepping out.
Harry stared at the empty portrait for a few more moments before turning to look at the bookshelves. They were massive old shelves in cherry oak that covered the whole wall, from top to bottom. Three stood side by side to cover the span from the door to the wall where the fireplace was. Not a single space was empty—it was jammed with some type of novel or other.
"Who know Snape was so in to reading?" Harry muttered to himself before searching for the book Merlin's wife had told him about. After a few minutes of hunting, he found the book—or rather, tome. As he started to read, he settled into the couch, getting lost in the worn pages.
*o*o*o*
"Why did you bring him?" Snape barked at the twins as soon as he closed the door to his bedroom.
"You can't say he doesn't smell good," Fred suggested.
"Good? He smells bloody wonderful!" George corrected.
"Yes, yes, the boy smells good, but he's underage. Thus no one is allowed to touch him." Snape glared at the twins, warning them to keep away from Harry. Or at least his virginity.
"Severus, we promise you, you will be the first to have Harry when he comes of age." George spoke softly, a tone of submission clearly heard.
"Just as I did with both of you." Snape grabbed George's chin, holding it still as he leaned in and kissed him forcefully. George melted into the kiss and moaned when Fred pressed against him, stroking his sides before going to rub his stomach. Severus broke the kiss, smirking, and grabbed Fred's chin over George's shoulder, kissing him just as forcefully as he had George. George just hummed, laying his head on Severus's chest. Severus pulled back from Fred, lightly pushing the twins away.
"Well, since Harry will be joining our pack, I should mention Drace will also be joining us in a few weeks."
George instantly became more aware, grabbing for Fred's hand. "But they hate each other! In the first week, they will probably have each other put into the infirmary! Sev, we can't have both in our pack!" George's voice was filled with panic.
"If I remember correctly, none of us could have a civil conversation before either. It will just have to be your job to keep them from killing each other."
"What would your job be, then?" Fred fired back.
"One will be to educate Potter. I highly doubt he knows anything about magical inheritance, let alone creature blood. The second thing will be to impregnate either, or both, of them. The last thing is to keep my 'lord' from killing my sub."
"Okay, we will keep them from killing each other, you get to deal with the rest," George quickly agreed.
"Wait, why can they get pregnant? Can we?" Fred questioned, hugging George closer to him and rubbing his stomach.
"You both can, I simply do not wish it, so it will not happen," Snape explained calmly.
"Yet you want them—"
"To have babies?" The twins steamed.
"They are not the ones with whom small explosions are normal. You two would be putting you and the baby in danger. This is why I will not allow it. You would have to give up the joke shop idea and pranking altogether for me to even consider it. Now, we need to go check on an underage wizard." Snape opened the door. "Out," he snapped. The twins smiled before scrambling out of the door, only to catch Harry shoving a book back into the crammed book shelf.
"Potter, do you ever listen to my directions? I told you not to touch a thing." Snape's voice was back to its cold calculating self, unlike the warm, calm tone he had used a moment ago. "You will serve a month of detention for your disobedience, and for touching my personal possessions."
"What?! But professor I... I can't." Harry slowly shrunk into himself—he really wanted to go hide behind Fred and George.
"Quidditch is not an excuse, Potter."
Harry could almost see ice forming around Snape. "No professor, it's not Quidditch, it's just that I have a previous... commitment," Harry stammered.
"Well spit it out! How can a 16-year-old boy have a month's worth of commitments?" Snape's glare could almost make Voldemort shy away, and it was making Harry want to go kill himself just to escape it.
"Harry, is Umbridge making you go to detention for a whole month?" Fred interrupted, making both Snape and Harry look at him. Harry weakly nodded his head. George quickly headed over to Harry and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him tight to his chest. He shot a heated glare at Snape before resting his gaze back on the one in his arms.
"You will report here after you're done with Professor Umbridge's detention. Is that clear, Potter?" The twins both looked as if they were going to protest but Snape's glare stopped them on the spot. Harry meekly agreed before they were ushered out.
Harry was dragged back up the stairs and pushed through a new door. When he finally looked up, he realised he was directly outside the great hall. He only had a moment to look and then they dragged him in.
"Don't worry about it Harry. We will get Hermione to make some Pepper-Up. We'll get you through this."
"And help you hide it from Ton and Hermione." Fred grinned evilly, which got George to do the same.
"You two scare me."
"Thank you!" They chorused, smiling happily.
"Okay, I'm going to hang out with Ron and Hermione before you two start blowing things up."
"Alright, see you tonight!" Fred winked. Harry's eyebrows came together in confusion before he simply turned. He looked down the row of Gryffindors, looking for one bushy-haired friend and one red-headed one. When he finally found them he almost laughed—Ron was eating like usual while Hermione looked worriedly around the room, snapping at Ron for eating while his best friend was missing. Again.
When she spotted Harry, it looked as if she was going to cry in relief. Harry quickly walked over so he wouldn't get a flying leap hug. "Afternoon," he spoke calmly, "Can I sit down?" Hermione quickly nodded, grabbing Harry's wrist and pulling him down to sit beside her.
"Where have you been?" Hermione almost screeched, though she kept her voice low.
Without looking at either Ron or Hermione, he answered, "I was out late last night, so I was sleeping."
"But why were you sleeping in Fred and George's room?" Ron spoke through a mouthful of turkey.
"I was helping them with an experiment and I just fell asleep."
"Why would they need your help? They have each other and Lee Jordan." When Hermione started to drill for information, Harry panicked. He searched for an answer before he remembered the book he'd read in Snape's room.
"They needed help with protection spells."
But Ron looked at him sceptically. "They know tons already."
"Well, they were testing their fireworks and needed a stronger spell, and they can't focus on both so they asked me to help.
"When did you start learning about protection spells?" Hermione pressed.
