Harry avoided Snape's gaze the following week, which proved difficult, because now Snape was looking at him constantly... like he was an annoying bug he wanted to squash. Harry didn't intend to embarrass him at the trial, after all he did get McGonagall's blessing, but now he was angry that Snape didn't seem thankful he wasn't in Azkaban. And seeing her again... or at least, the embodiment of her...
At the end of class, Snape was watching him intently, practically inviting Harry to talk to him, but he ignored him, packing his bags and leaving with Hermione. Perhaps Snape wanted to talk… about her... or maybe he just wanted to tell Harry off again, he wasn't sure. But now he felt like he needed some distance. Maybe they'd talk later, when the memory of his mum faded a little and he could think more objectively.
But putting the trial behind him did not bring him much solace. Slughorn's next party was a quick turnaround, scheduled predictably for Halloween night. Before he recovered from the first one, he would be thrown into shaking hands again and pretending to be a version of 'Harry Potter' that did not exist.
"Ron's not coming to this one, is he?"
"No, Harry," Hermione scribbled angrily in the common room. "I wouldn't subject Ron to your moods."
"Because I want to talk to Ginny at the party."
Hermione looked up like a light opened up in the ceiling. "Really?"
"Do you … do you think the party is … a bad time?"
"Yes. Every day has been a bad time since the start of term. And every day forward is a worse time. You should have broken up with her the moment you knew."
"I wasn't planning on breaking up with her exactly… not those words. Maybe... a truce? We're already broken up. She knows that, right?"
Hermione made a furious noise as she slammed her book shut, trapping her parchment and quill. "Yes, I think she does. But she still deserves an explanation."
"I don't have one! I'm not dumping her for anyone. I just…"
"That DOESN'T MATTER Harry! She's going to think you want her to wait for you. She'd do it too! You have to let her know it's done. For real this time."
"I know…" He made a frustrated noise. "…She hates me…"
"Yes. She does." Hermione did not look away. "But she also loves you. So- say what you must, but be kind."
"She doesn't want kindness. She wants the truth." He swallowed. "I'm just… worthless, aren't I?"
"No, Harry… you just saved Snape from Azkaban last week! That's enormous. I don't even know if I could've done that. I would have walked in with… laws… historic examples… well practiced arguments. But you, you just… spoke with your emotions and your pain. Even your confusion registered from what I heard. And it was done after that, wasn't it? They ruled right then and there."
"You should have seen her," Harry said, his voice quivering. "She's beautiful. Unlike any Patronus you've ever seen, Hermione. She…" and the words got caught in his throat. …He couldn't…
"Yes Harry, they take my breath away too. "
Several speeches were rotating in his head, all of them sounding more pathetic than the previous one he whipped up. Excuses, the lot of them- all laughable. If he walked into Snape's trial with the rubbish he conjured up now, they would've given him the Dementor's kiss.
'I've just been really sick lately. Gin, my want and need for a relationship has just shriveled up.'
'…I think I still love you, but I'm not in love with you. Is that okay? Can I still come over and see your brothers?'
'You intimidate me right now and I'm terrified of everything. Turns out I'm a coward. Sorry about that. Real sorry.'
'You can get on with it and snog other guys now. I promise I won't be jealous.'
'Every time I close my eyes I see Lupin's dead body. Tonks' too. And Fred's. AND the students. I don't think I can love anyone right now, not even myself. I'm pretty sure I'm broken and have no use to the world anymore. See you at Christmas?'
Harry practiced these speeches all the way down to breakfast but when he walked into the Great Hall he immediately felt… a buzz. Something was off, he was too practiced for this type of thing. Head on a swivel, he looked around, hearing some excitement, oddly placed laughter… something was going on... but what?
Finding Hermione, he sat down next to her and questioned her with a look. She desperately tried to act normal, stirring her tea loudly, giving him nervous glances and a fake smile, but her jitteriness did not fool him. "Morning!" she practically sang. But there could have been a wand at her back with all the nervous energy she radiated.
"You're shaking. Out with it, what's going on?"
"Oh Harry! It's nothing…" but her voice was a positive squeak. "Just nervous… Transfiguration lessons… you know…"
"You don't sit like that. Are you… are you sitting on a Prophet?"
"No!"
And he physically pushed her, extracting the prophet from her backside. She almost grabbed the paper back but thought better of it. He unfurled it and read the front page in bold letters:
DUPLICITOUS LOVE SICK DEATH EATER
Duplicitous Love Sick Death Eater: The best double-double-crosser in history? Rita Skeeter has obtained hushed-up testimony in light of the trial of Severus Snape, former headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Everyone has been wondering: why is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's closest supporter still supported by Hogwarts? Well, the answer has been hiding under everyone's big noses. It turns out, Severus Snape's deepest desire was none other than Harry Potter's own mother, the late Lily Evans.
