Disclaimer: Can be found in the first chapter.
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Chapter 18: Malfoy's News
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"Harry!" Draco called, following Harry down into the dungeons. "Potter! Wait!"
"What's up, Draco?" Harry asked, turning around.
"Do you know what's up with Weasley?" Draco asked, panting slightly.
"No, why?" Harry said, looking at him.
"Dumbledore's got him learning how to kill Vampires," Draco said.
"He's what?" Harry asked, his voice hard. "That fucking monster!"
"Harry, what's wrong?" Severus asked, hearing the commotion in the hall.
"Dumbledore's got Weasley training to kill Vampires, Sir," Draco said, watching the look on Severus' face.
"Get in here. We'll gather Hermione as well," Severus said, opening the portrait. "We need to discuss this at great length."
~*~
"Yeah, he's been acting strange these last few days," Hermione said, as she was sitting in Severus' living room. "He's been muttering under his breath about needing a stake and something else."
"Brilliant," Harry said, dark laughter following. The room froze as the sound washed over them.
"The bloody headmaster doesn't realize stakes, garlic, and all that muggle bullshit doesn't work on true Vampires," Harry explained, after his laughter stopped. "The only way for a true Vampire can die is of natural causes, and that takes centuries."
"So the old fool is just going to end up injuring you, rather than killing you?" Narcissa asked, looking at Harry.
"Most likely, and he'll probably try to do something to Severus, but I'd kill myself if it meant saving him," Harry answered, slipping an arm around the older man.
"Don't say such things, Harry," Severus said, looking to the younger man. "You know I'd never be able to go on without you."
"Harry, there is one thing we can do," Bella said, sitting forward on the sofa. "Ron's most likely under the imperious, and we can pull his memories of what Dumbledore has told him. We could take them to Shacklebolt, and see what he could do with them."
Draco had listened, his eyes constantly wandering to his mother. She looked better than he could remember, and most of it was probably leaving Malfoy Manor. As much as he had looked up to his father before, Draco knew he was a control freak.
"We could also just go to Dumbledore and confront him about it," Narcissa said, her voice soft. "I mean, Bella and I could. He has no idea we're here."
"And he doesn't know that you're both exonerated," Harry said, smirking.
"We'll have to plan more after we eat something," Draco said, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starving."
Hermione giggled as she rested her head on his shoulder, his arm around her waist. Narcissa looked at the two, shocked at first.
~*~
After Harry had made a rather large lunch of fried chicken and french fries, everyone was again gathered in the living room. Harry was sitting in Severus' lap, Hermione was again next to Draco, and Narcissa and Bella took up the two armchairs.
"So, when did you two get together?" Harry asked, looking at Draco and Hermione.
"Not too long after we studied together that one time," Hermione said, snuggling against Draco. "He's really not that bad a guy once you get to know him."
"Congratulations, Draco," Narcissa said. "You found a nice girl."
"Thanks, mum," Draco replied, smiling. He knew that his mother never bought into the blood purity shit that his father had.
"How are we going to get Ron alone and subdued?" Bella asked, looking around the group.
"We could have Severus give him detention, and Harry could stun him or something," Hermione said, after thinking for a moment.
"That would be a bit obvious, especially since everyone knows Harry spends all his time down here," Severus said, calmly.
"I'll talk to Professor McGonagall. She deserves to know," Harry said, ignored the pointed glares and gasps. "She is my head of house. She deserves to know because I am a Gryffindor."
"We'll have to plan it out more later. I'm itching for some good dueling action," Bella said, rubbing her hands together. "Care to join me, Severus?"
"Of course," he said, after Harry got off his lap.
The two went through the door to Bella and Narcissa's rooms. After a few moments, nothing was heard from them.
"I suppose you're going to want an explination on what Bellatrix and I are doing here," Narcissa said, looking to Hermione and Draco.
"It would be nice, mum," Draco said, looking at his mother.
"We're here to help Harry stay anchored," she explained. "Your current DADA professor isn't going to make it passed the term, and Dumbledore has plans to make Harry the new professor. With more people around him more often, his blood lusts will be less frequent and easier to handle. Severus contacted us after he knew that Dumbledore had tried to. The old man wanted to use us to leak Harry's condition."
"Yeah, and these two have been great," Harry said, smiling. "We've really gotten along. Bella is really into researching Vampires and Vampire bonds, so she's been a ton of help there. And I've forgiven her for whatever may have happened in the past."
"That's great, Harry," Hermione said, beaming at her friend. "So you'll be a professor, huh?"
"Yeah, Professor Potter," he said, chuckling. "Imagine the looks on everyone's faces when I'm at the desk when they walk in."
~*~
A short while later, Draco and Hermione left to go to Draco's room, and Bella and Narcissa went into their rooms. Harry and Severus were sitting on the couch, just enjoying one another's company.
"Hey, Severus, is it alright if I go talk to Professor McGonagall real quick?" Harry asked, lifting his head from his lover's shoulder. "I think she needs to be brought into our little scheme."
