italics only = letter
canon prophecy is changed
Chapter 27
Harry watched Roger Davies from his place at the Gryffindor table as he sat down to dinner with Draco beside him. The blond had told him about the other boy's tendency toward bullying and that he suspected that the Ravenclaw was involved with the prank on Neville.
Hedwig dropped a letter in front of Harry, distracting him from the Headmaster's introduction of Lady Augusta Longbottom who would be sitting at her grandson's side.
The seal on the letter showed a pile of bones so he opened it quickly.
Lord Potter, Earl of Inverness
I regret to inform you that my position as head of the DMLE keeps me incredibly busy. It is unfortunate but this means that I will not be able to meet with you. If you need legal assistance you may, of course, contact my office as needed. Thank you for your understanding.
Amelia Bones
Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Harry frowned at the parchment. She blew him off...even though he'd offered to meet at the ministry. He silently fumed and was surprised when Lady Longbottom tapped his shoulder.
"Hello, Lady Longbottom." Harry said as he stood. He bowed slightly over her hand and offered his seat.
"Nonsense. Neville will shift down one for me." As the words left her lips the action was performed. "May I ask what has frustrated you, Lord Potter?"
"Oh, well, I've been trying to get in touch with Madam Bones." Harry confided. "She's ignored my assistant's attempts for a week so I sent a letter personally and she has now blown me off entirely."
She nodded her understanding. "I realize that we barely know each other, Lord Potter, but perhaps if we are able to see eye to eye, I might be able to convince her to meet you."
"Our meeting is after dinner. I'd hate to take up the short time you have to visit with Neville." Harry said graciously.
She smiled and happily turned her attention to her grandson.
He spoke to Draco through the meal until he heard something being said that disturbed him.
"I'm sorry, Lady Longbottom. Did I hear you correctly?" Harry asked as politely as he could. "Neville's wand is his father's?"
"Yes. His father's wand was available and perfectly functional, so..." She trailed off when she saw his worried expression.
"In all the references to wands and wand lore that I have seen, my lady, the one thing that has always stood out is that the wand chooses the wizard." Harry said carefully. "If the wand chose your son, and your son is still alive, how could it choose Neville?"
"Well, I..." Lady Longbottom looked very confused.
"I've even heard rumours that using a wand that hasn't chosen you, could cause a disruption in your magical core." Harry bit his lip and continued. "Forgive me. Wands are a recent interest of mine ... ever since I found out one of my ancestors was an Ollivander."
"Thank you for pointing out this issue, young man." She said softly. "It is something I will be looking into."
The meal soon ended and Draco went off with his friends while Harry waited for Lady Longbottom to say goodbye to Neville before joining him on the walk to his suite.
"He may not be your blood kin, Lord Potter, but Neville was meant to be your friend and ally." Lady Longbottom murmured.
"Oh?" Harry questioned.
"Your parents were good friends with my son and his wife." She smiled gently at him.
"I was under the impression that my parents chose to appoint only one godparent and that was Sirius Black." Harry stated.
"Yes. That's true, but close friendship doesn't always mean you'd give them your children in the event of your passing." She said shrewdly. "Especially if they are in as much danger as you are."
"I beg your pardon?" Harry frowned at her.
"Oh, dear. Did Albus not tell you?" She blinked. "Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything."
"Please, my lady. Go on." Harry's voice hardened.
She told Harry that there was a prophecy about himself and Voldemort but it could've easily been Neville in Harry's place. "That's why both my son's family and yours were placed in hiding for a time. Until it was determined which of you boys was the prophesied child."
Harry struggled to control his temper. Here was something else Dumbledore had hidden from him. Now that he thought about it Tom had also mentioned a prophecy when they spoke in the graveyard. He resolved to ask Snape if he knew anything about it. Until then, he decided to move on with his agenda for the wizengamut. He had to get as many members onside as possible before the first session so that Sirius stood a chance of getting his trial... and winning.
When they arrived at his suite, Harry let them in without using parseltongue, just in case she was one of the people who feared it as a dark ability. After Sirius was free he could begin showing his true feelings on the matter but, until then, he was going to show caution.
"My office is just off of the sitting room." He told her as he gestured toward the door. "Can I offer you tea or perhaps a nightcap?"
"A glass of port might be nice." She smirked.
Harry nodded and moments later, Ziva brought in a tray.
They chatted for a while about his classes and her bridge club before switching to recent wizengamut subjects, during which, she smirked and politely demanded they get down to the real topic he'd called her there for.
"Alright." Harry chuckled. "I'd like to tell you the story I've been able to piece together of the night I defeated Voldemort... but if I tell you, can you promise not to divulge it to anyone? Can you protect your mind?"
"I know Occlumency, young man, but I'd prefer to make a secrecy oath." Augusta Longbottom was willing to do much to assist in the downfall of a dark lord who had already been a threat to her family.