See page 2, where you can see Severus Snape, year two, with Lily Evan's in Potions Club. A happy wayward child next to a pretty glowing young girl, choosing to spend her time with a thin boy in tattered robes. Her kindness, intelligence, and beauty no doubt drove Snape into infamy to impress her, desperate to gain her attention with wandwork and concoctions.
"Odd bloke, Severus Snape," said Robert Witherington, age 39, who went to Hogwarts with the pair. "He was always hanging out with the redheaded girl, didn't know why. She was nice to everyone though. Probably felt sorry for him, poor fellow. Smelled funny."
Snape's career and treatment of students brought many complaints over the years but the headmaster took a blind eye. Now we know why. Dumbledore has been dangling 'The Chosen One,' the child of his first love in front of him, forcing the two to dance around each other in a sick game to lure the 'Dark Lord' to his death. For more information on Dumbledore's manipulation, read 'The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore,' the number one best-selling book of last year. As eluded, Severus Snape's motives have become clearer: why did he betray He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named even though he was his most trusted supporter? Did Dumbledore really plan his own death? Or did Snape kill him to finally get close to Lily Potter's son?
Although Snape's continued appointment raised eyebrows and alarms, this year he has not taken so much as a House Point from Gryffindor: "He's been okay this year," said Luna Lovegood, daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood, the editor of the Quibbler. "He's much nicer in class and hasn't been mean to Harry all year."
Despite Howlers by the hundreds arriving at Hogwarts for the headmistress, Snape may have turned over a new leaf. Students report he barely sneers in their general direction, and his lessons are both informative and instructive. However, I, Rita Skeeter, did some digging and found a more illuminating elucidation. "His lessons are really good lately, teaching us all about what Dark Magic is and isn't. The line is finer than I thought. He says there is no Dark Magic, only power and the consequences of that magic, defined by wizarding laws and guidelines. No, don't write that down, I didn't mean it that way, the lessons are actually really good," says Barbara Belmonte, a seventh year Hufflepuff and a budding Dark Arts enthusiast that Snape has evidently turned.
Dumbledore, deranged and dying on his deathbed, ordered Snape to 'do him in' while dangling fake support in front of the 'Dark Lord.' This cock and bull story is so ridiculous, so barmy, it must be true, and it turns out the truth is stranger than fiction. Memories left by Dumbledore himself reviewed by the Ministry have corroborated Snape's claim that he was innocent all along.
But good luck telling that to the two children in St. Mungo's Hospital for Medical Maladies and Injuries, who, thanks to the Carrows, are still missing noses.
This unexpected 'Dark Hero' will go down in History as one of the most duplicitous double crossers that Dumbledore ever designed, no doubt, to 'do good.'
Alas, in the most recent year, for a job well done, Snape slips back into his old ways. No matter how much the infamous Severus Snape loved Lily Evans, she will always be second best to his first love: The Dark Arts.
This can't be real.
But here Harry was, in the Great Hall, staring at the front page of The Prophet brazenly spouting off Snape's personal business. And it was his fault! Snape didn't want exactly this. This is why he chose Azkaban. Tearing away, he looked around at the few students actually reading the paper. There were only a few, but this was going to be all over the school by the end of the day. Harry did shout this very personal information to Voldemort last year… but for the entire world to know…
"Harry…." Hermione tried to steady him.
"Do you think he's seen this?" Harry lowered the paper to stare at her. Then he stole a glimpse up at the staff table- he was not there.
"Doesn't matter. He'll know by first period. Maybe McGonagall gave him the heads up."
To their utter shock and amazement Snape did show up at their Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, banging open the door with his wand and smacking a towering stack of old books down so hard it made them all jump.
"A little light reading today, I think. Start at page one and keep going."The books flew towards them. "AND If anyone cares to quip Prophet quotes at me, today or ever, I shall stop at nothing less than expulsion," he hissed. "And if that is not granted to me, I will proceed with what I call… 'The Dumbledore Treatment.'"
Some mouths dropped, others tightened. Snape did not look at Harry the entire class.
Leading up to Halloween Snape continued to completely ignore him, refusing to acknowledge his existence in any way, during class and in the hallways. It was like his seat was empty. This didn't bother him at all, as it just felt like being back at with the Dursley's, but they were supposed to be organizing a Dueling Club. Draco avoided him too, perhaps angry the article besmirched some of his only trusted support. With this renewed coldness Harry wondered if he could simply stop going to Slughorn's parties and let Draco sink or swim.
As far as Rita Skeeter articles, yes, it upset him, but he was used to these by now. It was more a dig on Snape than on him. He felt guilty it happened but surely Azkaban would have been worse.
