DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Four - Hermione's Conspiracy Theory
Harry woke to the babble of excited voices and the smell of burning toast, neither of which was appreciated. Cracking one eye open, he levered himself up on an elbow and glared at the window and the bright light streaming through its dirty glass. With a muted groan, he flopped back onto his stomach and buried his face in his pillow, feeling like he hadn't slept in days. The heavy tread of approaching feet on the third floor opened his eyes and turned his head in the direction of the attic stairwell, his emerald orbs narrowing as his nose twitched.
"Get up, Harry!" Ron hollered, pounding loudly on the door at the base of the stairs. He didn't bother to wait for a response of any kind, fleeing back towards the safety of the kitchen as soon as his message was delivered.
Against his will, Harry's lips curled in disgust; the redhead was acting for all the world like an ignorant pureblood. Rolling fluidly from the cot, he straightened, stretching his arms above his head. He scratched his chest lazily and fought down a yawn, listening to the chaos occurring downstairs. Shortly after eleven o'clock they were due at Kings Cross to catch the Hogwarts Express, and their subsequent departure had sent the house into a state of turmoil. The thought of returning to Hogwarts was almost enough to make Harry groan.
Fighting down a grimace of distaste, he ruffled his hair and strode toward his trunk, tossing back the lid and peering into its shadowy depths. With little thought, he dragged the first clean shirt from the jumble of books and quills and yanked it over his head, returning for a pair of reasonably clean trousers. After securing the last button, he bumped the lid closed and flipped the latches, scanning the narrow room for anything he'd forgotten to pack last night.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry cringed at Molly Weasley's shrill cry, glancing unconsciously in the direction of the shout. Rolling his eyes, he bent and hefted the trunk onto his shoulder, bearing its weight easily. With one last look around the attic, he turned and headed downstairs, clunking loudly down the narrow steps. He deposited his trunk in the pile in the foyar before proceeding to the kitchen, listening to the loud mumbles drifting down the corridor as he approached the swinging door.
His expression grew grim at the audible grumbles, his eyes narrowing at the sneer in Ron's voice as he spoke to Hermione. Fingers curling, Harry breezed into the kitchen, halting just inside the doorway. At his sudden appearance, Ron's mouth snapped closed, the redhead's gaze dropping quickly to his plate. Carefully, the dark-haired wizard unclenched his fingers and accepted the plate Molly held out to him, forcing his eyes away from the top of Ron's head. "Thank you," he murmured politely to the witch, pulling out the chair directly across from Hermione. Although the bushy-haired witch offered him a tentative smile, he could see the glassy shimmer of tears in her eyes. The growl that vibrated his throat was cut off when the back door swung open and Remus stepped into the room, his amber eyes landing unfailingly on Harry.
"Good, you're all up," the older werewolf said briskly, his gaze still locked on the raven-haired male. He gave a faint shake of his head before moving toward the kitchen table, nodding in thanks to Molly as she pressed a cup of coffee into his cold hands. "There are a few things we need to speak about before we leave, the most important of which is the fact that Harry is now a werewolf. That information is to go no further than this house." His tone brooked no argument.
"You're not actually letting him come back to Hogwarts, are you?" Ron asked, sounding completely aghast at the very thought. Blinking wide eyes, the redhead glanced in the direction of his mother, obviously waiting for her to reassure them that Harry was, indeed, not returning to school.
Molly turned away from her son's pleading gaze in pretense of cleaning the counter, her shoulders visibly taunt and her voice heavy with emotion. "Why wouldn't Harry be returning to Hogwarts, Ron? He's still an enrolled student and has every right to an education, even if he is a werewolf."
"That's right," Remus said, his amber orbs locked on the redhead. His left brow lifted when the younger wizard opened his mouth to protest, but a soft snarl from the far end of the table silenced Ron before he had a chance to speak. "Enough," Remus said, shooting a warning glance down the table. "As long as Voldemort is looking for him, the safest place for Harry to be is with Dumbledore. We all know, however, that werewolves aren't tolerated at Hogwarts. And, if the Wizarding World somehow finds out that Harry Potter's a werewolf . . . well, the reaction won't be good. Do we all see the problem?"
"What are you planning on doing?" Hermione asked quietly, her solemn gaze focused on Remus.
"The Unbreakable Vow," Remus replied softly, placing his wand on the table. He was shaking his head before Ron had a chance to argue. "The Vow has already been administered to everyone else who knows. The three of you," he murmured, nodding his head at the trio, "Are the only ones left to do."
