Author's Note:
I'd just like to take a moment to tell each and every one of you thank you for reading this story. Since you've been following it this far, I can only assume that you're enjoying it, but feel free to tell me anyway. I realize it's starting to become repetitive, but considering that people are finding out information at different times, I haven't found a way around it. It should stop within the next few chapters, which is why I'm trying to get them written and posted as soon as possible.
This chapter is dedicated to mizzrazz72, who had me fangirling over something in this story that I hadn't realized yet. By the way mizzrazz72, what you told me isn't going to change any time soon. In fact, I just found out a way to make it even worse.
Chapter 23
Harry woke up smiling. Surprisingly, he hadn't had any nightmares or visions last night, and he suspected that had something to do with his date with Ginny the night before. He'd grabbed some food from the kitchens and skipped dinner with her, preferring to eat by the lake and watch the giant squid occasionally raise a tentacle while everyone else was preoccupied. They'd played Quidditch afterwards, flying after the Snitch until they were in danger of falling off of their brooms in exhaustion. Overall, it had been a wonderful night, even if they hadn't held hands or kissed. Ginny had agreed with him that they should wait until Snape found a solution before they tried that again. Harry didn't think he'd be able to live with himself if he accidentally hurt her.
Snape.
Harry had Double Potions with the Slytherins first thing today, and hopefully Snape had found out something that would help cure the talons and fire breathing. Sighing, Harry left the comfort of his bed to take a shower before he faced the world that day.
Today the fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins were brewing Strengthening Solution. The instructions had been left on the board while Snape walked amongst the students. As Harry waited for the potion to change color, Professor Snape left a note on his desk before chastening Neville for his poor brewing procedure, emptying the cauldron before it could blow up.
Mister Potter,
Meet me in my office at the end of class.
There are some matters we need to discuss.
-Professor Snape
"What does Snape want?" asked Ron.
Harry hastily shoved the note into his robes and turned back to their cauldron. "I don't know; he didn't say. Go ahead to lunch with 'Mione without me, okay?"
"Well, if you're sure you'll be fine if you're left alone with him."
"Ron, we're in Hogwarts. There's not a lot he can do to me while I'm still here. Tell McGonagall if I'm not in Transfiguration by the time class starts." Ron nodded and returned to slicing the griffin claws they needed for the potion.
Half an hour later, Ron and Harry turned in a potion that was slightly darker than it should have been, but hopefully it would at least be acceptable. As the class filed out, Harry took his time putting his supplies away in his bag. The Golden Trio was the last to leave, Hermione looking worriedly at him over her shoulder as she and Ron left Harry outside a door on their way to the Great Hall.
Taking a deep breath, Harry entered the room beside the Potions classroom that served as Professor Snape's office. He awkwardly stood in the office while Professor Snape secured his classroom. "Come, Mr. Potter, we have much to discuss, and I'd prefer to speak in the privacy of my quarters if you don't mind. A house elf will bring us lunch." Professor Snape retreated from the doorway, his robes billowing behind him as he led Harry down the hallway.
Professor Snape stopped in front of a painting of a blue-eyed wizard with long brown hair streaked with grey who was wearing deep green robes. "Ah, Severus, it is so nice to see you in one piece. Tell me, how is your latest project coming along?"
"I have determined that the ingredient I was missing was basilisk fangs. Once I add those to the potion, it should be able to properly reduce the vampires' thirst for human blood."
"I wish you the best of luck." The portrait opened to allow Professor Snape and Harry access to the quarters, shutting behind them.
"Squippy!" A house elf appeared with a Pop! "Please bring lunch for me and Harry Potter as we won't be able to make it to the Great Hall." The house elf nodded and disappeared with a Pop!
"Have a seat, Harry. Both of us have classes after lunch, so we don't have any time to waste." Harry set his bag down beside an armchair and hesitantly sat down as Professor Snape took two pieces of parchment from his desk.
The house elf returned with a platter of fried chicken; a few sides, apples included; and a bowl of pudding, along with two plates and glasses of pumpkin juice. "Thank you, Squiggy. That will be all." The house elf nodded and disappeared again with a Pop!
"Start eating, Mr. Potter. I'll be there in a moment." Professor Snape crossed the room to a small window at the top of a wall and opened it to allow an Eagle Owl inside. He took the parchment from the bird, peeled off the seal, and read it. Harry finished putting food on his plate as Snape returned to his desk and paused for a few moments before writing a response, giving it to the bird who promptly flew out the window. Professor Snape picked up the two pieces of parchment he had originally taken from his desk and sat in the armchair across from Harry.
"I apologize for that interruption, but there are certain people in this world whose letters cannot simply be ignored." Snape grabbed a plate and began to put food on it as he spoke. "I wrote to Charlie Weasley about your problems, and with the information he provided to me, I have determined the cause of it."
Harry set down his apple and looked up expectantly.
"The Dragon blood blended so entirely that its wishes hold equal power to our own. Dragons have an increased need to survive and reproduce, and it has recognized that Miss Weasley does not have the blood needed to continue the survival of the species."
"With all due respect, Professor, are you sure that's what is happening? The cause can't be Ginny; otherwise I would react the same to any other girl."
"Actually, Harry, I believe that would be the reaction to anyone you would touch with romantic intentions. Clearly, Miss Granger has not been on the receiving end of your physical manifestations of the Dragon."
"So you're saying that I have to remain single for my entire life, like you?" Professor Snape glared at the fifth-year. "No offense was intended, Professor, but isn't there some other option?"
"Charlie believes that you could only mate with a Dragon." Snape handed the two pieces of parchment to Harry. "Those are the two letters he wrote me, if you'd like to read them. However, I did a bit of research, and I believe that there is another student in the castle who you could carry these romantic intentions towards without any adverse side effects. However, I must tell you that this student is male. We can eat while you think about what I've just told you and you read the two letters."
Professor Snape's quarters were relatively quiet as the two men ate their lunch and Harry thought and read. He would have to break it off with Ginny as soon as possible since he didn't want to end up seriously hurting her later. Did he really want to talk to this other person, though? Harry didn't mind that it was a boy; his relatives' firm stance against homosexuals had never influenced him. He just didn't want anyone to get hurt because of their association with him. Harry had been okay with dating Ginny since she was in harm's way already, but he would have to debate the possible repercussions now that Voldemort was back. If this was his only chance to be with someone for the rest of his life, couldn't it wait until after Voldemort had been defeated?
"May I ask who this other student is?"
"My godson, Draco Malfoy."
Draco? Draco Malfoy? He was the only student in the school that Harry wouldn't hurt by dating him? Harry had to hold in a laugh at the thought. He and Draco only hurt each other, yet Snape thought this was the only way he wouldn't hurt someone?
"I mean no disrespect, Professor, but surely you can't be so blind as to have never seen the two of us fight, can you?"
"Mr. Potter, I am quite aware that you and Mr. Malfoy have never exactly… gotten along, but he does in fact have Dragon blood in him. The two of you would not react negatively to one another, at least in this matter."
At least Harry wouldn't be dragging Draco into the war, but wasn't he aligned with Voldemort? On those lines, wasn't Snape aligned with Voldemort as well? Harry would have to tread carefully if he didn't want to end up in Voldemort's hands before he was able to defeat him.
Harry stood. "Tell Draco that we shall see what happens after the war ends, and if he hasn't done anything criminal in nature, I would be agreeable to talking to him to see if anything would work between the two of us." He picked up his bag. "Thank you for telling me, and thank you for lunch."