The Lion and The Snake - Scales of Justice

Chapter 4

Finding Out The Truth

To say Hermione and Ron were confused by Harry's secretiveness would be putting it mildly. Every time they tried to ask him a question, he just shushed them, jerking his head towards the portraits. To say they were baffled was a big understatement, Harry had either gotten very paranoid or he truly though someone was spying on him. They began to realize where they were going once they reached the seventh floor. They stood aside and let Harry create a room. They were going to the Room of Requirements. Stepping inside he shut the door and Ron finally and impatiently demanded answers after being shushed five times.

"Alright Harry what the hell is going on?" demanded the red headed boy, confusion and curiosity written across his freckled face.

"If I tell you this…you have to swear not to tell anyone else…I mean it guys. If you do that's it our friendship is over." said Harry seriously, his large green eyes regarding them solemnly.

Hermione gasped dramatically, her hand automatically going across her mouth. She realized it must be something very drastic for him to say that. She knew how much Harry valued their friendship, because she and Ron felt the same. Even if they didn't always show it, Ron less so. She knew that was boys just being boys.

"You want an oath?" asked Ron removing his wand, obviously willing to do whatever Harry wanted. He'd let his best friend down twice and he wasn't about to let it happen again. He knew he was jealous, and for most part it was because of coming from such a large family. Ironically enough he failed to realize how jealous Harry was of him! Both of them would trade their lives around given the opportunity. Only Ron would want to trade back after one year. Harry would never give up a family for anything.

"If you want," said Harry his posture relaxing noticeable that his friends didn't get offended. Ironically enough none of the others had sworn oaths, but he felt it was needed here and now. He knew Ron was a blabber mouth and Hermione adored adult figures, Dumbledore included. He just couldn't take the chance that they would tell.

So Ron and Hermione swore the oaths, and then sat down comfortably waiting on the story Harry was going to tell them.

"What's been going on Harry?" asked Hermione her brown eyes staring at her best friend in fear and worry.

"Dumbledore told the Dursley's about Sirius dying, they began treating me like they used to." Harry told them, he's never told them much. But enough for them to know he wasn't wanted. He certainly hadn't told them about the worst of Vernon's abuse.

"You were locked in your room again?" asked Ron sympathetically.

"Er," said Harry looking cross between constipated and irritated, it just went to show how good he was at hiding things - even from his friends. Right now that wasn't what was bothering him, it was Ron's naivety. "It was worse than that but I'm not going to go into details. I had a vision of Voldemort talking to Pettigrew. He was using his Animagus form to spy on me. I stunned him, and let the Order know, it got sent to Professor Snape." Harry told them, he noticed Hermione was angry when he mentioned the abuse was worse. She also got a calculating look in her eye when he called Snape by his given title. She was very shrewd but he knew that.

"Professor Snape Harry?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Yes, anyway back to the story, I went to Grimmauld Place, I've been staying there the rest of the summer." said Harry.

"How's that possible! Dumbledore believes Lestrange has it!" said Ron loudly his eyes wide with astonishment, he was finally beginning to understand Harry's secrecy. Ron might act stupid and take a while to catch up on things. Ron wasn't stupid; he was a brilliant chess player and strategist.

"How do you know that?" gasped Hermione staring at Ron with new found respect.

"He's been having order meetings in different places; my house was one of them. I just listened in. I still have Fred and George's extendable ears, I listened from my bedroom." smirked Ron a look that wasn't on the red heads face often. "Dumbledore was quite angry about it, mostly about the books and having a regular place to meet."

Hermione was still gaping at Ron as if she'd never seen him before.

"I bet he's pissed, I took over the Fidelus charm. The house is mine obviously and I locked them out." said Harry, "I guess we will find out in a few days, his will is going to be read on the tenth."

"But why Harry? The Order meetings are extremely important for the war effort," said Hermione turning to Harry not understanding his motivations.

"Dumbledore took me to his office earlier, and told me I've to become an apprentice. I won't be taking classes with you I'll be getting trained." said Harry his voice and face devoid of emotion.

"He's training you?" asked Hermione taken aback. Not because she felt Harry was unworthy, far from it. Dumbledore she realized had never been interested in training Harry. In her book he would have started along time ago and ensuring he had a good defence against the dark arts teacher from the start.

"No." said Harry shaking his head negatively.

"Then who?" frowned Ron, as understanding began to dawn on Hermione's face.

"No," she gaped, after the trouble they'd had with Occlumency he wouldn't…Harry would learn nothing sticking them together in an apprenticeship would accomplish nothing but misery.

"Mione?" asked Ron wanting an answer.

"Think about it Ron, who else knows about defence enough to teach Harry," said Hermione staring at Ron.

"Snape?" asked Ron incredulity written across his face. No way. That was madness Snape would kill Harry.

"Yes, I even have to stay down there with him." said Harry looking at their horrified faces having to keep himself in check and not laugh.

"Dumbledore can't do that!" protested Ron weakly, unable to believe it.

"Dumbledore can do whatever he likes, but as it was, I went to Gringotts this summer and found out about my inheritance." said Harry.

