Disclaimer: *fiddles with things* Bah! Still don't own HP!

Chapter 112

Harry and Susan were currently sitting in the Room of Requirement on a sofa. They had been in the room for fifteen minutes and so far, had spent the entire time arguing.

"I insist, Harry. I'm not afraid."

"I'm afraid for you, Susan. I'm 100 percent sure that if the Death Eaters had known we were on a date this past Saturday, they would have killed you simply to hurt me."

"Oh, honestly, Harry. Not everything is about you."

Harry grimaced. "That's my point exactly. It's not about me. It's about protecting everyone else."

"Why are you being so pig-headed about this?" she demanded.

"Because I care," he replied in a small voice.

"Do you care about Ron, Hermione, and Neville then? Because I don't see them getting the same speech I am."

"They've already been on the receiving end of this speech. Evidently they're as stubborn as I am."

"Add me to that list, then. I don't know why You-Know-Who is targeting you specifically and frankly, I don't care. All I know is that I am not afraid."

Harry got up and began pacing the room. "Well, that makes one of us because I'm terrified."

A glance at Susan showed her disbelief.

"I didn't see fear once on your face the entire time you fought. Up until I was knocked out, anyway," she pointed out.

With a frustrated sigh, he threw himself back onto the sofa next to her. "I can promise you that I was definitely afraid for everyone." He ran a hand through his hair, making it even more messy than it had been.

"Harry," asked Susan softly, "do you not have any self-preservation?"

"Of course I do. I just don't use it very much."

She rolled her eyes. "That much is obvious. Look, since you're afraid of anyone finding out we're dating, we can keep it a secret."

"Nothing stays a secret in Hogwarts. You know that."

"We already hang out together. No one will think twice about us studying with each other or even walking to class together."

"I thought girls liked to declare their dating someone," he said with confusion in his voice.

"What, in Merlin's name, makes you think that?"

"Isn't that why girls giggle? Because they're dating someone?"

She suddenly started laughing, which didn't improve Harry's mood any, but she did appear to be trying to control it. "Oh, Harry. You have so much to learn."

He simply scowled at her.

Severus watched as Harry practically ran to the Gryffindor table for dinner. This past weekend was the first time many of them had ever seen a battle and naturally, everyone was curious.

Harry, he could see, was not eager to share his thoughts and experiences, which disappointed many of his classmates.

Finnigan and Thomas also appeared to be talking to him again. He merely rolled his eyes at how easily the masses were swayed.

He then let his gaze linger on his own House. The third years were practically worshiping Harry for saving them during the battle. (He thought that the Death Eaters had been careless about who they cast at because he seriously doubted any of the third years would be recruited now - unless they were made to take the Mark when they turned seventeen.) The rest of the House was doing their best to avoid talking about it.

He did notice that Malfoy was, as usual, holding court amongst the 4th, 5th, and 6th years. Harry had told him about his encounter with Malfoy during the battle. Despite the fact he worried about where the blonde's loyalties lay, he was glad he had refrained from participating. He hadn't yet heard if Lucius knew his son hadn't participated.

After dinner let out, he headed down to his Quarter's. Classes had resumed this past Monday in order to instill a sense of normalcy, but he hadn't given any homework because he had been brewing potions for the Infirmary. (Most of his students were still in shock over the fact they had not been given homework.)

An hour had passed when Harry entered his quarter's.

"Hi," he said.

"Evening."

"Is it okay if I stay down here tonight?"

"It is."

Harry blew out a rush of air. "Thanks. I know I'm going to have to face everyone sooner or later, but I need one more night of solitude before I do."

He nodded. "We'll be leaving in the morning to obtain a new wand for you. You're excused from your morning classes while we go to Ollivander's."

"Did he send an elf to get some of the basilisk ingredients?"

Severus snorted. "According to Dobby, he sent four elves. If how excited they were reflected on Ollivander's state of mind, then I imagine he was beside himself with glee when he received my letter."

Harry smiled. "Good. I'm glad he's getting something to use. I'm still tired so I'm going on to bed."

"Before you go, I need to apologize to you."

"For what?" He furrowed his brow in confusion.

"The cutting curse. The one that nearly killed you. I was the one who cast it."

"Why would you apologize for that? I'm sure you weren't aiming for me."

"I was aiming for Bellatrix but she deflected the curse. Nevertheless, I am sorry. The scar on your back will always be there because of my ineptitude."

"What's one more scar?" Harry shrugged. "And there's nothing to forgive. Honestly. I'm fine, now. I'm just tired."

He nodded, paused, then said, "Tomorrow, we need to discuss what the Dark Lord showed you."

He heard Harry give a resigned sigh as he bid his goodnight and headed into his room.

Harry blinked in confusion before he realized where he was. He eyed the clock next to his bed and groaned when he saw it was pointing to 'too early'.

His nightmares had been brutal. Images of death had assaulted him all night. Plus, he was dreading the conversation he was going to have with Snape later that morning.

After a quick trip to the loo, he returned and pulled out his journal and began to write. He did so until the clock chimed 'time to get up'.

A half hour later found him in Snape's kitchen looking for something to drink. By the time the man came out of his rooms, Harry was on his third cup of tea.

To his surprise, Dobby provided them both with breakfast a few minutes later.

"Are we not required to be in the Great Hall this morning?"

Snape shook his head. "I told the Headmaster we'd be eating breakfast here since we have a lot to discuss."

Harry nodded as he went to make himself yet another cup of tea.

Twenty minutes later found them sitting in the library.

