Author's Note:

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out to you all. I've been busy with some stuff, and even though half of this chapter had been written from when I was on vacation (when I wrote the last two chapters), I had planned on making it longer with some other events in it. I'll have some more on my decision to change that in the author's note for the next chapter. Until then, I have a request for you all, as well as the most recent chapter for you all to read.

I've been getting some comments that some of the characters seem OOC ("out of character" to those new to fanfiction). If you ever find yourself agreeing with that, please tell me when and how if you want me to try to go back and change it. I've been trying to write this as close to their characters as possible, so just telling me that they're OOC isn't helping me very much.

Actually, there are only two characters, potentially three, that I would consider OOC, and I'm writing them slightly OOC for a reason. I'd understand if you were commenting on them being OOC, but surprisingly nobody's said anything about them.

Also, if you don't think any of the characters are OOC and you don't want me to change anything, tell me. Otherwise, I might go back and rewrite every chapter anyway.

Chapter 18

Severus Snape gawked at the now empty fireplace where the Gryffindor Head of House's head had been just the moment before. She'd left him; she hadn't even given him the chance to decline. He didn't even know which student was breathing fire, and how was he supposed to be of any help? There wasn't a potion out there he knew of that could cause breathing fire as a side-effect; the Dark Lord would have started to use it by now if there was. Imagine how many civilians would quiver in fear if their attackers were breathing hot streams of flames at them.

Severus sighed and returned to his potions lab. He'd have to put all of the potions in stasis if he didn't want them to be ruined. Poppy would be on his case if they were; she'd been wanting more of these potions before the winter holidays, and this was the first opportunity he'd had to brew them since. He'd been on a job for Voldemort, brewing large quantities of the Wolfsbane potion to trade with the werewolf clans to sway them to the Dark Lord's side. Little did Voldemort know that he had done the same thing last summer for the Order of the Phoenix, brewing enough to last the werewolves for years in advance. The six months worth of potions he had brewed over the winter holidays were nothing in comparison.

He heard the sound of flames sparking in the other room. Minerva must have returned with the two students. "I'll be there in a moment. Sit where you like, but stay away from the armchairs." There was some movement in the other room, and then everything was quiet. Once all of the potions were in stasis, Professor Snape left the safety of his lab and entered his common room.

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley were sitting nervously on his couch, and Minerva McGonagall was standing beside them. Of course it would be two Gryffindors; they got in more trouble that Slytherin house ever did. Bravery causes people to make rash decisions; planning and cunning make people think so they stay out of trouble, or at least they don't get caught. "Please, have a seat in the armchair, Professor." Snape sat in his own armchair and stared at the two Gryffindors, enjoying the way they refused to meet his eyes. "Start talking, both of you. I can't help you if I don't know what happened."

Harry repeated the story to his Potions professor, blushing whenever he mentioned kissing Ginny. He never looked up, preferring to talk to the coffee table and pretend nobody else was in the room.

Snape, however, was deeply contemplating every word. "You breathed fire every time you kissed her?" Harry nodded. "Hold her hand, please."

Harry finally looked up at his professor. "Are you sure you won't give us detention for public displays of affection?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Potter, I'm simply curious as to what will happen. I will give you detention if you refuse to follow a professor's orders."

Harry blushed, looked sideways at Ginny, who was also blushing, and picked up her hand in his. The two of them glanced around the room, looking at the ceiling, the fireplace, the coffee table, anywhere except their hands. Snape and McGonagall, however, watched as the skin on Harry's hand began to reflect the firelight as it became a deep forest green in the light, black where it wasn't reflecting. His fingers sharpened and hardened, black as night. The tips were beginning to dig into Ginny's hand; it wouldn't be long before the skin broke.

Harry looked up at Snape, a pleading look in his eyes. Severus had never seen that look before; usually all he saw in the boy's eyes were resentment and hatred, aside from the reminders of Lily that came with seeing them. As the skin broke on Miss Weasley's hand, blood began to trickle from the punctures.

"That will be enough, Mr. Potter."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled his hand away from Ginny's. He grimaced when he saw the blood on the tips of what had been his fingers and the blood trickling down Ginny's hand from where the skin had been broken.

Snape pulled his wand out and healed Ginny's hand before a pensive look came over his face. The boy had grown talons, just like Draco had when he held Pansy's hand. In truth, he hadn't had any time to look into what could be causing the reaction since Draco had first come to him with the problem. He'd been planning to start researching it as soon as he finished brewing the potions for the Infirmary. Now he would have to find out what was going on for sure, as if his godson wasn't enough of a reason. The headmaster would never leave him alone until he figured out the problem; Harry's fate could very well rest with this, and they couldn't have the boy dying before his time had come to properly defeat the Dark Lord.

Severus took a deep breath before he began what little of an explanation he could give to the Gryffindors. "Harry, I would say the most probable and the broadest cause of this is the potion we gave you at the end of the last school year. As for the exact reason for what is happening, I have a few different ideas that I'll have to research. I'll call you back to my office once I have an answer for you. I'd advise you not to do anything other than kiss or hold hands with Miss Weasley until I speak to you again since you know what will happen if you do either of those actions; you wouldn't be prepared for the reactions to anything else you may do."

Professor McGonagall nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Professor Snape. I do hope you can find a solution to this problem as soon as possible. Harry, Ginny, let's go. I'll walk you back to the common room since it's after curfew."

Ginny stood and walked to the door without a glance at her potions professor. Harry, however, stood with a slight nod to Snape and a whispered "Thank you." before he walked out of Snape's quarters with his head of house and his best friend's sister.