Soon Hagrid's pumpkins took over the grounds and the castle decorated top to bottom, its broken appearance only adding to the Halloween ambience. Harry dressed the part in his new owl-ordered robes that actually fit. If Snape and Draco were avoiding him, he may have an okay night, and forget about talking to Ginny. This week was a bust with the article, though he didn't tell Hermione he chickened out.
Meeting her in the common room at six, she looked… breathtaking, so unlike herself. A compliment evaporated in his open mouth, suspicion creeping in, a horrible thought coming over him.
"…Ron's not coming… right? He's definitely not going to be there?"
"No!" She said offended, hiking up her dress rather un-ladylike as they exited the portrait hole.
"Just making sure… you look really nice tonight."
"So I can't look nice at a party?"
"You just… look really, really nice, that's all."
"Well, I'd thank you, but you didn't mean it as a compliment. You're always just thinking of your own problems."
"I'm… I'm sorry." Now he felt angry at her and angry at himself.
"I… I didn't mean it like that!" she recovered. "You're doing fine Harry."
"I know you didn't. SO, in exchange for that little insult, I say we agree to two hours, max. An hour and a half if we talk to Slughorn early."
"No, McGonagall's there! I want to talk to her, and everyone else too."
"Two hours tops, I'm shaking ten hands only, that's it!"
"You don't have to shake any!"
"Yes I do! I promised to come, I just can't stand in a corner!"
"Your presence, Harry, you don't have to shake anyone's hand. Stand there and look impressive. You just cleared Snape's name and everything. People are talking about you. Just look important without actually doing anything. Like Draco- entitled. You're supposed to be learning from him, remember?"
They argued all the way down to the party and before Harry was ready music wafted towards them, asking them to join the festivities. Hitching up their collective smiles, they entered the room.
The first thing he noticed was the abundance of students this time. Pansy and Zabini were here, possibly negotiated in by Draco. Pansy was standing very close to Zabini like they were a pair and he kept inching away from her like they weren't. Draco, who saw them come in, watched but did not acknowledge them.
They searched for and found Luna and Neville… with Ginny. Harry looked around, careful not to look directly at her.
"Ohhhh, you look nice Hermione. Is Ron coming tonight?" Luna amped up the crystals for this party: now they were woven into her hair and sewn into her dress. Normally it would look ridiculous, but her dress shimmered and caught the light, so the effect was quite nice and not too over the top. Well, it was a little over the top, but they were at a party.
"You too Luna! And no, he's not. Very busy at the Ministry."
Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes. "No, he's not! He's at home with the family today. Harry's been avoiding Ron and THAT'S why he's not here."
"He just had to go to another trial!" Hermione begged. "AND that article about his mother!"
"Why do you keep making excuses for him?" Ginny shot at her.
"Right then," and Harry turned and completely left the group. He'd rather be pushed around by Slughorn than deal with that.
So he sought Slughorn- if he got this 'Golden Boy' dance over with he could just leave. Seeing the neatly lined bottles on one of the drink tables, he decided he deserved a Butterbeer for this. Squeezing through the crowd and reaching for a bottle, he didn't notice the danger until it was too late.
A hefty man just left the drink table, revealing Snape, holding a freshly poured goblet to his mouth. Harry froze… …and they renewed their staring contest like they never stopped. I'm sorry about the article, but most of the older students know, so what's the point?
"Hello Professor," Harry said. Honesty. If he was going to have an acquaintance-level relationship with him, he'd have to start with honesty. "I'm sorry about the article. I wouldn't have said all those things at the trial if I didn't think you were about to get sentenced to Azkaban. ALSO, your little comment about 'my demons eating the Snitch' thing hurt my feelings."
Snape sneered almost comically, Harry realizing this was not his first goblet of the night. "That was the point, Potter." He left keeping the eye contact, drinking.
"Right… well…" Harry said to no one in particular.
"Potter!" Draco came striding over after seeing Snape leave. "WHY are you antagonizing him? Leave him alone! Haven't you embarrassed him enough?"
"I saved him from Azkaban!" Harry whispered loudly while he popped open his Butterbeer. Instead of arguing face to face they turned to the crowd to do it, standing side by side with fake smiles while they whispered an angry conversation through gritted teeth to keep up appearances.
"You didn't save him, he wasn't even sentenced yet!"
"You weren't THERE. You didn't hear the testimony. It was rather damning."
"I heard Mundungus was a witness, anyone should be so lucky for that sod to be at their trial! I heard all three were flops, and my father told the court he didn't know his true intentions!"
"YOU weren't THERE!" Harry hissed through his teeth. "Your father's testimony was both damning and brilliant. It could have gone either way. Even Snape admitted more or less that I saved him! They were going to give him three years! I did what I had to do so there would be no doubt!"
"That's worse, isn't it? You just don't get it. No one wants to be saved by you, Potter!"
"Then go to Azkaban then! I'm trying to do the right thing here, and I get no credit!"
