My Mate
Chapter 33
More manipulations and classes
Harry regretfully had to leave the nice warm bed, and his husband's nice warm body to get to his own bed. He just didn't want to risk anyone finding out, or noticing anything peculiar. He apparated right into his bed, ensuring his spells were undisturbed he took them down. Lay down and waited on the day starting, musing to himself as he waited, at least he had been able to sleep with his husband. He had actually worried that he wouldn't see much of him, silly really; Harry was always good at working ways out. Although in all honesty, it had been Severus that remembered. Then again he had been more shocked than Harry himself was. Harry was unfortunately, used to the impossibly happening around him, Severus wasn't yet. Hell, he had survived the killing curse; he couldn't get more impossible than that could he.
Harry got up, dressed and threw a pillow at Ron to wake him up; he wasn't going to wait on him. Perhaps Ginny and Draco would be in the hall, he wouldn't mind being able to talk to them. Though if Dumbledore was there he couldn't spent too long or risk suspicion. Harry had never got on with the Slytherins; most of them hated him, mostly because of his known adoration for the Headmaster. The rest because it had been drummed into them, since they were probably one years old.
"Hey Harry," said Ginny from the shadows of the Great Hall.
"Hey, what's up?" smiled Harry glad to have a few minutes alone with his favourite Weasley.
"I have a note, I've go to the Headmaster's office before breakfast," said Ginny her face full of worry. Now that she knew what Dumbledore was capable anyone other than Harry would be worried.
"Hold on," said Harry, fishing out a book from his bag. He chanted in Latin and gave it to her then told her "If he try's anything…just say Harry and it will being you directly to me no matter where I am. Hogwarts recognizes its heir's commands and magic, it will allow Portkey's to go activate."
"Really?" asked Ginny her brown eyes going big, then again considering Harry could apparate undetected in Hogwarts she really, really shouldn't have been at all surprised.
"Of course," said Harry seriously, Ginny meant everything to him, she was his baby sister. He would do anything for her any day of the week. His relationship with Ron had never been as close as Ginny and his had been. There was a shared link tying Ginny and himself together. Voldemort. Ron had been untouched by Voldemort but himself and Ginny hadn't been able to have that pleasure. He could kill Lucius Malfoy for putting it into her basket, better yet Ginny for not telling her parents. He knew Arthur had always warned his children not to use anything, or something that had a mind of its own.
Then again considering how they were brought up, Arthur probably hadn't shared the consequences of not following his orders. How would Ginny know she would end up possessed by a vengeful, determined to come back Lord Voldemort. She was still haunted by it even after five years; he had seen how she reacted to Ron's accusations. He didn't understand why Ron would do that, he kept yelling that it was his sister, so why treat her like crap. He wished he had a family like Ron's, without Ron in it of course. In fact all things considered he wished him and Ron could swap places; see how the red head liked his life. Perhaps then he wouldn't be such a jealous, money stealing, backstabbing arsehole that he was now.
"Thanks Harry, I better go I want to eat some breakfast before class if I can," said Ginny hugging him before dashing off up the set of stairs.
"Does Draco know where you're going?" shouted Harry looking up the stairs, Ginny stopped and stared down nodding her head.
"Good, see you later!" yelled Harry as she disappeared from view.
Harry walked into the Great Hall and began filling up his plate, Dumbledore wasn't there but McGonagall and Severus was. He didn't even look in Severus' direction, he knew it was dangerous to even look he wasn't going to put his plans in jeopardy. He ate his fill, unfortunately not quickly enough because an out of breath Hermione and Ron came stalking up.
"Why didn't you wake me?" asked Ron sounding just as angry as he had for the past few days.
"I tried," said Harry simply trying to keep the sneer from his face.
"Oh good, that's the paper," said Hermione just as hundreds of owls descended upon them, dropping letters off and flying off. Harry was surprised to get a letter from Gringotts, glad that Dumbledore wasn't there, but aware he would know anyway. He hated Hermione and Ron, he just wished he could transfer himself to Slytherin and be done with it. He hated the fact Ginny managed to do it without too much suspicion, nobody other than her family cared that she had moved.
Harry opened his letter and was surprised by its contents, Ron tried to peek around and see what it said. Harry turned further around stopping Ron from looking, throwing him a rebuking look. Hermione frowned at the fact Harry was becoming more secretive; he never usually kept anything from them.
"What is it Harry?" asked Hermione curiously, her newspaper was forgotten lying next to her breakfast.
"Just a statement from Gringotts," said Harry placing his letter in his cloak pocket. It was safer than putting it in his school bag.
"I'll see you at dinner time," said Harry almost grinning gleefully, he only managed to suppress it. He was going to have lunch without them, peace at last to eat a meal without Ron spitting and scoffing his food like a dying man, with his last meal.