Ron's chair clattered to the floor as he shot to his feet. "I'm not doing it," he yelped. "You can't expect me to share a dorm room with him either! There's no way I'm living with a werewolf! And Dean, Seamus, and Neville have a right to know what they're living-"
"Sit down, Ronald Weasley!" Molly yelled, her face a bright shade of red as she glared at her son. Drawing a deep breath, the witch planted her hands on her hips, chin jutting upwards. "This is for the best, Ron."
Mouth closing, the redhead stared at his mother in shock. He opened his mouth to try again but snapped his jaw closed when the witch widened her eyes in warning, taking a step toward him threateningly. "Whatever," he muttered, picking his chair up and then flopping onto it.
Eyes wary, Remus reached for his wand, gesturing that the trio take hands with the glowing tip. He watched closely as Hermione laid her hand atop Harry's, frowning when Ron tentatively rested his fingers on top of the witch's. Gently, he placed the point of his wand on the trio's stacked hands, his eyes lifting to meet Harry's for one brief moment before they returned to the unsteady pile.
"Do the three of you, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and Harry Potter, promise not to divulge anything that occurred here at Grimmauld Place to anyone?" His gaze followed the fiery line that crept from the tip of his wand, watching cautiously as it wrapped itself around the hands and wrists of the trio.
"I do," Hermione said firmly, her chin lifting proudly as she made the declaration.
Harry's chin dipped, his gaze locked on the hands resting on top of his. "I do," he said. He jumped slightly when the line of red magic tightened, his gaze leaping to Hermione's even as the thing inside his head told him to be wary.
"I suppose." Ron agreed grudgingly.
Lips tightening at the redhead's less than satisfactory response, Remus continued, "Do you all agree not to breathe a word to anyone outside the Order of the Phoenix that Harry Potter is a werewolf?"
"Of course," Hermione agreed quickly, her eyes narrowing on the redheaded wizard as he gave a faint shake of his head. "Come on, Ron," she hissed softly, her fingers tightening around Harry's as the dark-haired wizard growled softly.
Ron's head snapped up at the quiet growl, his blue eyes widening at the glowing emeralds focused completely on him. "I agree," he muttered, pushing his chair back so he was as far away from Harry as possible without removing his hand from the pile. The fiery ribbons encircling his wrist flared, the magic stretching further up his arm until it coiled around his elbow threateningly.
"I do," Harry said, his orbs locked on Ron.
With a powerful pulse, the magic binding vanished, and the trio yanked their hands back as if they'd been burnt. Sighing in relief, Remus withdrew his wand and leaned back in his chair. "Well done," he murmured, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes.
"Everyone will be arriving soon to escort us to Kings Cross," Molly informed the group, the sound of her voice breaking the staring match going on between the two wizards. "If there's anything you haven't packed, go and see to it." She may as well have yelled that the kitchen was on fire, because the room emptied in seconds. Her gaze shifted from the swinging kitchen door to Remus, her lips firming as she glared unhappily at the wizard. "I don't like this, Remus. I don't like it at all." That said, the redheaded witch stormed from the kitchen, leaving Remus to stare into his cold coffee.
Harry stood silently next to Remus, shouldering deeper into his heavy cloak as snow drifted down around them. His gaze swept the platform, noting the few remaining students standing with their parents, the majority having boarded the Hogwarts Express in search of seating. He slid his eyes to Remus when the older wizard shifted, the calm expression he wore belying the turmoil he so obviously felt. Scuffing restlessly at the concrete platform with the toe of his boot, Harry waited for the speech he was sure was coming.
Casting a surreptitious look around, Remus turned to face Harry, staring down at the dark-haired male with wary eyes. "I want you to be on your best behaviour. Absolutely no fighting, at all. I don't care how much of a ponce Malfoy is, or how rude he may be to Hermione or you, just ignore him. In fact, it might be best if you avoid Malfoy all together. You have to remember you're stronger than your peers now, Harry, you could hurt them without even thinking about it. Keep your temper, and for Merlin's sake, no growling!"
Harry lifted a brow at that last addition to Remus' spiel. "So, use my words and not my fists?" He questioned, barely avoiding the eye roll that came so naturally with the sarcasm.
Expression darkening, Remus reached out and laid a firm hand on Harry's shoulder, his fingers tightening in warning. "This isn't a joking matter," he hissed angrily. "You could seriously injure someone with a single punch. If that happens, there's nothing Dumbledore or I could do to help you. Do you understand, Harry? Don't screw this up!"