"You get ALL THE CREDIT for EVERYTHING! That's the problem! We want a Potter-free life and that's hard at Hogwarts, isn't it?"
"Is that what you want? You want me to quit, just go already, yeah? Everyone wants me to leave, do they?" His voice rose angrily, but the thought of leaving felt amazing! He could just LEAVE and be in his bed at Grimmauld Place tonight! He wouldn't have to start at the Ministry until August 1st of next year, he'd find some excuse not to start earlier.
"OH NO YOU DON'T! Slughorn expects a Dueling Club thanks to you, you're not leaving now."
"Yeah, what does your mother think about this?"
"My mother thinks it's brilliant. She's more than happy to use you."
"Oh yeah? She doing good?" Harry quipped in this sarcastic strangely casual conversation.
"She's great," Draco spat back at him. "Her hair stopped falling out months ago."
"You're welcome by the way, going to both of your trials, and Snape's, like you asked me to."
"THANKS for that," Draco spat, "I'm SO happy my family might be together in a few years. Like collecting broken pieces of a mirror. Lucky us."
"I'm GLAD your family is safe actually, which is weird, because I don't like any of you."
"EVERYONE likes my mother, she is spectacular. You're too pig headed to notice. After Hogwarts I hope I never see you again, and I don't think I'm going to get that wish."
"RIGHT. SO- President. When is our first Dueling Club?"
"The weekend after next."
"The weekend after… NEXT!?" Harry said too loudly. "That's not enough time!"
"Too late! I already told Slughorn! Or is 'Poor Potter' upset I did the thing he requested in the first place?"
"Couldn't you have made it next month?"
"You ARE avoiding everything, aren't you? Is this who you are now?"
"YES," Harry decided. "I don't owe anyone anything."
"Except this was your BLOODY IDEA!" and several witches walked by them hearing their angry tones. Draco and Harry smiled warmly as they passed.
"Next weekend. Don't skive. I will drag you there if I have too."
"I can't believe I skipped Quidditch for this," Harry mumbled.
"It's once a month. Quidditch practice is everyday. It was the calculated move to make, the one I made too. ...In speaking of practice, what is your dueling knowledge like?"
"Hermione says it's pathetic and I need a book, which I won't read, so I needed a pureblood."
"Is it that bad?" Draco asked revolted.
"Yes!" Harry exclaimed. "I think. And that's why you're President. I'll just… follow your lead."
"OH NO you won't!" They moved away from the drink table to the side where they could argue in a more private corner. "How much do you know about the sport of Traditional Dueling? Tell me what you know."
"Well, you bow. And then… you duel… and then… there's a second or something… It's been a while."
All the color drained out of Draco's face. "That's it… you're just Harry Potter. You have no knowledge, and you're going to head a club that you know nothing about while all the others do the work."
"McGonagall wanted me to…" and Harry did feel a little ashamed. "Look, I can brush up on my knowledge, but I need Hermione to help me."
"I don't mean to give you the pureblood rhetoric, but a muggle born with zero experience in the sport of Traditional Dueling should not be teaching you! What is your schedule like?"
"I…."
"Saturday. Dueling club is Sunday, so we'll meet Saturday. You're not going to Quidditch matches anyway. The castle will be empty, we'll go over basics then. You're good at faking skills so… this might work."
"Stop insulting me. Everyone is always insulting me."
"And EVERYONE calls me a Death Eater. We just deal with it, don't we? Saturday at noon, eighth floor, that hallway's blocked off like the others. I expect you to be there. And remember!" He pointed an angry finger- "THIS was your idea." He stalked off, replacing his annoyed face with a pleasant one for the crowd.
"HARRY!" He threw back on his smile too as Slughorn came by. "I see you talking with Mr. Malfoy… SO… when is the first Dueling Club?" He forced a goblet of wine into his hand, a much more mature drink than a Butterbeer.
"Evening Professor. Sunday after next."
"Is it?" he laughed, excited. "And here I thought he was just appeasing me. Glad. To. Hear. It. I expect GREAT things from you two. It's funny how our paths keep intertwining with the people we expect the least…" and he shook his head like he was remembering something from his life. "Now my boy, come with me, there is someone I think we should say hello to…"
And Slughorn steered him around the room, forcing Harry well above his '10 handshakes' limit. But he didn't complain. A goblet down, he was feeling a little relaxed. Just when he thought about slipping away from Slughorn he brought him to-
"The Minister of Magic himself!"
"Kingsley!" Harry gasped, the last person he expected to see at a Hogwarts Party.
Kingsley smiled slowly at him, a goblet in his hand, looking steady and unmovable as ever, drinking him in. "Harry…it's nice to see you…that was quite some trial."
Harry laughed. "Snape hates me! He really was going to risk Azkaban, wasn't he?"