"Didn't you already know?" said Hermione, looking at Ron almost guiltily, "I thought you knew but didn't say well with Ron not having much."

"I didn't know," said Harry grimly, "I found some of my mother's memories in the vault. She was best friends with Professor Snape since before they came to Hogwarts. He taught her everything he knew. He knew I was in Grimmauld Place, and kept it a secret. A lot has happened this past month."

"Then tell us everything," said Hermione. Sitting forward eager to hear more about Harry's summer.

"Do you know Lucius Malfoy promised Voldemort his firstborn son as a…" Harry asked them meanwhile trying to figure out the word he could use. "Play thing?" he settled on in the end.

"Urgh!" moaned Ron looking ready to be sick.

"Never!" gasped Hermione appalled. He was a Death Eater, but she'd always thought Malfoy had loved his son. How could Narcissa stay with such a monster? Had she known what fate would befall her son. "How could his mother allow that?"

"Narcissa didn't know," said Harry defensively, giving himself away.

"I'm surprised he's at Hogwarts," said Ron. If it were him he'd have run away, there was no way he'd let you-know-who touch him. He thought alone was enough to make him want to regurgitate his dinner. For once in Ron's life he felt sorry for the blonde. Something Ron would never have imagined happening.

"I'm using Grimmauld Place as a safe heaven," admitted Harry, "For people that can't fight but want their families safe."

"That's a good idea Harry!" exclaimed Hermione loudly; she was surprised nobody had thought about it before.

"Narcissa and Draco stayed, the Longbottom's, Lovegood's and the Tonks' joined later." said Harry.

"Neville and Draco in the same house?" asked Ron laughing finding it hilarious.

"Draco changed Ron, it would change anyone when you find out your own father was selling you out." said Harry sadly.

"I know," said Ron swallowing thickly his amusement fading fast.

"So you get along with Professor Snape now?" asked Hermione getting back to other matters.

"He knows I'm not spoiled, I found out something he felt guilty about and forgave him. Cleared the air so to speak, Dumbledore doesn't know otherwise he'd have picked someone else to apprentice me under…he wants me bullied not educated." said Harry bluntly.

"What would he gain?" asked Ron doubtfully.

"My trust when I go running to him about it, my gratitude, I'd regard him as my hero once more. Then he'd start training me properly and get all the credit for it." said Harry.

Hermione bit her lip "Do you really think he'd do that?" she asked.

"For war to be won I'd say yes," said Ron not as authority figure loving as Hermione. "So you are creating your own side in the war Harry?"

"Why would he do that?" asked Hermione rounding on Ron.

"A lot of people don't trust Dumbledore or Voldemort. A third option would help a lot of people. Look at Snape, we know he's a spy and I doubt he went to Dumbledore and asked to do it. He was probably told spy or Azkaban, probably why he's so angry all the time. It's obvious Snape doesn't want to teach, he's been forced into it." said Ron wryly.

Harry's eyes widened "Wow Ron, I'm surprised."

"Guess I've had time to think." shrugged Ron going red at the looks he was receiving.

"A lot of time," said Hermione impressed.

Ron just shrugged.

"So guys what are you going to do?" asked Harry.

"I'm with you all the way Harry, I always have even if it took me time." said Ron standing up, patting his best friend practically brother on the shoulder.

"Me too," said Hermione, Harry did come first even if it meant going against what she believed in. Dumbledore was older and wiser surely he had a bigger and better grip on war. Yet she knew Harry was the centre of it, it was Harry who was going to end it not Dumbledore.

"Thank you," said Harry his green eyes flashing with gratitude and a lot of relief.

"I guess you can't come to the common room?" asked Hermione sadly.

"No but don't worry about me and Professor Snape…we have acts to play." said Harry.

"He's still going to be horrible?" asked Hermione.

"Toning it down but we cannot act like we like each other." said Harry simply.

"Alright, I guess I'll see you at breakfast," said Ron his voice was a little lost. He had always shared a dorm with Harry, to know he wasn't going to be there was extremely disheartening and weird. Especially knowing he was sleeping in the dungeons with the dungeon bat.

"Yeah," sighed Harry sounding as depressed as the others felt. "I'll see you later." he told them before they reluctantly had to split up. Ron and Hermione went straight to Gryffindor tower both of them saying nothing, remaining silent. They began to hate Dumbledore a little for splitting them up. They'd always been a Trio. It should have always been that way, yet he'd taken Harry away from them. They weren't going to see him in classes, or anything. They would only see him breakfast, lunch and dinner and a few hours until curfew. The only consolation they had was that they'd see Harry at the weekends.

There we go - Ron and Hermione are sticking with him...who else will join him? fred, george, ginny? greengrass? Zabini? what about Death Eater children? will they join too when they hear draco's tale fearing they are next? will harry train them as well? have them sneaking out of hogwarts to do battle with death eaters or clear out towns before voldemort gets there? or just get in touch with the Auror's so they can save the lives of the people voldemort would kill? R&R PLEASE