Harry was barely able to conceal his surprise at the harsh command. Dipping his shoulder, he slid out from under Remus' hand, taking a long stride to put himself beyond the older male's reach. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, tension mounting as the silence lengthened. The train's piercing whistle shredded the silence, causing both wizards to jump and shoot narrow eyed glares at the Hogwarts Express. "I understand, Remus," he murmured finally, his gaze returning to the older male.
Drawing a deep breath, Remus nodded his head, the tension draining from his shoulders. "Good, Harry, that's good. Just remember to trust yourself, no matter what that thing - that wolf - inside your head tells you, trust yourself." The pair stood there awkwardly, shifting their weight as they watched the few remaining students clamber aboard the train. Parents called tearful and cheerful goodbyes, waving almost frantically at their departing children.
"I should probably go," Harry whispered, taking a step in the direction of the train.
Remus reached out suddenly and pulled the raven-haired youth into his arms, pinning him in place as he whispered into his ear, "When the full moon comes, go and see Snape. And for the love of Merlin, Harry, take the potion." He released the dark-haired wizard and took a quick step back, jamming his hands into the pockets of his dark coat.
"I thought you'd be there," Harry said, feeling suddenly lost. No matter how angry or upset he was at Remus, there was no way in hell he wanted to go through something as traumatic as changing into a wolf by himself. Lifting his chin, he stared into amber orbs, trying to read the emotion hidden within them. "Promise me you'll be there." Even to his own ears, the plea sounded desperate.
"I don't think I can," Remus said, looking past Harry toward the train.
Harry inhaled sharply and straightened, his chin lifting. "If you promise to be there, I'll promise to be on my best behaviour," he wheedled, leaving the rest up to Remus' imagination. If the older male didn't take the deal, he'd worry constantly that Harry was causing trouble and threatening the vow they'd all just made. Smiling triumphantly, the dark-haired male watched as a frustrated frown crossed Remus' face.
Knowing all his careful planning was teetering on the brink of destruction, Remus glared at Harry, his hands curling into fists. "I promise," he hissed, his eyes slitting at the smug smirk that blossomed upon the younger wizard's face. "Get on the train, Harry." The urge to pummel the dark-haired male into submission was strong, but his determination to control himself was stronger. Drawing a deep breath, he stood stoic and silent among the waving parents, his amber orbs following the path Harry cut through the crowd. Seconds after the other werewolf climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express, the train huffed out of the station, its shrill whistle nearly deafening him.
High on his victory, Harry strolled down the corridor between the compartments, searching for Hermione. He exchanged greetings with several other Gryffindors and insults with a trio of Slytherins, his good mood allowing him to shrug off the caustic mutters hurled at his back. Practically humming with good cheer, he continued his seemingly aimless wandering, his nose leading him unerringly in the direction Hermione had taken.
A compartment door slid open ahead of him and Draco Malfoy stepped into the narrow hallway, his pale silver eyes brightening as they landed on Harry. A smile slowly curled his lips as he slid the door closed, turning to face the dark-haired wizard. "Potter," he sneered in greeting, widening his stance until he took up the entire corridor.
"Malfoy," Harry replied in a low growl, following the blond's example and spreading his legs until his feet almost rested against the walls of the aisle. He arched a brow when the Slytherin smiled slowly, the curl of his lips closely resembling the snarl of a wolf. Feeling his own lips peel back from his teeth, Harry tensed, remembering the promise he'd just made to Remus. His chest lifted as he took a calming breath, carefully straightening his fingers. "How were your holidays?" He asked, the polite question throwing the blond completely off guard.
Eyes narrowing, Malfoy glided forward, trailing his hands along the walls to either side of him. He halted when his chest was almost pressed against the dark-haired wizard's, his chin dipping as he glared down into Potter's upturned face. "Probably not as entertaining as yours were," he breathed, lifting his head and sliding his right foot back. "How'd loony Lupin take the news, by the way? Shocked that you'd joined the Fur and Fang Club, I'd imagine."
Harry reacted without thought. His left hand shot out, not in a punch, but a wild swipe that passed within a hair's breadth of the blond's throat. He froze with his fingers still curled, his eyes widening at the soft chuckle that spilled over the other wizard's lips.