"He doesn't hate you…" Kingsley's low voice rumbled. "It's nothing Dumbledore wouldn't have done."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to him," Harry laughed. They stood side by side observing the party while Slughorn engaged with a couple close by.
"I'm glad you're here and not… ruminating about things," Kingsley said slowly.
"Right." I am ruminating about things. "This year's going pretty well," he lied. "Malfoy and I are starting a Dueling club, school unity, you know."
"That's a smart move, Potter. Strategic."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, feeling like he was fumbling through all of his good decisions.
"Though a good party is well needed, I'm not here on accident. I have something to discuss with you."
Harry's face fell. What could Kingsley possibly want from him? This could not be good… Death Eaters? Or... Please, not about Ron. Please, don't demote Ron. "Yeah?"
"Post-war, there is a new requirement for Aurors."
Harry's mouth dropped. There was no way he could juggle any more responsibilities.
"The Ministry wants all high-ranking officials, including Aurors, to obtain first aid training. Aurors are now required to obtain a C.H.A.R.M.S. in healing. This can be obtained during Jr. Auror training, but you're being admitted as a full Auror in August."
Harry stared horrified.
"This is unwelcome news, but understand Potter, our losses last year were tremendous. There is no excuse for any high-level Ministry official not to perform a simple healing spell."
"Oh…" Harry looked away, starting to panic. But Kingsley did not give him an out.
"You have plenty of time, but you need to act quickly. Pomfrey may agree to train you, or you will need to go to St. Mungo's on the weekends. I know what you're thinking, but the healing C.H.A.R.M.S. is not a difficult exam- it is only first aid. Let me know by the end of November. Again, Potter, this is required. I am not a dictator. I cannot wave a wand and make exceptions anymore."
"Right. Yes." He still looked away, wondering if he even wanted to be an Auror anymore. "Yes, I will ask Madam Pomfrey for training."
"The C.H.A.R.M.S. is not hard to pass," Kingsley reiterated. "You will have no problem with them- your wandwork is fine."
"I will," he promised, looking at him this time. "I'll get the C.H.A.R.M.S. Let me figure out how. Thank you for telling me this. So… how... how's Ron?"
And Kingsley gave him a look. "He keeps everyone... entertained. …Good for morale."
"Oh. That bad, huh? …Well, I better work hard and get in there. Two's better than one."
"I'm counting on you, Potter." He put a heavy hand on his shoulder and walked away in the direction of McGonagall. Harry let out a trapped sigh.
Slughorn was there ready to collect him. "HEALING C.H.A.R.M.S. So much work, but you'll manage Harry, you'll manage." Pushing the small of his back he led him into the heart of the party. "You know, you have an EXCELLENT opportunity here. There are loads of sick students in the hospital wing, ready to be treated. Pomfrey will be delighted for the help."
Harry frowned. Only Slughorn would view sick students as an opportunity.
"AH, here he is, SEVERUS!" Harry and Snape's eyes snapped to each other like a magnet. "Severus, did you hear, Harry will be trying for the Healing C.H.A.R.M.S. this year!"
"Really?" and indeed, Snape thought this was highly amusing. "Harry Potter? A healer? I've heard everything."
Slughorn laughed. "Now, now, I'm sure he'll make a great healer. It's not like he's training to be a Mediwizard, just a bit of first aid. Very useful. Should be taught here… but... they have their reasons…"
"If you want Harry Potter to learn anything, all you have to do is teach Granger," Snape said into his cup.
"OH, HO, you are wicked, Severus. And why is that a problem? Such good friends. Quite the pair. And oh, where is Mr. Westly? I was hoping to see him today." Slughorn looked at Harry expectantly. Snape gave a crooked smile, thinking 'Mr. Westly' was also very funny.
"Did… did you mean Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yes! Ronald Westly! I thought he had Halloween off, I checked and everything! Still, he eludes me."
"Oh, you don't know Ronald 'Westly,'" Snape told Slughorn. "He is very distracting and a detriment to learning opportunities."
"That's not true!" Harry defended automatically but thought of Divination. "Ron is talented…in his own way." He felt like Hermione now.
Snape didn't argue, he didn't have to. All he had to do was raise an eyebrow and drink. Slughorn caught it.
"Oh ho? Well, a little break from our loved ones is needed sometimes. No worries, no worries, I'll chat with Mr. Westly another day. SO Severus- DUELING CLUB! Next Sunday, have you boys drawn up some activities?"
"Is that when we're doing it?" Snape asked, taking another healthy drink.
"Now, now, Severus, the article wasn't that bad. Everyone who knew Lily Evans loved her. You don't need to be drinking that much, we can't have two professors in the bottle!" Harry looked away at the mention of his mum.
"I am not drinking because of that," Snape said quietly. "Perhaps I am drinking because the castle repairs are taking every ounce of my time, and someone managed to worm their way out of them."