"Sure, Harry," Severus said, kissing his lover's forehead gently. "Just don't be too long. Dinner will be done in about an hour."
"Alright," Harry said, standing and heading to the door. "Should I mention Narcissa and Bellatrix?"
"No, save that surprise for later," Severus answered, leaning to grab his book from a few nights ago.
Harry left his rooms and made his way up to Minerva's office.
~*~
A knock on her door startled Minerva a bit.
"Come in," she said, cheerily. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Harry come in.
"Hello, Professor," Harry said, smiling widely at his head of house.
"What brings you to my office, Harry?" Minerva asked, motioning to the chair Harry could sit in.
"There's something about me that I feel you need to know," Harry said, taking the aforementioned chair. "And it's going to take a short while to fill you in completely. Have you got the time to spare?"
"Of course," she said, smiling. "Now what's this thing I need to know?"
Harry launched himself into the explination, starting in fifth year and the essay Umbridge had given. When he got to the part about his mate, Minerva smiled knowingly. After he explained Dumbledore's plan to out him by giving him the DADA post, she was shocked.
"Albus wants to put you and all the students in danger to expose you?" she asked, scandalized.
"Unfortuneately, that is how it seems. Also, he seems to have taken the news of Severus and I bonding rather hard," Harry said, slipping his sleeve up to expose the red ahnk on his right forearm. "Apparently I'm the dominant in the pairing."
"You have my full support, Harry," Minerva said, smiling to her favorite student. "Is there anything you need help with?"
"Getting Ron Weasley alone and subdued. Apparently Dumbledore has seen it fit to 'train' him to kill my kind," Harry said. "If we can extract his memories, we can use them against old Dumbles and prove that he's evil as well."
"Of course, Harry," she said, smirking. "I'll come by Severus' rooms later on tonight, and we can plan how to get Ron alone."
"See you then, Professor," Harry said, standing. "I'll see you around 8?"
"Sure," she said, smiling.
Harry grinned evilly as he left the office. Things were falling right into place.
~*~
"How did the meeting with Minerva go?" Severus asked, poking his head out of the kitchen.
"Incredibly well. She's on my side," Harry said, stepping into the room. "And she's coming down around 8 to discuss a plan to get Weasley."
"Excellent." Severus said, smiling.
"Did you talk to Minerva, Harry?" Bella asked, as she and Narcissa made their way into the kitchen.
"Yeah, she's coming down later," Harry said, setting the table quickly. "She's on our side, and she's more than willing to help us get Weasel alone and subdued."
"Fantastic," Narcissa said, sitting at the table.
~*~
After a filling meal, the four sat in the living room awaiting Minerva. A knock at the door a short while later caused a bit of a shock for everyone, though Harry did recover and answered the door.
"Hey Professor," Harry said, stepping aside to let the older witch in.
"Hello, Harry, Severus, Narcissa, Bellatrix," Minerva said, entering the living room and taking up a seat in an arm chair.
"What have you to offer us for our plan against Dumbles and the Weasel?" Narcissa asked, sipping tea.
"Ronald struggles more than most in my class," Minerva started. "And he almost always ends up getting the exact opposite result. I could easily detain him after such an occurance, and stealthily stun him as his back is turned. At that point, one of you can come out of the office and extract the memories you're looking for."
"Sounds great," Severus said, smirking.
"Absolutely. Bella, you should go to the class. When's the next class Ron has?" Harry asked, looking to Minerva before face-palming. "Tuesday at three, Bella. Be in Minerva's office. That's a half hour before class ends."
"Will do," Bella said, nodding.
~*~
After a short visit, and filling Minerva in on the things Harry had left out, every one went to their respective rooms.
"What an interesting day," Severus said, laying on the bed. He was watching as Harry did his evening sit-ups.
"Very interesting. I wouldn't have thought that Minerva would have come to our side that easily," Harry said, as he continued. "Boy, does Dumbles have it in for himself."
"The old coot never did know when to stop," Severus said, before stretching out on his back.
Not long after, Harry crawled onto the bed and snuggled up to Severus. The two dozed off, lost in the plans that they had made.
~*~
A/N: Sorry about the delay, I've been getting rather caught up in Borderlands at a friend's place. This chapter has been in the works since I introduced Bella and Cissy. Sort of the culmination of Harry and Severus' scheming.
I know I don't update often anymore, but the first twelve or so chapters of this fic were written before I began posting, and I didn't forsee it carrying on much past that until I found the groove. I'm trying to keep with this, so bear with me.
I've got a possible series of snapshots (drabbles really) based on scenes in the movies floating around in my head. A friend of mine made mention of some rather interesting scenes, and I thought of a nifty little slash interpretation.
Anyway, sorry for the wait. Hopefully the next chapter will be up much sooner. I'll tear myself away from the game and focus on my writing.
Reveiws are love!!
-KD