Malfoy had moved. At the last second, he'd leaned backward, managing to avoid what surely would have been a killing blow. But he shouldn't have been able to. The speed at which he'd struck had been beyond the abilities of a normal wizard. There was no way Malfoy should have been able to move faster than him. "How-"
Widening his eyes innocently, Draco slammed his clenched fist into Harry's startled face. He smiled at the dark-haired wizard's gasp of pain, watching with interest as blood began to trickle from his broken nose. "Best be careful, Potty, another demonstration like that and you'll have everybody wondering if your pet werewolf slipped his muzzle." The blond made a moue of distaste as he glanced at his bruised knuckles, giving his hand a slight shake to try and dispel the lingering ache.
Harry opened his mouth to try again but was stopped when the compartment door behind Malfoy slid open. The pair of third year Ravenclaws that stepped into the corridor stared at him in surprise, their bright eyes taking in his bloody nose and Malfoy's presence before reaching the conclusion that the two had once again been fighting. Cringing at the holler of 'fight' that escaped the duo, he pressed the back of his hand against his nose, narrowing his eyes at Malfoy. Compartment doors crashed open up and down the length of the car, excited students spilling into the narrow aisle. His shouted name was enough to make his head pound, his emerald orbs beginning to water in sympathy.
"Quiet down!" Hermione's commanding voice brought immediate silence to the mass, all faces turning in her direction. "There's nothing to see here, so please return to your compartments and go back about your business." One foot tapping impatiently, the witch watched the crowd slowly break up, the students returning to their compartments with unhappy mumbles. As soon as the last door slid closed, she turned her gaze to the pair of wizards standing in the middle of the aisle, a single brow raising as Malfoy hissed something at Harry before storming down the corridor and exiting the car through the door at the rear. "What was that all about?" She demanded, walking quickly toward Harry and resting a hand on his chin. Her frown grew as she peered at his broken nose, assessing the damage that was slowly beginning to fix itself.
"He knows," Harry whispered, pushing Hermione's hand from his face. "Somehow he knows."
Recapturing his chin, Hermione reached for her wand. "Nonsense, Harry, how could Malfoy possibly know?" Before he had a chance to pull away from her grip, she tapped him on the end of the nose and whispered 'episkey'.
Barely suppressing a yelp of pain, the raven-haired wizard jerked away from her grasp and rubbed his straightened nose, ignoring the dribble of fresh blood that spilled from his left nostril. "He knew before the holidays. He called me a-"
Hermione slapped a hand over Harry's mouth, silencing him before he had a chance to say the word. Shooting him a glare of warning, she grabbed his hand and towed him from the car and to the next, entering the second compartment on the right. She attempted to shove him onto the seat across from hers but failed miserably. "You can't just go about saying 'werewolf', Harry. Besides, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for the entire matter."
"Like what?" Harry hissed his disbelief, digging for a handkerchief in his pocket. He pulled out a bunched up tissue and stared at it a moment before pressing it against his nose, pretending not to notice the witch's grimace of disgust.
"Like . . . well, Voldemort told Fenrir to infect you at a Death Eater meeting which Lucius Malfoy was present at. Lucius Malfoy, in turn, told Draco. There, is that reasonable enough for you?" Hermione demanded, dragging a clean handkerchief from her pocket and shoving it into Harry's hand. "Also, we're not supposed to be talking about this."
"No, we're not supposed to talk about our holidays or tell anyone outside the Order of the Phoenix that I'm a werewolf. You're in on the vow, too, which means you don't count." Harry said, taking the clean handkerchief and holding it against his nose. He shoved the bloody tissue back into pocket and sprawled out across the comfortable bench, resting the heels of his boots against the wall.
Hermione stared at Harry doubtfully, wondering if could cite his source. "I don't think that's how it works," she murmured, reaching for her book bag.
"We've already discussed this," Harry mumbled. He waved down the witch's protests and leveled a finger at his temple. "Not you and me. Me and . . . me, I guess."
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, her voice emerging as a faint whisper.
Harry shrugged his shoulder lazily, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. "I'm gonna take a nap. Oh, and 'Mione, I'm not crazy or anything."
Hermione gave a light laugh and pulled a book from her bag, opening it to the page she'd read last. "That's reassuring," she said, peering over the top of the tome. She smiled at Harry's light chuckle before turning her attention to her reading. Her smile faded as she stared at the page, the words blurring before her eyes.