"What all did the Dark Lord show you?" Snape asked, bluntly.

"That you were the one who told him there was a prophecy and what you had heard of it. He also showed me several images of you torturing various people and killing some of them." Harry trailed off then frowned up at Snape. "There was also a vision he started to show me of you ... taking someone by force, but I was able to cut him off halfway through it. I didn't want to watch that!"

A glance at Snape showed that the man was paler than usual. "First of all, I have never forced myself upon anyone. That image by the Dark Lord was a lie."

Harry felt himself relax minutely. He had doubted it was true but he also knew that Snape had to keep up appearances as a believable Death Eater. Which raised an important question in his mind ...

"Then how were you able to remain in Voldemort's good graces if you didn't have to force yourself on anyone?"

"You said he showed you images of me torturing people?"

Harry nodded.

"That is how. I wasn't forced to take part in sport so long as I showed no problems torturing people."

"You had no problems torturing people?" asked Harry incredulously.

"Of course I had problems with it, you idiotic boy, but they had to believe that I did not."

He grimaced at Snape's tone. It had been a while since had heard that particular tone. Not that he blamed Snape for it, of course. Thinking on it revealed it had been a stupid question.

"The red headed woman - was she the one you had to kill for the loyalty test I warned you about?" he asked softly, when it appeared that Snape wasn't going to be saying anything else anytime soon.

"She was. She was also the only one I killed with the Killing Curse so if the Dark Lord showed you any differently, he lied again."

Harry frowned.

Snape had then gone on to explain how he had heard the prophecy.

They had been sitting in silence for a couple of minutes when Harry suddenly glared at Snape. "When Voldemort showed me that you were the one who told him the prophecy, I felt betrayed. Truthfully, it wasn't that you had told him the prophecy, either. It's that you didn't tell me you told him." He narrowed his eyes at the man. "I'm sick and tired of finding out the important things through Voldemort. Is there anything else I should know?"

"I ... am sorry, Harry. It honestly never occurred to me to tell you. But no, I can't recall any other secret that I should inform you of that the Dark Lord also knows."

Harry nodded. Snape didn't appear to be lying, which was a good thing because he doubted he'd be able to take any more surprises.

"When are we leaving to go get my new wand?"

"In half an hour. Which reminds me, while we are at Ollivander's, I want no heroics from you if we are attacked. You are to stay behind the Order members and if one of them apparates you away, you are not to apparate back."

He scowled but nodded. "All right. Speaking of apparating ... did I get fined for doing it without a license? I've not gotten a letter ..."

"No. Once Alastor declared you proficient, Albus quietly registered it in a sealed file."

"He can do that?"

"Technically yes, but not very often. He went to the Head of the Law Enforcement Department and together, they decided that with you being who you are, it was probably best to quietly register you as having a license in case the Minister wanted to punish you should you be caught."

He nodded. "Is Neville going with us?"

"That, I'm not sure of. The Headmaster wanted me to also inform you that he was going to talk to the Order to see about having them train you in certain battle magicks. I will also begin training you as well."

Harry's eyes widened. "That would be awesome!"

Snape snorted.

Ten minutes later found them walking into the Headmaster's office. When he fully opened the door, he saw Neville and his grandmother sitting down in some chairs.

"Harry!"

"Hey, Neville."

"Guess what?" he asked, tugging Harry into a corner while lowering his voice.

"What?"

"Gran told me she's proud of me for helping to defend the people in Hogsmeade and for keeping alive during the fight with Bellatrix. She told me that I've finally lived up to my dad's reputation and as a reward, she's taking me to get my own wand!"

Harry smiled. "That's great, Neville. I'm proud of you too. Bellatrix is insane. I still feel you should have always had your own wand."

"I know, but at least I know that Gran's proud of me, now."

Behind Neville, Harry saw his grandmother's cheeks color and saw that she grimaced.

"So, you're coming with me today to get it, right?"

Neville nodded. It was clear his friend was ecstatic about getting his own wand.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, so he and Neville rejoined the adults.

"We have some rules that have to be agreed to by both of you before we can go."

He and Neville nodded.

"No heroics, from either of you. If you are told to get back, you'll obey without question. If you are portkeyed or apparated away, you will not return. We will also not be going anywhere else, so do not ask. Do you both understand?"

Harry nodded and so did Neville.

"Good. The Order is already at Ollivander's. Grab onto this portkey. It will put us straight into the shop."

Harry, Neville, Neville's grandmother, Snape, and Dumbledore grabbed onto a flashy sock and were suddenly whisked away across the land.

A/N: Sorry about the delay. I bet I spent an entire week looking up wand possibilities for Harry and Neville. I've not typed that chapter yet, but I'm getting ready too. You should see the tons of notes I've taken about wood meanings, core meanings, and various other things. I think when I grow up, I want to be a wandmaker. lol Their so secretive! I want to find out what they're hiding! ;)

As you can see, Neville's grandmother is embarassed by what Harry said about how Neville should have always had his own wand. (Personally, I agree with Harry on the matter.)

And as you can see, poor Harry still has so much to learn about the female species. ;)

I wanna thank everyone that wished me a Happy Birthday. :) The day wasn't so bad and the family remembered this year. lol

Not sure when the next chapter will be up. I've not gotten a very good cushion space in between my posting and writing yet. I'm going to be at the library until 9 tonight, plus I'm going tomorrow as well, so hopefully, between the two days, I'll be able to get a couple more chapters written.

*sets out nice and juicy things for reviewers* ;)