Chapter 37- Friends?
"Legilimens."
Memories started to surface in Harry's mind. Lessons with his dad, the night they learned the truth about Sirius, being sorted. He knew somehow he had to close his mind, but he hadn't been able to do that yet. It was his first Occlumency lesson, but Snape wanted Harry to already be an expert at it. Or it seemed that way, anyhow, because at each of Harry's failed attempts, Snape seemed more and more impatient with him. Focusing on Snape, Harry began to see him clearer than he saw the memories. Harry lifted his wand.
"Protego."
Snape's own wand lifted and more memories flooded Harry's head. Only these memories weren't his own. A black haired boy Harry knew must be a young Snape while a woman who must have been Snape's mother was viciously yelled at by a man with a hooked nose. The scene changed, and the younger Snape watched as a little red haired girl played on a swing set and jumped off, flying for a moment before floating gently to the ground. Where had Harry seen that girl before?
"ENOUGH!"
The image faded, and Harry could see Snape was shaking slightly. Harry picked himself up from where he'd landed on the floor as a result of being thrown so forcefully out of the potion master's mind. He still couldn't quite place where he'd seen that red haired girl before, and he was disturbed by the image of Snape crying in a corner. Had that man who had been making him so miserable been Snape's own father? He'd never thought he could feel sorry for him, but at that moment he did. Harry had always grown up knowing that he had a father who loved him, and that his first parents had loved him too. He couldn't imagine growing up the way Snape must have.
"I don't remember telling you to use a shield charm," Snape said, adding more memories to the pensieve he had used earlier "But at least you're showing some improvement, little though that is. Let's have another-."
"I'm sorry," Harry said before he could stop himself.
"You should be. Unless you show more improvement than that you won't have a chance against the Dark Lord."
"No, I mean I'm sorry about- about what happened- you know- back then. What happened in that first memory." He had no idea why he had said that. After all, it wasn't as if he'd been the one doing those things to Snape as a child.
Snape's expression went harder and fiercer than normal.
"I don't want or need pity from you or anyone else, Potter! If you want to pity anyone, pity yourself for what you have to live with."
"If you'd rather have been brought up by someone like that than someone who just has a problem the way my dad has, than I do pity you." Harry surprised himself by how much his tone of voice sounded like his dad's. "Didn't anyone ever care about you?"
Suddenly he knew who that red haired girl was. He hadn't recognized her because his dad didn't have any pictures of her until after they had started Hogwarts. He had never seen what she looked like when she was so young and in the memory Snape had been watching her from a distance. He also remembered Snape's patronus- a doe. If his first dad had been able to turn into a stag, than maybe in the same way the doe could be a symbol for-. He thought of what his dad had once said to Snape.
My son, James' son, and Lily's son.
"Someone did care, didn't they?" Harry asked in surprise. "My moth-"
Snape had him pinned against the wall before Harry could finish the sentence.
"Never," Snape threatened in a dangerous tone that was near a hiss, "speak of her in front of me again."
He released Harry, who gasped a moment before answering "I won't."
"This lesson is over. GET OUT!"
Harry knew better than to waste any time, and hurried back to the common room. As he walked, he wondered just why it was that the mention of his mother had made Snape react that way? Had they been friends at one time? But Remus and Sirius never reacted that way when Lily or James or any of their other friends who hadn't survived the war were mentioned. What had happened between Snape and Lily ?
It was a relief that class got out early the day before Halloween for the arrival of the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Everyone was too excited to focus on their lessons anyway, but for Harry it was a special relief. They were testing antidotes in Potions that day and Harry was glad he wouldn't have to be poisoned, especially after how badly things had gone in the Occlumency lesson. He didn't believe Snape would let him die, but he couldn't help wondering just how long Snape would let him suffer as angry as he had seemed.
Even by wizarding standards, it as an impressive sight seeing the Beauxbatons students arrive in their carriage, which was so large that from a distance it looked like it might have been a flying house. And that wasn't the only large thing from Beauxbatons. Their headmistress was absolutely gigantic. Harry had never seen anyone as large as her before except Hagrid, and he was sure this woman must be at least half giant as well.
After seeing the entrance the new arrivals had made, the Hogwarts' students were left wondering how their visitors from Durmstrang would arrive. Most were watching the sky when they heard a sucking sound from the lake. Moments later a magnificent ship rose to the surface, coming out of what looked like a whirlpool.