"Alright Harry, I'll see you then," said Hermione cheerfully smiling softly at Harry.
Harry's heart lurched, those smiles used to make his day, having friends and doing normal things. This was all of course between what was happening that year, but it helped him get through the year. Thank whatever deity that watched over him for Severus. Without him he doubted he would get through the year without completely dying inside. He owed Severus so much, and he never questioned his decision to join him as an immortal. From what Harry knew Dumbledore didn't even know about Severus being a vampire.
Harry found it extremely hard to smile back; he would have done anything for his two best friends. He would have died ten times over for them, would have faced Voldemort for them. Yet this was how they repaid him? Ron, he had saved two members of his family. Arthur during the snake bite, before that Ginny in the chamber of secrets. How could Ron want to do this to him? Did he plan on actually stabbing him after Voldemort was killed? He didn't like that thought, thank you very much. He wondered as well how many of the other Weasley's were in on Dumbledore's plan, if not why was it only Ron and how long had it been going on for? How did Molly not realize Dumbledore had corrupted her son. He hoped none of the rest of the Weasley's was a part of it. However, the defeatist part of Harry suspected they were all in on it.
"Bye," said Harry his voice strained, he quickly headed to the owlery, and read the letter properly. Without having to worry someone seeing something.
Harry stared at it stunned by its contents, according to this; Dumbledore had all but tried to empty the main Black vault. Thankfully the Goblins weren't stupid enough to approve it; so no doubt, Dumbledore was going to call him up to his office. Why the hell was money to important to everyone around him, if they had loved him he would have given them nearly every penny. To be truly honest he had not realized just how much he was worth, not until Griphook had given him statements. He wondered what Sirius Black would say about that, Black would never regain a penny of it. He was a wanted felon, if he wanted his money back he would have to be proven innocent first. Proven innocent and declared alive as well at that. By that time he himself would empty the accounts. Black would pay for being an utter bastard, had he even really liked him? Or the thought of him? The part that looked like James Potter. He closed his eyes in despair, he knew that's the only reason Black was in his life. A reminder of his best friend, he hadn't mattered when he was one years old, he wouldn't matter now. Revenge had been more important than him, who had just been orphaned, seen his mother killed before his eyes. Yet he was handed to a half giant he didn't know, or at least he didn't think so, and sent to the Dursley's.
The bell rang, Harry cursed and quickly made his way down to Potions, and he didn't want to be late. Thankfully though that was just the warning bell, and he got there just in the nick of time as the students pilled into the room. Professor Milroy had been teaching here for years, she had been his Potions teacher for five years now. This was his sixth year at Hogwarts and he was actually enjoying himself despite the downsides. Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione.
He was so glad Ron wasn't in this class, neither was Neville who was usually paired with them. More often than not Neville would make things difficult for them; they had been paired together at the very beginning. Since there were no other partners, she had just ordered Ron, himself and Neville to brew together. It had been that way ever since; of course neither of them was in his class now. Thankfully though there were less people, and they were brewing on their own, independent brewing without someone to blame or help. There was five Slytherin's, including Draco and three Gryffindor's not including himself.
It was harder work brewing potions without someone cutting and slicing, but brewing with Sev had taught him one thing. Cut, slice, chop, crush, and cube the ingredients, let the cauldron boil then begin the potion, he noticed he was the only one other than Draco doing it. They would quickly find that their potions were going to be ruined; there wasn't enough time to get the ingredients cut between adding them. The professor nodded in approval at them, and shaking her head in disappointment at the others.
"Spell your cauldrons and take a fifteen minute break," shouted Professor Milroy an hour into intense brewing.
Harry didn't bother taking his break, he stayed and continued brewing his potion, if he didn't the potion wouldn't be ready by the time class was over. He knew how long this potion took to brew, and it was the exact same time as their lesson. The teacher went through to her office and he didn't see her again for fifteen minutes, the students all took longer than that to get back.
"You will be staying until the potion is finished, unless it doesn't turn out right," said Professor Milroy twenty minutes later when it got close to the end of their lesson. Everyone groaned in dissatisfaction, but continued on nevertheless, there wasn't anything they could do.
Harry was the only one, bottling up his potion before the bell rang; he placed it on the teacher's desk. Only after labelling it so she knew it was his with an irremovable tag. He didn't want anyone taking his potion as theirs after all; he had seen it done before. With his magic they would have a tough time trying to remove it; it would have been fun to see. He cleaned up his work station, put away unused ingredients and asked to be excused.
"Well done Mr. Potter twenty five points to Gryffindor for your dedication," said Professor Milroy.