"Since I learned Voldemort has access to my brain!" Harry snapped before standing and storming away. Hermione and Ron could only watch helplessly. Fred and George looked up as he passed their table, but they decided to let him be for a while longer.
Harry was oblivious to everything as he made his way out the front doors and straight to the black lake. He paced around it four times before just settling under a tree, only now realising he hadn't eaten anything since yesterday's breakfast. He had been too nervous to eat at lunch, during supper he was with Umbridge, breakfast he was sleeping, and he had just skipped lunch because of his pride.
'Oh well, it won't be the first time I've gone without food," he thought to himself while settling into the tree roots more comfortably. Even though he had slept in, he felt oddly tired today, and the warm sun coupled with the cool breeze was creating a beautiful temperature. In moments, he was sleeping peacefully.
When he finally woke again, he was surrounded with warmth. A comfortable yet slightly heavy weight was settled over him while heat radiated off his pillow. It was so comfortable that his eyes weren't too cooperative in opening. The weight was so soft, and he was still tired, so that no matter how he tried cracking his eyes open, they stayed firmly shut.
"Harry, you of all people should have known not to fall asleep in the open." George's voice came from behind him. Only now did Harry feel the hand resting on his head. This time he forced his eyes open. The shade had now engulfed him, which would explain the need for the fur-lined cloak, its silk facing the elements. His head was in one of the twins' laps, but he didn't feel up to craning his neck to find out which. He was starting to drift off again when the hand on his head moved down to his shoulder, stroking it for a moment before whipping the cloak off. Harry saw a sparkle of white before he curled into himself to keep the last of the warmth.
"Come on, you've slept all day. Time to get up and go to dinner." Fred was way too happy for Harry's taste at the moment.
"Wait, did you say it was dinner time?"
"Yeah?" Fred looked at George for a moment before Harry jumped up from his lap.
"Sorry—I'm late." Harry turned and sprinted off to the front doors, never stopping as he went through.
Fred and George just looked at each other, twin scowls forming on their faces.
"Do you suppose he's off to detention with Umbridge?" Fred got an evil glint in his eye.
"I suppose he is. But with no supper?" George grinned.
"I think we should deliver something special."
"I do agree, Feorge." They both stood, Fred still holding the cloak, and headed for the castle doors. Just as they were walking through, George noticed a silver glint. He grabbed the edge of the clock and lifted it for a closer inspection.
"Looks like we won't have to stop them from killing each other after all." On the very corner of the cloak sat a skilver embroidered "D" in a graceful, old script. Fred leaned over George's shoulder to look at it.
"At least we know who to return it to." Fred smiled, looping his arm with his brother's.
"We can return it tonight when we retrieve our kitten from Snape." George easily slipped into the old name as it was agreed that no one would known until they were complete and Voldemort was dead.
When Harry got to Umbridge's door, he was slightly out of breath and had started to perspire. He stood for a moment trying to regain his breath and compose himself. Finally, when Harry thought he was ready, he raised his fist to knock, only to have the door open before his hand ever touched the battered pink wood.
"You're late! You will stay another hour for it. You know the routine—get to it!" Umbridge's sickly sweet croak of a voice grated on Harry's ear drums as he sauntered over to the desk. He glared at the pen before starting to write. Each scratch of the pen was accompanied by the slow ripping of skin. Already Harry couldn't wait to leave this pink, fluffy hell.
*o*o*o*
When Umbridge finally let Harry go, it was 4am and Harry doubted Snape would even be up, let alone ready to deal with Harry and his detention. Luckily Harry had gotten a not from Umbrdge saying she really had kept him until 4, not just that Harry had forgotten. It would have been nice if Harry could forget about both detentions.
Harry was so lost in his thoughts he forgot to jump over the trick stare, ending up with one leg completely engulfed while the other bent at an odd angle. He was trying to stay balanced on the stair behind him while at the same time trying to release the strain on his trapped muscle.
After fighting with his leg for nearly 5 minutes, he finally got it to bend more comfortably forward—he was still doing half a split, but it was better.
Snape came around the corner of the stairs after what felt like hours to Harry. His leg had already started to seize up. Snape sighed before calmly stalking up the stairs. He grabbed the collar of Harry's robes and effortlessly lifted him out of the stairwell, placing him on the stair below.
"Really Potter, this late and you finally come down to get stuck," Snape growled. Harry looked down in embarrassment before he remembered his note and quickly pulled it out of his pocket. Without even glancing up, he passed the note to Snape. "Hmm... acceptable. Next time remember to jump the step. I'm not pleased to be woken by the alarms you are setting off."
Snape spun on his heel, motioning for Harry to follow. Harry attempted to hurry after Snape but the cramp in his leg had yet to give way, causing him to limp. By the time they reached Snape's quarters, Harry had full control over his leg again. Snape whispered to the lady who quickly opened. As Harry stepped through, he heard the Lady softly say to him, "Sweetling, if you wish to come here, I will always open for you."
"Thanks?" Harry whispered back before hurrying through the door. There was a chair with a thin, dark wood table beside it. A marble white bowl sat on top of it and standing to the side was Snape.
"Sit and put your hand in the bowl," he snapped, pulling out his wand. Harry scrambled to obey, hastily sitting. He gently eased his hand into the water, only now realising that the couch and chair from before had been removed.
"You will be doing Occlumency for me in your detention, so focus Potter." Harry rubbed his eyes, trying to become more alert. His hand was burning in a familiar way—it must have been a healing potion his hand was in, not water—and he was tired, so the last thing he wanted was for Snape to try and break into his mind. He saw Snape raise his wand, so he forced all his thoughts into a box in the back of his mind.
Snape just touched his mind, seeing everything before it went black. Snape pulled back to see Harry slumped down in his chair. He was out cold.