"Now, now, Severus," Slughorn laughed again. "I am an OLD MAN, I can't be staying up half the night on the castle!"
"And now I have a Dueling Club to supervise when I should be strengthening North Tower."
"Severus, do you know what your problem is?" Slughorn said with a smile.
"OH, do tell me," Snape slurred with a smile of his own, looking quite unsteady through his even voice.
"You can't handle when good things happen to you. You are a respected, fine member of Hogwarts. You are being hailed as 'The Dark Hero.' You will go down in history as complex, intelligent, and a DAMN good Potions Master. You shy away from your true successes. And you have your freedom! Have a little fun with it, won't you? Live a little!" Snape looked like he would 'live a little' by hexing him. "Life is short, Severus. So short."
"So, I should stop strengthening the castle and live a little? I shall tell McGonagall that I would like a break. Your idea."
Slughorn wagged a finger. "Oh, no, no, no. Not on me. But come now, you have soooo many things to be thankful for. You were facing Azkaban and now you're here- at a party."
"I would rather be in Azkaban than at this party."
"Oh no…" he shook his head comically. "Bested again… but don't blame me in the morning for that headache." Still looking rather pleased, he engaged in conversation with someone who just stopped by for a chat.
And just like that, Harry found himself alone with Snape again. Snape smiled through his drink and Harry knew he was in trouble.
"Did I really hurt your feelings?" he smiled with his newly whitened teeth, which was not an improvement. Somehow he managed to look even more dangerous with white teeth than the yellow ones.
"Yes, sir," Harry said, unsure if he should lie or just walk away.
"Why? Why does anything I do affect you at all?"
"You know why, sir."
"Tell me. I don't follow." There seemed to be a joke in his eyes. This was a version of Snape he never encountered before: a relaxed libated version that somehow retained all his nastiness.
Harry opened his mouth. We've lost shared loved ones, I don't really like you, but you sacrificed everything to help us, and you won't talk to me or acknowledge this shared grief. "I just thought you'd be a little nicer to me this year, that's all."
"Oh?" and Snape's eyes danced a malicious fire. "Is that what you want?"
"No… I thought that's what you'd want. I don't know what I want."
"That…" Snape whispered, "-is obvious."
"So, are we ever going to talk, or are you just going to keep me at a distance?" Harry shot at him, deciding to use the alcohol against him. "Both are fine, just let me know."
"And why would we need to talk about anything?"
"Because it seems like the right thing to do."
"THE RIGHT THING TO DO!" Snape yelled, making a sudden movement, toasting the sky. "50 points to Slyffin-puff!" People turned around. They stared. Every single person in the immediate vicinity turned to watch.
Harry's mouth dropped.
"What was that, Severus my boy?" Slughorn turned around, hearing the punchline of a good joke when he heard one.
"Slyffin-puff!" Snape repeated louder, even more people turning to listen. "It'S Potter's own house. Wits of a Hufflepuff, reckless as a Gryffindor, and -perfecting- the two as if he were Slytherin." People around them burst out laughing. Slughorn looked absolutely delighted. "Potter is Head of House, AND a Prefect to boot, I daresay," he proclaimed over the laughter, sounding unstable as Trelawney. But then the real Trelawney turned around too, apparently just behind him.
"Harry has his own house?" she asked honestly, bug eyed and confused.
"Yes, it is… Slyffin-puff. He… he has his own QUIDDITCH TEAM!" Snape decided with another large gesture. "They play without brooms. They just jump… and try and catch the Snitch. They never do catch it, but everyone is very impressed."
The laughter intensified, Slughorn booming above them all, Draco watching nearby, mortified Snape managed to get this drunk.
"What's the Slytherin part of that?" Harry dared.
"What?" Snape shot back over the laughter, one eye larger than the other. Some people shushed the crowd to hear Harry's retort.
"I SAID: what's the Slytherin part about jumping and trying to catch the Snitch?"
Snape did not look stumped. He smiled evilly, leaning down very close to whisper in Harry's ear, hair falling and brushing his face. "Because Slytherin always wins the cup…" Harry's ear tingled.
"What was that, Severus? Tell the room!" Slughorn boomed, pulling Snape up straight so he wouldn't wobble.
"Because SLYTHERIN WINS THE CUP!" Snape yelled triumphantly, throwing his goblet in the air again. Their large group guffawed. Harry was awe-struck. Draco was frozen.
And Harry began to laugh slowly too. This undignified stunt was the funniest thing he'd seen in a year. Snape was making a right prat of himself, unhinged as Trelawney, but it was worth it to see Draco this mortified. At least tonight people could clearly see Snape wasn't some stone-cold killer and torturer of students in this laughable state.