Harry noticed how powerfully built all the Durmstrang students were and how their headmaster, Karkaroff, had a cold, shrewd look about him, but what drew everyone's attention was who one of the students was. There was no way anyone would not recognize him. Hermione was the only one who seemed unimpressed that Victor Krum had come to Hogwarts.
"He's only a Quidditch player," she said, nearly sending Ron into convulsions as he tried to make her understand that Krum was "the greatest seeker in the world." Hermione remained disinterested and shook her head as what seemed like every student at Hogwarts frantically searched for a quill. Krum seemed unfazed by all the attention, and he wasn't the only one who acted used to being treated like a movie star.
One of the Beauxbatons girls actually laughed wished the guests a comfortable and enjoyable stay, as if such a thing was beneath her dignity. Ron was sure the girl was part veela, and there was no denying she was almost too beautiful to be completely human. She didn't have quite the effect Harry knew veelas had on men though, so Harry wasn't sure if Ron was right or not.
After Dumbledore's welcome, Crouch and Bagman, who had organized the Tournament, were introduced before Dumbledore asked for a jewel encrusted box to be brought out. From it, he took what would have been a plain looking wood goblet except for the blue flames inside it. Everyone listened intently as Dumbledore explained that to enter the students would have to put their names in the Goblet of Fire and the Champions would be selected the next night. Not many paid attention to the fact that putting their names in agreeing to a binding magical contract that there would be no backing out of, or that the tasks would be extremely dangerous. In fact most of those under seventeen, the Weasley twin included, were plotting how to get past the age line. For the rest of that day and most of the next, all anyone could talk about was who the champions would be.
Remus grimaced as he read the letter, and when he handed it to his friend Sirius swore under his breath.
"What the bloody hell is going on! I thought Dumbledore was going to make sure nobody under age could enter. How did Harry's name end up coming out of the Goblet?"
"I think we'd better get to Hogwarts right now," Remus said, crushing the letter in his hand when Sirius gave it back to him. "People have died in that Tournament. Maybe as Harry's father, I can tell Dumbledore I won't allow Harry to compete."
So for the second time in a short while, two very upset Marauders found themselves facing Dumbledore.
"I know what you gentlemen are going to say," Dumbledore said, holding up a hand for Silence when they came into his office. "And I'm sorry I have to tell you the same thing I told Harry. There is no way for him to withdraw from the Tournament. The rules are absolute."
"Who cares about the rules?" Sirius asked angrily, fighting to keep his voice quiet. "Harry's safety is far more important than any rules."
"You know that people have been killed in the Tournament," Remus added. "He could die if he competes."
"And if he doesn't, he surely will," Dumbledore said sadly. "I told the students before anyone entered that putting their name in the Goblet of Fire constituted a binding magical contract."
Remus had always been grateful for the binding magic that allowed him to keep Harry. Now it looked like he could only hope binding magic wouldn't end up taking Harry from him.
"Doesn't the fact that Harry didn't enter willingly count for anything?" he tried in desperation. "I know Harry wouldn't have entered on his own."
"Unfortunately, the magic involved can't make the distinction between those who've entered willingly and those who haven't," the headmaster answered.
"Then all we can do is help him with the tasks? asked Sirius.
"Even that has to be limited," Dumbledore said. "Cheating is a traditional part of the Tournament of course, but the most anyone can do is show the champions what they will face or hint at what could help. Nobody can be directly given any solutions."
"Then we'll be sure to hint very strongly every chance we get," Sirius said. "There's no way we're letting Harry face this without any help. I haven't been able to be much of a Godfather so far, but I'm going to make up for it now.
Remus nodded his agreement. He knew how gifted Harry was. He'd cast a patronus his third year after all! But there was a reason there was supposed to be an age limit, and gifted though Harry was, there was still extreme danger. Remus wasn't going to end up seeing Harry killed. He just couldn't.
AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I was so happy to see how many of you like the story. I hope you'll all keep reading.
Narvo, I'm so glad you like the way I write Sirius I wanted to get his personality right. I wish I could relieve your worry and tell you whether or not he lives or dies, but I can't spoil the ending. I hope you'll keep reading and find out.
As always, thanks to PadyandMoony