Chapter Eight
The plan did work nearly perfectly. The only hiccup in the entire plan was that Draco was distracted during potions so he was hit by a large quantity of the exploding potion along with 'Harry'. Luckily he wasn't too injured but he did have to spend the rest of the morning resting in the hospital wing. 'Harry' was still hit by most of the potion and was told he had to spend the next two days in the hospital wing to recover. After Poppy had returned to her office 'Harry' transfigured his pillow to look just like him, put on his invisibility cloak and returned to his room. The Polyjuice wore off just as he reached the Head Boy's room. Lucius slipped into Harry's room and returned the invisibility cloak before heading back to Malfoy Manor.
When Harry woke up he was very confused. The last thing he remembered was Severus giving him the potion then being tucked into bed. He looked at his clock and saw that it was almost time for dinner. Harry began to freak out, thinking he'd messed up the entire plan. He quickly got dressed and put his concealment charm on. When he went to open the door he found that it was warded shut. Taking a quick scan of the door he also found a silencing charm was in place as well as an alarm. Harry knew he'd set off the alarm so he just sat down and waited to see who had set them and why. He didn't have to wait long before Lucius and Severus showed up.
"Explain the wards and why I slept through the entire day?" Harry demanded.
"I'm sorry Harry but I gave you Draught of Living Death last night. I realized after you left Dumbledore's office that the plan wouldn't be able to work properly so I had Lucius pretend to be you during potions this morning. I knew he could make the potion explode properly while you would either hurt yourself and Draco greatly or just ruin your potion. You never did learn the subtle art of potion explosions." Severus answered.
"Why didn't you just tell me this last night? I would have agreed to the new plan if you had told me. You didn't have to trick me."
"I'm sorry Harry. I was going to tell you but then the Draco thing happened and I forgot. I really am sorry Harry."
Harry sighed. "You could have at least left me a note telling me what you'd done. I woke up and began worrying that I'd ruined everything. I really hate that feeling and the girls didn't appreciate the stress either. Now I'm hungry so can I have dinner?"
"Dobby." Lucius called but the elf didn't come.
"You know he doesn't answer to you." Harry said then called for the elf himself.
"Yes Harry Potter. What is yous needing from Dobby?" Dobby asked as he appeared at Harry's feet.
"I'd like something to eat. I missed every meal today and now I'm starving. Can you please bring me something?"
"Of course Harry Potter." Dobby left with a crack then returned a moment later with a large platter of food.
"Thank you Dobby. I'll call you if I need anything else." Dobby bowed at Harry then left once more. "Join me you two. Dobby always brings more food then I could ever eat."
"He's under orders to bring you extra food since you are eating for three. Anyways before your pregnancy you were quite underweight and Poppy didn't like that so she had Dumbledore talk to the house elves so they'd bring you more food." Severus said as he and Lucius sat down with Harry.
"Figures and all this time I thought the house elves actually liked me but now you're saying that Dumbledore made them give me all that extra food."
"Why do you care what the house elves think of you?" Lucius asked with a slight hint of disgust in his voice.
"Well since Dobby has saved my life a fair few times, I have a great respect for them and their powers. Also I know what it's like to be forced to work for people who don't even acknowledge your existence and treat you like shit."
"I still don't understand why you won't let the Order punish those idiot muggles who were supposed to raise you." Severus growled. He hated being reminded about the abuse Harry had received from his so called family.
"Severus, they just aren't worth the Order's time. I think Voldemort is far more important to get rid of then they are. Anyways I don't like people to get hurt even if they deserve it. Now can we drop the subject of the Dursleys and get back to enjoying our meal?" The two older wizards nodded. "So how long am I trapped here with just you two and Dobby for company?"
"Two days then Miss Granger, Draco and Ronald can start to visit as well. You'll still be confined to the Head rooms until the day before Halloween."
"That's fine. I don't mind being trapped inside as much if I have multiple rooms I'm confined within."
"Well you won't have much time to worry about being stuck inside. We've got to do some training so you can control your extra magic better. We don't want you hurting yourself or the babies when you cast spells."
"When do we start?"
"I'll be coming by tomorrow to start your training while your friends are all in class." Lucius answered. "Now I've got to get back to the manor. I'll see you in the morning Harry." Lucius gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving.
"I'm going to keep the wards up on your door for the next two days. I don't want you trying to sneak out in the middle of the night. Call Dobby if you need anything and he'll get it for you. I'll be back first thing in the morning." Severus also gave Harry a kiss on the cheek then left for his own quarters.
Harry's week of confinement passed quickly. Lucius and him trained everyday while the rest of the school was in classes. In the evenings Severus would come and help Harry with all the class work he was missing. Hermione and Ron helped as well. Draco would check on Harry everyday but wouldn't spend much time with him since he was so worried about the upcoming battle. Ron and Hermione knew about the battle as well but since they were both members of the Order they knew more of the plan then Draco did.