"My, my, Severus, we are having a good time! I am happy to see you loosen up a bit. Slyffin-puff, what a house… what a house… HOGWARTS UNITY!" He chuckled. "Severus, you have quite the sense of humor, we all know it, very funny and a damn good wizard. NOW-" he pulled Snape up close to him again. "I. Think. We. Should. Get. You. Off. To. Bed. Come along, Severus, it's been a wonderful night… I'll be right back…" he told a lovely looking witch before leading Snape away.
"Draco!" Snape called. "Bring me… give me another one of those..." He pointed a wand at Trelawney's goblet.
"Oh, ho ho!" Slughorn eyed the goblet with a twinkle. "Maybe not Severus, oh, oh... well, what's the use? It is a party, maybe just one more for the road... Go on, Draco."
Unsure if he should, Draco pulled out his wand and amplified the wine in Snape's goblet to mostly full.
"20 points to Slyffin-puff..." Snape generously gave to Draco, who looked scared by this unseen level of drunkenness. Snape drank the wine while Slughorn pulled him from the room, people still laughing.
Hermione came up behind him, alarmed by the large commotion and Snape getting dragged away. "What happened? Why is everyone laughing at him?"
"Didn't you hear? I'm getting my own house. Slyffin-puff." Hermione's mouth dropped as Harry retold the joke. She seemed absolutely aghast. "Want to join my house?"
"I suppose. Oh, I can't wait to tell Ron. You'll let me tell him, won't you?" She sighed. "No, you'd tell it better…. "
"Oh wait. You can't join." Harry smiled, thinking about it. "You definitely have an ounce of Ravenclaw." Suddenly he felt very good. Maybe he could enjoy a party after all.
"Oh, that won't stop me, Harry. I'll be head girl of anything," she gyrated her hips ironically. Harry grinned ear to ear until he saw Ginny across the room watching them, looking disgusted at Hermione's mock-gyration. Harry turned them around before Hermione noticed her watching, directing them towards another drink table. Nothing felt that important anymore. They were at a party. They should be having fun.
"You know, I think Snape has given me about 100 fake points already."
"Well, you DESERVE them!" someone yelled behind them as solid hands slapped both of their backs. "50 more I think, and I just might change my house!"
"Professor McGonagall!"
"Well, not my house anymore… I suppose. And please… call me Minerva," she said sweetly, clearly having a good time at the party herself, hat askew.
"Oh, I, ummm, are you sure? No, I couldn't…" Hermione looked honored and terrified.
"OH YES, HERMIONE. You have a long career ahead of you, and dare I say we shall see a lot of each other!" and she pulled Hermione in with her arm and held her. "Never a student so kind and brilliant, and-" she took another swig, "…clever." And side by side they both toasted, Hermione only drinking after McGonagall took hers, unsure.
"What about me, Professor? I'm head of Slyffin-puff!" Harry pointed out, pouring himself a glass.
"You've done enough, my dear boy."
"I hate to interrupt the festivities, Potter, I need a word." Draco was behind him, looking stern.
"Uhhh, sure." Harry pulled away, leaving Hermione to rub elbows with the headmaster under the influence of wine.
"Your ex-girlfriend looks like she's about to murder Granger."
"Yeah, I know," Harry gave another nervous glance in her direction. "But Ginny isn't that stupid. She knows we're not dating."
"And why aren't you?" Malfoy asked bluntly without a trace of sarcasm.
She's like my sister. "Everyone's dead," Harry blurted. "I'm not ready for a relationship right-"
Draco threw his hands up. "Stop- DON'T elaborate. I'm sorry I asked, I don't care. In speaking of dead people, I want to check on Snape."
"Why, he looked fine. Slughorn probably gave him the Draught of Sober Up, or whatever."
"Hangovers! A simple hydration potion- that's first year potions, you muggle." But Draco shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I just want to check on him," he said defensively, not looking at him. "Come with me."
"I… yes, of course, fine."
"That is, if you can afford to miss a party."
"Don't you dare, Malfoy.I don't enjoy these things. I never have."
"Alright, alright… do you have that… that cloak?"
"Can you get into his office?"
"Of course I can," Draco said waving the thought away with his hand like this was a stupid question.
"Oh, that's right, because you're Draco Malfoy," Harry joked, changing tone. "20 points to Slyffin-puff." Draco's lip curled in half disgust. Trelawney stole this exact moment to trip over her shawl and fall, drawing everyone's attention. They slipped out of the party while everyone stared at her on the floor, no one moving to help.
It was uncomfortable under the Invisibility Cloak with Draco. It wasn't like walking with friends, effortlessly moving in tune with someone you knew. It was awkward- they were too close, too unfamiliar, and he could smell him. In fact, he smelled quite pleasant, probably the Malfoys could afford expensive cologne. Maybe all the Malfoys have great hygiene. He banished the thought, refusing to think of Malfoy Hygiene. They walked down several hallways, Draco stiff as a board right next to him.