Remus was, arguably, a little crazy, but maybe he'd always been slightly absentminded. It was said, however, that Fenrir Greyback was completely insane, that being a werewolf had driven him mad. Perhaps insanity went hand in hand with being a werewolf. Maybe, in time, Harry would be just as crazy as Greyback and Remus. She frowned at the worrying thought, her hands tightening around her book. There was nothing one could do to prevent insanity, especially if it was a symptom of being a werewolf. A sniffle escaped her and she lifted a hand to her face, surprised to find her cheeks damp with tears. Glancing at Harry's sleeping form, she rose and placed her book on the seat, slipping from the compartment to find somewhere away from the wizard to nurse her fears.
No sooner had the door snicked closed behind Hermione then Harry's eyes popped open. He stared at the ceiling unseeing, his hands folded over his abdomen and his mind racing. Within his skull the wolf worked, assembling and discarding pieces of Malfoy's puzzle. After several minutes of rapid thought, the wolf slowed, regarding its findings and searching for any possible errors. The conclusion it reached was stupefying in its simplicity, yet mind numbing in its unlikelihood, because as far as Harry was concerned, there was no way a Pureblood supremacist like Lucius Malfoy would allow his only son and heir to be bitten by a werewolf.
But it was all there, the wolf inside his skull insisted. From his recent growth spurt to the speed he'd just demonstrated, Malfoy had all the makings of a recently turned werewolf. Harry frowned, not quite able to commit to the idea of the blond Slytherin being a werewolf. It simply wasn't possible, he told his wolf, and that was that. He'd hear nothing else about the entire insane idea. With a firm nod, he settled back down and flung an arm over his eyes, deciding a nap was just what he needed.
Harry banged through the portrait hole, his eyes blazing and his hands knotted into fists. He cast his narrowed gaze about, searching angrily for Ron, and finding him sitting in a whispered huddle with Seamus and Dean. The trio looked up at his loud entrance, their eyes widening fearfully as he stalked toward them, his lips curled back to reveal his teeth in a wolfish snarl.
They'd been back no more than three nights and already Hogwarts was abuzz with whispers that Harry Potter was a werewolf. Soft hisses that reached his ears as he walked down the corridors. Loud murmurs behind his back that even Hermione couldn't possibly deny. And there was only one person who could have started the rumours. Well, two, but it was easier to corner Ron than Malfoy - and the redhead was a lot less likely to punch him in the face than the blond.
"Weasley!" He growled, closing the distance between them in several short strides. The Common Room fell silent at his angry roar, the assembled Gryffindors holding their breath as he seized the redhead by the throat and dragged him to his feet. He gave the wizard a rough shake, ignoring the cries that slipped from the mouths of the frightened Gryffindors watching in mounting horror. "You told," he hissed into the other wizard's face, his fingers tightening dangerously.
"Harry! Let him go!" Ginny shrieked, her eyes wide as Ron's face turned a mottled shade of red.
Harry snarled savagely in the witch's direction, effortlessly lifting Ron from his feet. He slammed the redhead into the closest wall, his eyes glowing a brilliant shade of jade. He ignored the screams and shouts, barely flinching when Dean latched onto his arm and tried valiantly to free Ron. His orbs narrowed when an arm wrapped around his throat, cutting off his air supply and dragging him slowly backward. Glancing over his shoulder, he curled a lip in warning, his chest vibrating with a threatening rumble.
"Harry!" The outraged yelp breached Harry's angered conscience enough to cause him to lose his grip on Ron. The redhead collapsed to his knees and scrambled away, gasping for breath as Harry was prevented from following by the arm wrapped round his neck. With a deft twist, the dark-haired wizard freed himself, swinging around to face Hermione with an embarrassed look on his face.
Disbelief etched in every line of her face, Hermione stormed across the Common Room, grabbed him by the arm, and then dragged him up the stairs to the sixth year boys' dorms. "What were you thinking?" She whispered, pushing him into the circular room ahead of her and slamming the door. "For a start, the Unbreakable Vow prevents Ron from telling anyone about anything! And for another, how could you be so stupid?! Those were just rumours!"
Shamefaced, Harry stared at the witch, unable to come up with a reply that didn't make him look like an ass. Finally, he simply shrugged his shoulders. "I forgot about the Vow," he mumbled, which was a bald-faced lie. He cringed as the witch leapt into a lecture, her hands flying as she stomped back and forth in front of him.