"Professor my potion's turned green!" yelped one of the Gryffindor's.
"Banish it, it's no good." said Professor Milroy taking one look at the potion before declaring it unfit for consumption.
Harry quickly left and made his way towards advanced defence, Ginny hadn't used the Portkey so he assumed she was alright. He couldn't wait to find out what exactly had happened; he hoped her lunch time was the same as his. He waited patiently outside the classroom, others joining him but not many. Flitwick came last, his little legs scurrying to get their on time, opening the door magically Severus joined them once they were seated.
"There will be no use for books, stand up against the far side wall, wands out," said Severus bluntly.
Everyone there bar Harry practically cheered, written work was the most boring of all - maybe they wouldn't agree when they realized what they were learning.
"Today boys and girls we will be learning the Patronus charm," said Flitwick. "Can anyone tell me more about it?"
Harry raised his hands looking bored from where he was leaning against the wall.
"Mr. Potter?" asked Flitwick grinning wryly. He knew the child could create the spell, he had seen it in all his glory that day on the Quidditch pitch. The day that Draco Malfoy had pretended to be a Dementor, the Patronus had scared the living day lights out of him. Well it hadn't been Draco Malfoy he mused, but an adopted boy. The real Draco Malfoy was very different, respectful, powerful, a hard worker too.
"It's a spell to protect you against Dementors, drive them away; it's also the only protection one has against them. To produce a fully fledged Patronus, you need to think on the happiest memories you can, and cast the spell." said Harry smoothly.
"Indeed," cried Flitwick happily "Why not give us a demonstration Mr. Potter?"
"Expecto Patronum," said Harry waving his wand lazily, Prongs once again left from Harry's wand and pranced around the room. Everyone looking at the beautiful, white stag in awe, it was truly a magnificent creature.
"Woah! Is everyone's like that?" asked Dean Thomas.
"No, it represents everyone differently," said Severus.
"For instance, Mr. Potter's is a stag whereas mine is an eagle, and before you ask, it was before I became head of Ravenclaw house." said Flitwick.
"How do we know what it's going to be?" asked Thomas again.
"By properly learning to cast the spell," stated Severus simply.
"It is what you find protecting, a guardian if you will…" said Flitwick after Severus spoke.
"The words are 'Expecto Patronum', now I don't expect you to get it right away it is an extremely difficult spell. Most adults can't cast it, it needs a lot of power and emotion behind it." said Severus not bothering to remove his own wand.
"Yes sir," said the class as one.
"Mr. Potter seeing as you can do this spell, if you like you can sit in the corner and do homework or I could excuse you from the class?" said Flitwick.
"I'll just do my homework," nodded Harry, that way he would have more time with Severus at night.
"Very well," agreed Flitwick as the class began.
It was hard for Severus to concentrate on his class, when his mate was sitting in the corner of the room. He was busy writing his homework, looking deep in concentration. Severus would have believed it if it wasn't for Harry, his eyes would occasionally met his before fleeting away. It wasn't long before that class was over, lunch he met up with Ginny, it seemed they had the same lunch after all.
"Hey, what did he want?" asked Harry warily.
Ginny looked rather pale and sick looking when he mentioned it.
"Gin? What happened?" asked Harry cautious now.
"He basically told me how 'disappointed' my parents were that I was dating Draco Malfoy. That they had put all their hopes on me going out with you. Then proceeded to tell me, how rich the family was, how I'd live my life without worry ever again. Bring the Weasley name back up to the standards that would make Lucius Malfoy jealous." said Ginny wryly.
Harry laughed "Doesn't he know Draco's got the Malfoy money? You will live your life in riches!"
"I knew that was the only reason you liked me," said Draco coming up behind her causing her to squeal as he put his arms around her.
Harry laughed in amusement at his friends.
"Then he offered me money to do it," said Ginny grimly.
"So what did you say?" asked Harry.
"Told him no, that some things were more important than money, friendship, loyalty and love." said Ginny.
Harry sighed softly, that was similar to what Hermione had said to him when he was eleven years old. He only wished she had believed her own words, obviously books and money did come before friendship. He just wondered why she was doing it, what could possibly have convinced her to betray and lie to her friends.
If anyone was to find out about harry and severus who should it be? Neville? Luna? Hermione? Ron? Moody? Bill Weasley? can he see the magic on the rings and know immediately? will they tell dumbledore forcing harry and sev to flee? work from the sidelines at trying to bring voldemort down? will voldemort wait until the end of the year again like always? will severus say yes to training harry? or will someone more...vicious be brought in? if so will severus kill him to keep his mate safe? then agree to train him to keep dumbledore from bringing anyone who'd hurt his mate to train him? R&R PLEASE!