The day before Halloween Harry finally returned to classes. Severus made him keep his arm in a sling, since 'Harry's' arm had been hit the most during the potions accident. Harry thought it was funny that he was now doing exactly what Draco had done after being attacked by Buckbeak. Hermione was put in charge of helping Harry during all his classes that day. She was also put in charge of making sure he didn't try to use his 'hurt' arm at all either.
Harry woke early on Halloween morning because his scar was hurting. He called for Dobby to get Severus for him. Severus arrived with three potions for Harry to take five minutes later. The first one was to block the pain, the second an extremely strong shielding potion and the last was just an energy potion. Severus also gave Harry a second energy potion and pain blocking potion to keep with him incase the attack didn't start until later. Harry drank the three potions and was glad once the pain in his scar finally subsided.
"The pain blocking potion should work for ten hours and make it so you won't be in pain when you're near Voldemort. If Voldemort still hasn't attacked by the feast or if your scar starts to hurt a whole lot before then take the second potion. The energy potion I want you to take after your last class of the day if the battle hasn't already started by then. Can you do that Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry put the two potions into his pocket. "How long do you think he'll wait before starting the attack?"
"I'm not sure Harry but I have a feeling he'll probably wait until later. He knows you can feel it when he's near you so he'll probably try to weaken you some more before attacking. Just try and stay calm today but also be ready to fight at any minute. Also make sure that Miss Granger and Ronald are with you at all times. They'll be able to help you until Lucius and I can be at your side."
"Alright Severus. I guess I should start to get ready now. Do think it would be safe for me to take a shower right now?"
"It should be but I'll come with you and keep watch. You never know if Voldemort will use his link between the two of you to send you another false vision."
"That's fine." Harry got out of bed, grabbed a towel and went into his bathroom. Severus followed him into the bathroom and stood by the door. Harry had just gotten into the shower when the dark mark on Severus' arm began to flare up. "He's calling you isn't he?"
"Yes but I'm not going to answer until you're done with your shower."
"Alright I'll make it quick." Harry quickly washed his hair then got out and began to dry off. "Go to his side and find out what's happening. I'll be fine by myself for a little bit. 'Mione will be in here to make sure I'm up soon so don't worry."
"Be careful Harry." Severus pulled Harry into a bruising kiss then rushed from the room.
Harry finished drying off and got dressed. Just as he had predicted Hermione came in about five minutes later to make sure he was up. The two of them then got Draco up and went to meet Ron and Ginny in the Great Hall. Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione tried their best to stay calm through the meal then went to Potions. Severus was at the front of the room when the seventh years entered. He quickly began the class and began doing his rounds of the classroom.
"Mr. Potter what is this?" Severus asked looking down at Harry's ruined potion. Class had only started ten minutes before and already he had messed up the assignment.
"I believe we're making Amortentia sir." Harry responded.
"The rest of the class is but you seem to be making liquid slime. Tell me Mr. Potter what color should the potion be?"
"A golden yellow sir."
"And what color is yours?"
"A yellowish green sir."
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your mistake Mr. Potter and you'll stay after class to discuss your detention for missing class this past week." Severus vanished Harry's potion before moving on. Harry just glared at Snape through the rest of the class. He knew Snape had singled him out purposely but didn't really care. He only acted upset because he knew the Slytherins expected him to be.
"Bring your finished potions to my desk." Snape snapped out at the end of class. "For homework I expect you all to write an 18 ½ inch essay on this potion and it's dangers and uses." The class all handed in their potions then left.
"We'll wait for you in the hall Harry." Hermione whispered before she and Ron left.
"Come here Potter." Severus growled. Harry walked up to Snape's desk and waited to be addressed. Snape waited until the last student was gone before motioning for Harry to follow him into his office. The two went in there and sat down. "Voldemort and most of the Death Eaters are just outside the castle wards waiting. They're not going to attack until the feast."
"Have you told Dumbledore?"
"Yes and he's told the Order who will be slowly arriving here starting at lunch. I still want you to stay with Miss Granger and Ronald at all times and DON'T go outside for any reason. It wouldn't be smart to start the battle until we're all ready."
"Is Lucius with him right now?"
"Yes Lucius is with Voldemort for now but once the battle starts he's going to make his way to your side. I'll do my best to stay by your side through the battle and protect you from the Death Eaters."
"Thank you Severus." Harry got up and walked around the desk to give Severus a passionate kiss. "I'll see you later and be careful today." Harry gave him one more quick kiss then left to meet back up with Hermione and Ron.
"So how much detention did he give you?" Ron asked as the three of them walked to Transfigurations.
"I'm stuck with him every night for the next two weeks cleaning cauldrons. Also he's going to make me remake the potion from today until I get it perfect. Snape can be such a git sometimes." Harry replied before being kicked hard by one of the babies. "Ow."
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked with concern.
"I'm fine 'Mione. Just my arm acting up again. I'll be fine, we've really got to hurry or we'll be late for Transfigurations." Harry began to walk faster to add to his point. Ron and Hermione quickly followed and the three of them arrived just as class was beginning.