"This is a nice cloak," he mentioned. Harry barely had time to register the compliment until Draco threw the cloak off like he couldn't stand it. "I have reconsidered- not necessary, everyone knows Slughorn has a party tonight."
"Oh, well…" Harry thought. "I mean, the cloak's good, just in case. It would look weird if we're seen breaking into Snape's quarters."
"I would never be questioned for going into Snape's quarters," Draco insisted.
Harry snorted. "As a privileged member of Slyffin-puff."
"Don't ever say that word again." Draco looked annoyed but all Harry could think of was telling George about his new house. Maybe he would send him a fake acceptance letter by owl.
Apparently Snape did give Draco unbridled access to him, because he pulled out an actual key and unlocked the classroom. They walked through the empty classroom to the back, unlocking a second door leading to Snape's private quarters. The room was very dark and Snape was spread out on a couch still in a sitting position, head lolled back. Draco went around the coffee table, leaning over to check on him. Harry sat on the coffee table next to an empty potion bottle, perhaps administered by Slughorn.
"Sir… sir…" Draco shook him slightly. "Do you want water?"
"No. Potter." Snape's voice rang quite clear despite eyes closed, sounding very much awake.
"…What?"
"Potter. Potter must help. Because Slytherins apparently can't do anything for themselves."
Harry groaned. Draco sighed in relief. Snape may be drunk but his snark remained, which was a good sign.
"Draco."
"Yes Professor?"
"Do you know why the Battle of Hogwarts was won?"
"Why, sir?" Draco asked resentfully.
"Because all Harry Potter had to do was die."
"Please sir…" Draco begged, realizing what a mistake it was to be here.
"Do you know why Harry Potter came back to Hogwarts?"
"Well, if you're alright, we'll be going. I'll get you a glass of water."
"Why?" Harry asked, wanting to hear. Draco shot him a dirty look as he headed to an elaborate workstation hidden in the dark.
"Because botching six years in a row wasn't enough, he had to come back to botch a seventh."
"Potter, get away from him." A clink of a cup- "Aguamenti."
"…What's the difference between Gryffindor students and Slytherin students?"
"What?"
"The Slytherin students survived the war."
Harry was surprised by this level of cruelty. "That's not even true."
Snape laughed darkly. Draco came back looking angry; Crabbe may have been the only Slytherin student casualty. "Sir- perhaps knock it off a bit."
"HOW can you tell that Harry Potter feels guilty?" Snape's mouth moved, his eyes still closed. "Because he tells you."
"You seem a bit obsessed with me, sir," Harry said straight-faced.
Snape opened his eyes, dark slits burning even in the darkness, and he looked quite sober through his hatred. "Do you know what bothers me about your parents' death?"
Harry felt his heart rate quicken; he was not above dueling a teacher tonight. "What?" he asked coldly.
"Your father was caught without a wand. He knew Voldemort was after them, and he was caught without a wand. He was supposed to be protecting her."
"Well, time to leave then." Harry abruptly stood up but a vice-grip caught him and pulled.
"Where do you think you are going?" Snape twisted and dragged his arm, catching Harry's eyes.
The world disappeared.
He wasn't ready for it- didn't expect it. Harry screamed internally as his thoughts and memories were raked over. Out of practice, all the things he didn't want Snape to see instantly flashed to the surface: Lupin's dead body, Tonks' body, Fred's death smile, Grimmauld Place in disarray-trash building up in every room, his disheveled appearance in the mirror over the summer… the pacing back and forth in front of the Room of Requirement, begging it to open, Ginny's hurt and cold eyes, the sick students lined up in the hospital wing, Lucius' skeleton like body, Snape's disheveled appearance at his trial. Snape pulling out strings of memory and mouthing words in his arms.
His arm released and he was back at Hogwarts. "Sorry… I…" Snape said, and for the very first time, he looked it.
"50 points from Slytherin," Harry said, angry, like he was punishing a bad dog. "Malfoy, let's go."
"What happened?" Draco asked, alarmed.
"Let's go!" he yelled, and they both left the room, Snape sitting uncomfortable on the couch, watching them leave.
Please don't let him remember tomorrow. Please don't let him remember.
"What HAPPENED?" Draco demanded, looking worried after he locked the classroom door.
"He READ my mind!" Harry was so angry he had to tell someone. "Horrible things! I've… and… he read my mind! And all the things I didn't want him to see… just flashed to the front! I can't believe he did that to me!" Draco looked surprised by this, understanding the violation.
He walked with him all the way to the base of the stairs to Gryffindor Tower while Harry stewed, itching to purge his own memories like vomit.
"Well, then. Saturday at noon," Harry spat. "I'll see you later." And he climbed the stairs.
