AN:

thanks for spotting a couple of mistakes in the previous chappie. I corrected them.

I'm so sorry my friends & faithful readers! I know I promised a weekly update but life has been somewhat hectic lately. I had to prepare all my necessary documents for getting into university & I was out of town for about 5 days so… anyway, I'm gonna make up to you, I promise. Plus, writing gets my mind of the nerves I'm having about applying. :

Dedication:

This baby goes to Airlady, who made the 50th review. Thank you Airlady & I hope you'll like this one just as much.

And You Didn't Even Know My Name

Ch. 3. Bang a Drum for the Promise, Bang a Drum for the Lies

Was he dreaming? Was he dead? No, he couldn't be dead because he could still feel the pain and Aunt Petunia said that dead people couldn't feel anything. But he was surely dreaming! There was no other way! Neither Uncle Vernon nor Dudley would come check his fever. And he would not be sleeping in such a soft bed nor would he be tucked under warm covers. He leaned into the touch and fell asleep to the nightmares of an unhappy childhood once more.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssss

Merlin's beard, how long had he been asleep? His back was aching and he could hardly move his neck without those damned jolts of pain. Oh, the joys of falling asleep in a chair! He thought sarcastically. But then again, someone had to watch over the hurting child, though deep in his mind he knew that was a perfect lie. The boy had been treated well and wouldn't be awakening until 10am. He had never been wrong before in predicting for how long a Sleeping Draught would last. And it was barely 7am.

Severus shook his head as an owl knocked at his window. So Lucius wasn't coming as promised. However he was to be proven wrong in his assumption as soon as he opened the letter.

My dear boy,

There are urgent matters to discuss. All the other staff members have been notified. Please Floo to my office immediately.

Albus

Damn that old man! He could not have chosen a worst time to call a staff meeting. What was he going to do now? He couldn't leave the boy alone, could he? But there was no other choice. And it was still early, three good hours until the Sleeping Draught would lose its effect. The meeting may just as well come to an end by that time. Holding that in mind, Severus made sure that all the doors and windows were locked, then took a hand of Floo Powder.

"Dumbledore's office!" he yelled into the flames.

"Severus, my boy, how good you could join us! Lemmon drop?"

The Potions Master denied and took a seat in his usual armchair in the right corner. His eyes scanned the room. All staff members were there and they looked nothing near pleased. The headmaster himself, despite his apparent joy, was nowhere near calm. The twinkle in his eyes was gone.

"Severus, I have already talked to some of the others here about this. I was wondering what your say in the matter is?"

If the Potions Master was nervous his face never betrayed him. Was it possible for Dumbledore to know what Lucius had done? What had he done? But then again, he had done nothing wrong by providing that child with some help.

"My boy?"

Severus cleared his throat.

"What matter, headmaster?" he decided to play cool.

"Have you not read the papers this morning?" Dumbledore asked him.

It was already in the papers? Thousands of thunders! However, he shook his head.

"I … worked late last night. An experiment of sorts. Actually it was the owl which woke me up so no; I have not read the papers yet! Why?"

"It's atrocious!" it was Minerva who spoke. "But why not have a look yourself." And she landed him that morning's edition of the Daily Prophet.

New Law to Be Voted At the Ministry Tonight.

Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, believes the policy of independent schools dangerous for the magical society. He claims that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would not have happened at all or could have been stopped before reaching his greatest power, should special trained people from the Ministry have been in Hogwarts. Dumbledore's policy and him keeping secrets from the Minister such as the whereabouts of Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, has to stop, outlines the Minister.( It is rumored that Albus Dumbledore might know where the boy is or has hidden him himself.)

If it is voted at tonight's meeting, the new law will force any independent school to enter the protection of the Ministry and they will have to give up all wards except those that the Ministry considers necessary. Any Headmaster or teachers will be replaced, should the Ministry's representative find them unsuitable to teach our children…(see page 7 for the rest of the article)

"This is madness! Fudge is more of an idiot then I have ever thought possible."

"I know, my boy. I know. But what can we do? If that law gets passed tonight, Hogwarts will no longer be safe." The old Headmaster sighed. He understood Severus' anger completely, but he failed to see how said anger actually hid the young Potions Master's relief.

