Author: Raven
Disclaimer: If it were mine, man I'd be flying high.
Summary: OOTP spoilers…Severus becomes Dudley Dursley's and Harry's tutor for the rest of the summer after the end of 5th year. What secrets are revealed?
Chapter 22
Harry looked at his schedule. His study group was to be held in Trelawney's old Divination classroom. It didn't say who'd be in the group with him. Harry sighed and began to walk faster. If he was going to make it all the way up there and not be late, he needed to hustle. Harry wrinkled his nose. He hated it when Severus was right.
The Gryffindor teenager, fit as he was after the summer, began panting as he climbed the stairs in circles towards the Divination classroom. He hated this stupid tower. Harry carefully repressed a groan when he heard an all-too-familiar voice yelling at him from somewhere near the wall.
"Wait and fight me, you stinking coward," the voice demanded loudly.
Harry stopped jogging up the stairs and turned to look at the portrait of Sir Cadogan.
"Good day, Sir Cadogan," he said as politely as he could manage without laughing.
The knight in the painting looked befuddled. "How do you know who I am?" He squinted at Harry. "Do I know you?"
Harry nodded. "You nobly guarded Gryffindor tower once, and that's where I live."
The knight puffed up at the thought of being noble or brave, but before he had the chance to gloat, Harry spoke again. "Well, I must be off, class to get to, you know." And he dashed off before Sir Cadogan could say another word.
Harry commended himself for a job well-done. He felt he had managed very appropriately with Sir Cadogan, and the painting wasn't even given any time to get extremely annoying, as he was apt to do.
When Harry reached the top of the tower, the old silvery ladder was already out, so he climbed up. Just as he got into the room, the bell rang. Excellent. He was exactly on time.
Harry glanced around the room to see who all was in is study group. To his surprise, there were only six other people. They were: Draco Malfoy, Ron, two Ravenclaws he didn't know (one boy, one girl), Susan Bones, and one of her Hufflepuff friends. There wasn't a teacher. On the board were these instructions:
As you likely notice, there are no teachers. Also, you are grouped with people from all four houses. This weekly study group will give you an opportunity to work on inter-house relations, as well as get a bit of work done. Have fun!
Harry looked around the room again. Susan Bones noticed him this time, and waved cheerfully. He smiled back. Susan had been in DA with him. She was a nice enough girl. Harry settled down at an empty table and set his books down on the floor beside him. He didn't really have anything to do. He hadn't been assigned much homework yet; his teachers had actually been kind to the returning students in that aspect. Harry propped his chin up on his hand and being lightly tapping the table. None of the other students cared; in fact, he didn't even think they noticed. The two Ravenclaws were working busily on some research in the corner. The two Hufflepuffs were chatting amiably at the table next the Ravenclaws. Draco was in another corner immersed in a book, but Harry couldn't make out the title. Ron was sitting at another table fidgeting just like Harry was.
After an hour of utter boredom, the bell rang. Harry sighed with relief and stood, totally ready to leave the tense room and go down to dinner. He was almost out the door when he heard someone call his name. Harry turned, and all the other students pushed past him out the door, including Ron. The only person left was Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy," Harry said neutrally.
"Potter," Malfoy replied.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Harry asked. He felt an odd feeling of deja vu, remembering his talk with Severus earlier the same day.
Malfoy nodded. "I want to join the Order," he said curtly.
Harry raised his eyebrows at the blond Slytherin. "We may have a little truce going on here, but you can't expect to me to trust you right off."
Draco smirked. "A true Slytherin response. Potter, I'm proud."
Potter mirrored Draco's facial expression. "I do try."
"I can give you names," Malfoy said.
Harry nodded. "Let me guess a couple. Crabbe. Goyle. Parkinson."
Draco looked slightly surprised. "Yes, yes, and a resolute no. Pansy's not a Death Eater. She was in this with me. I was just the only one who would approach you. Blaise is in it too; you saw us talking earlier."
Harry frowned. "That surprises me. I thought Parkinson was a sure-fire guess. Aren't her parents big supporters?"
"Yes," Draco said. "But in this, that doesn't mean shit. Look at my father. Right-hand man of the Dark Lord himself. There aren't many women Death Eaters. In fact, I only know of two. Bellatrix Lestrange and my mother."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Dumbledore might not let you join the Order, you know. He doesn't like students to get too involved."