Nothing could make him forget the vow, but the Wolf inside his head had thought it all through. It had added one plus one and come up with the redhead as the only possible solution. Malfoy had a lot to gain from telling everyone, but if he'd wanted to tell, he would have done it a long time ago. Harry could agree with that kind of reasoning. Ron, on the other hand, had only known for a short period of time . . . and now everyone knew. Coincidence, the wolf thought not.
A sharp rap on the door ended Hermione's lecture, turning both of them in the direction of the portal. Glancing at him with wide eyes, the witch walked quietly to door and opened it, her face paling as she looked into the dark orbs of Professor Snape. The Potions Master pushed past her, Professor McGonagall close at his heels.
"You seem to have outed yourself, Potter, quite magnificently if I may say so," Snape drawled, his wand tapping against his thigh lightly. He arched a brow at Harry's threatening growl, the tip of his wand rising until it rested against the dark-haired wizard's cheek. "You have no idea how lucky you are to be standing in this room right now. I told Albus you couldn't be trusted to remember yourself, but that mangy werewolf insisted-"
"Enough, Severus," McGonagall said, her tone chilly. Shaking her head at the Potions Master, she reached out and caught the young wizard's forearm, dragging him around Snape. "Professor Dumbledore wants to see you, Harry, immediately. Please return to your own dorm, Ms. Granger," she added as an afterthought, ushering Harry ahead of her.
Ignoring the grim expression on the face of his Head of House, Harry stalked down the stairs and through the Common Room, slowing only to curl a lip at Ron. The redhead's whimper brought a smile to his face, a smile that vanished when Snape cuffed him sharply on the back of the head. Inside his head, the wolf demanded retribution, urging him to turn around and strike the older male.
Fortunately, Harry realized that hitting Snape would most likely land him on his arse. Grimacing at the thought, he quickened his pace, putting a little more distance between himself and the Potions Master. He found the stairwell leading up to Dumbledore's office already open when he arrived, a sure sign that the Headmaster was expecting him. Tossing a glance over his shoulder at Snape, Harry began the long climb upward, fighting down the rising fear that the Professor would send him back to Grimmauld Place. His knuckles had barely brushed the door in a nervous knock when Dumbledore bid him enter, the older wizard sounding extremely weary.
Slinking around the door, he locked his eyes on the toes of his boots and scuffed his way across the room, not daring to meet Dumbledore's gaze. He bit his bottom lip as he slipped into the chair in front of the older wizard, locking his hands together in his lap before chancing a peek at the Headmaster. There was no cheerful offer of tea and a lemon drop, instead, Dumbledore regarded him steadily over the rim of his glasses, his hands folded before him on his desk.
"Harry, my boy, I was hoping you'd be a bit more discrete," the old wizard said quietly. He settled heavily into his chair, pulling his glasses from his nose and rubbing his tired eyes. With a soft sigh, he replaced the lenses and glanced over Harry's shoulder, watching as Severus entered the room.
Eagerness practically wafting from him, Snape halted to the left of Harry and sneered down at the younger wizard before shifting his attention to Dumbledore. "Should I inform Lupin of Mister Potter's immediate return to Number 12?" He asked, sounding delighted at the very prospect of giving Remus the bad news. The triumphant expression he wore vanished at the Headmaster's headshake, his mouth almost falling open in surprise. "But surely you're not-"
"Only the Gryffindors were present for Harry's . . . dramatics?" Dumbledore questioned softly, pushing his chair back from his desk and rising stiffly.
Snape's eyes narrowed, his fingers clenching in the folds of the dark robes he wore. "The incident did occur in the Gryffindor Common Room but-"
"Then I'll deal with it, Severus," the Headmaster said firmly, his meaning clear in the slight swish of his wand. His gray brows arched when the Potions Master sputtered, a small smile gracing his lips. "In the mean time, please escort Harry to the chambers the House Elves have prepared for him on the fourth floor. The password, I believe, is 'serendipity'." With a final promising look at Harry, he walked from the room, his shoulders heavy with the deed he was about to perform.
"So close, eh, Professor?" Harry remarked, tipping his head to avoid the back of Snape's hand.
Fuming, Snape spun around and stormed toward the door. "Shut up, Potter," he hissed angrily, gritting his teeth at the light laugh that rose in his wake. Hands fisted at his sides, he muttered unhappily about the unfairness of life as he led Dumbledore's Golden Boy to his newly renovated chambers.
A/n: Sorry for the long wait. And as always, thank you for the lovely reviews that kept me writing. Chapter Five is almost complete, lacking only several minor parts before I'll be able to consider it finished.