"Half the Hogwarts staff will be found unsuitable if such thing happens. He hates how we are more loyal to Albus than him." Cried Minerva.

"I'm afraid this is my fault; this law I mean."

"What do you mean, Albus?"

"Well, Minerva, I refused once more to tell Fudge where James' son is and he threatened to make me pay for holding that information from him."

"So, unless you tell him, he will pass the law?" Squeaked Sprout.

"But if you do tell him, then he's going to use that poor boy to gain more fame, thus endangering him."

Dumbledore nodded at Minerva's words and looked even older.

Damn that Potter brat! Now we have to give up Hogwarts or our jobs to keep him safe and pampered somewhere! It would seem I don't need to meet the boy to hate him! Severus thought bitterly.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Harry woke up to the sound of something knocking at the window as soon as Severus left. He gazed nervously at the marvelous creature holding a newspaper before the events of the previous day came to his mind at once like the winds of a hurricane. He looked distrustful at the warm soft covers and his eyes started watering. His tiny hands caressed the material as one tear found its way to the ground. It had been no dream. The strange blond man had indeed kept his promise and had taken Harry from his relatives. But somehow Harry knew that this place was not his savior's house. Though he had been in extreme pain, the boy seemed to vaguely recall another man's voice. They had treated Harry's wounds and bruises, then they had put Harry to bed. And maybe, just maybe he hadn't been dreaming when he had felt someone wipe his tears that night.

The small boy got out of bed despite the pain he was feeling. He limped down the stairs and looked for one of the men who had taken care of him last night. He wanted to thank them but he found no one. Had they deserted him? Realized just how much of a burden and a freak he was and left him?

He searched frenetically for any sign of someone living in that house but he found none. The house was dusty and dirty except for the room he had been in and a strange-looking lab. There was no food in the kitchen and the entire place seemed deserted. Not knowing what else to do, little Harry started what he knew best - cleaning. He opened and washed the windows, dusted the rooms, washed and swept the floors. Time flew as the small child went on with his cleaning despite his pain and hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe he had not been abandoned again.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssss

"Lucius, my dear!"

"Yes Narcissa?"

"Are you leaving? I thought you had nothing to do at the Ministry until tonight's meeting."

Narcissa came downstairs just as the Malfoy Senior was preparing to use the Floo. Lucius' eyes traveled up and down her body and suddenly she wished she had put something over that revealing blue flannel gown.

"I was going to pay Severus a visit."

"But, Lucius, it's not even nine! Surely you know better than to intrude at such an early hour! And without telling him first at that. Do wait at least until noon."

Lucius mentally sighed. Well, it would seem he had no other choice. He walked over to his wife and put his arms around her waist, thus bringing her body close to his. Narcissa squeaked in surprise.

"And say, darling, what am I to do to entertain myself for so long?" his mouth purred the words in her year.

"Lucius?"

"See, darling, I get bored rather quickly. And this morning I have no desire to read or discuss the next ball we have to attend."

"B-but what else would you …?" she moaned when she felt one of his hands leaving her waist and starting to work its way up her leg and under her gown.

"Why don't you help me get rid of this killing boredom?" he licked and kissed her neck.

"L-Lucius, p-please."

"Your wish is my command!" now he was slowly kissing her jaw, while his other hand was stroking her breasts. Narcissa had to bit her lip to keep from moaning.

"T-that's not what I m-meant! Draco could hear us and you've had a fair share of this l-last night."

"Why do you deny me, Narcissa?" but he didn't stop his teasing until she finally found the strength to push him away.

"Go visiting if you cannot get a hold of yourself. Tell Severus 'hello' from me."

Lucius seemed to be measuring her. She was flushed and breathing hard.

"I shall come back soon, I promise. Then we can finish what we started!"

"Lucius Malfoy! Just go, but do not forget you are to take Draco to a quidditch match today after lunch. And we will finish nothing until tonight."

She climbed the stairs back to her room, not before rearranging Lucius' robes and telling him goodbye.

Lucius licked his lips and shook his head. He knew his wife too well, he mused while preparing to Floo over to Spinner's End.

AN:

Well, folks, that was it! After a two-weeks absence I die to know what you think. Hope you haven't deserted me. puppy eyes And if you spot any mistakes don't hesitate to tell me. XD