Draco nodded. "Look Potter, I don't have to join the Order. If I just had someone to report to, that'd be fine with me."
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco. "What are you talking about, report?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Gods, Potter, you're just as thick-headed as you ever were."
"Hey!" Harry said in mock-offense.
He silenced when Draco jerked his sleeve up on his left arm, revealing an ugly black tattoo. Harry recognized the Dark Mark well.
"I got it this past summer," Draco explained in a monotone."At the beginning of July. My father told me he had a surprise. That night, he brought me to the Dark Lord. I was forced to bend knee and receive the mark. I can spy for you and the Order, Potter. I just need someone to report to."
Harry nodded. "I have the perfect person in mind, but I'll have to ask their opinion on this. For now, we should just go to dinner. C'mon, I'll walk down with you."
Malfoy nodded and led the way out the door. They were met by Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini.
"Oh, Draco, is this stupid Gryffindork bothering you?" Pansy said in a honey-sweet tone, clinging to Draco's arm.
Blaise pulled out her wand and put her hand on his hip. "You want me to hex him up, darling?"
Draco rolled his eyes and shoved the two girls off him. "You guys, Potter knows. He's fine with it, he's going to help us."
"Oh," Pansy said, immediately pulling away from Draco. "Good, I can stop acting like a desperate slut."
Blaise winked at Harry and Draco. "Darling, I can still be your slut," she said in a seductive voice to Draco.
Draco chuckled, while Harry looked lost. He couldn't believe this was how the stuck-up bastard he used to know acted with his friends.
"That won't be necessary," Draco answered Blaise. "But I'll let you know if I change my mind."
Blaise didn't respond. Now she just looked bored.
"Gods, Blaise, are you bored already?" Pansy asked, thoroughly exasperated with her best friend.
"I'm sorry," she whined. "It's not my fault I have a short attention span. This is why I do stupid things like burn your clothes."
Pansy went white. "Oh, gods, please tell me you didn't do that again, Blaise," she begged frantically. "I just went shopping!"
Blaise snickered darkly. "Just kidding, love."
Draco carefully hid the small smile tugging on his lips. "Potter, this is Parkinson, and this is Zabini. They're not usually this crazy. Usually they're being watched."
Harry nodded. "Parkinson, Zabini."
Parkinson nodded politely, but Zabini just said, "Okay, I know you guys weren't friends or anything, and I know this is big for you, but girls have got to eat. Let's get the fuck moving, bitches!"
"Now, that is normal," Malfoy said.
Harry couldn't help himself. He chuckled.
"Finally letting up some," Blaise commented, not looking at Harry.
Harry frowned but didn't say anything. Once they were out of the tower, Harry drew to another side of the hallway. "I'll see you guys," he said, then strode away.
Malfoy turned his friends down another hallway. He didn't want any of the other students to see him not fighting with Potter and get suspicious. Harry walked down to the Great Hall, thinking about Malfoy's confessions. He sat down at the Gryffindor house table across from Ginny and Hermione.
"How did your talk with Snape go?" Hermione asked, glancing up at the person she was talking about.
Harry smiled. "It went well. Really well."
Hermione cocked her head and looked at Harry through slightly narrowed eyes. "Ginny, did you notice that Harry is actually using proper grammar?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I know. He told me about Snape and Jerome and Sal and them teaching him some manners."
Hermione made a playful angry face and faked punching Harry on the arm. "Why haven't you told me all these stories? C'mon, do tell!"
Harry laughed and began talking about meeting Jerome. From farther down the table, Ron Weasley watched his two best friends and his sister talking and having a good time. It saddened him. He just wanted the best for Harry. He just wanted to help out his friend.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow ya'll, another chapter out, aren't ya'll proud? Anyway, I've been thinking about this story. Maybe I need to end it soon. It's getting rather long, and while I know there are many stories much longer, I also don't want other readers to be scared off by the number of chapters. I could do a sequel maybe? What do you guys think? Let me know in your review…
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Thanks to: ak-alterego, MirreZ, Purple Raveness, dreams of innocence, EternalEcho, KC, luvbug080688, starangel2106
Also, thank you ALL for your condolences! Death is hard, so my family and I are just working through it. All your reviews helped cheer me up a lot, and I got some reviews for my other story too, "Touch Me," so that helped me too. (By the way, this is a hint for you to go check "Touch Me" out… I would love you forever… I'd give you a cookie!)