He agreed and when she finished making the oath, he proceeded to regale her with the details of that Halloween night so long ago.
"So how do you know all this?" She said softly, thinking of her grandson. "You were barely a toddler..."
"I've pieced things together from talking to people who knew my parents." Harry confided.
"There aren't many of those left." She murmured.
"One of the reasons I've been trying to contact Madam Bones is that I can't find any reference to Sirius Black's trial in newspapers." Harry told her. "I want to confirm things I've heard."
"Like what?" Lady Longbottom asked.
He took a deep breath. "He may be innocent."
"Don't be ridiculous, it's ludicrous to think the auror corps wouldn't have performed a full investigation and trial..." She trailed off when she saw Harry's dark expression.
"According to my source... they didn't investigate and there was no trial." Harry told her grimly. "I was told he was sent straight to Azkaban."
"No!" Lady Longbottom breathed in horror.
Harry nodded. "I've heard he wasn't the only one."
She gasped. "Do you have proof?"
"Only my memories." Harry sighed. "My friends and I had captured Pettigrew but he escaped before we could secure him properly. My biggest asset will be if Madam Bones agrees to search the court records for the trial transcripts. Either way we find something out. If my source lied, the transcript will be there. If not, then she may be willing to testify to that effect before the rest of the wizengamut, which should result in a trial that will prove his guilt or perhaps his innocence."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that." She cringed. "There's a bit of bad blood between her and Black so she may not be too happy to help you get him off the hook."
"Well, if she'd let a childhood disagreement keep an innocent man away from his loved ones then she's as corrupt as the ones who put him there." Harry frowned. "Will you talk to her?"
"I'd like to hear the whole story first but I understand if you wouldn't want to speak of it before the possible trial." She replied as she stood up. "I'll have a word with her."
"Thank you, my lady." Harry bowed over her hand and saw her to the door. When she'd gone, Harry quickly wrote to his godfather, informing Sirius of everything Lady Longbottom had told him and that it might be helpful if he knew the story behind Madam Bones' anger.
Then he turned his thoughts to the prophecy she'd mentioned. He already knew his life was 'touched by prophecy'. Bealush had told him. She'd also warned him that prophecies come in groups. He needed to find out what this one said and who'd made the prediction.
Since Snape was trusted by both parties who knew about the prophecy, it was reasonable to assume he would know something about it. Harry decided to approach the man after History of Magic class the next day and made notes in his journal about the events of the day.
His last task before bed was to send Korlag a missive asking about the possibility of transforming the scepter of Dagobert into a different shape while retaining its magic.
Harry hovered outside the door to Snape's office until the older man arrived. As he approached, Harry called for his attention.
"Professor, may I have a moment of your time?"
Snape silently left the door open as he entered the office so Harry took the hint and closed it after himself.
"What is it, Potter?" Snape asked with pinched lips. "I haven't much time before my seventh year students arrive."
"I remembered something Tom said in the graveyard last June and it seems to match up with a comment from Lady Longbottom last evening." Harry told him. "Is there a prophecy about me and Tom?"
Snape lost what little color he had as he slowly sat down. "Dumbledore doesn't want you to know about that yet and The Dark Lord didn't want you to disbelieve him if he was the one to tell you..."
"Do you know anything about it?" Harry asked. "Augusta Longbottom didn't say much and Tom only mentioned the prophecy in passing."
He stood up and cast a few spells at the door. "It is this prophecy that led Tom to visit James and Lily that night. If only they had listened... but it doesn't matter now..."
"Tell me?" Harry asked in a softly commanding tone.
"At the time I applied to be a professor, there were a number of positions that needed to be filled." He sighed. "I arrived early for my interview which was being held in one of the upper rooms of the Three Broomsticks. I didn't know he wasn't ready for me so I went up to the room and, rather than leave, I chose to hover. I overheard Dumbledore's interview with Sybil Trelawney. She'd answered a question or two before going silent. Dumbledore tried to get her to respond to him again but instead, she made a strange noise... the door opened and Dumbledore saw me there."
Harry listened in fascination. "Did he do or say anything?"
"He invited me in and ordered tea..." Snape replied. "But Sybil was unconscious on the couch and there were already cups on the table so I declined his offer and asked what had happened. He told me she'd gone into a trance to 'open her inner eye'. He said it was common with seers and she may or may not make a prediction afterward. Then he asked if I could keep a secret. Of course, I told him of my skill in occlumency and, in turn, he told me that he knew I was an associate of Tom's and he would give me the job as Professor of Potions if I promised to spy on Tom for him."
"Which you did..." Harry guessed.
Snape nodded. "I accepted because the Dark Lord was being incredibly erratic. I still trusted him, but he had become much more violent and bloodthirsty than I ever expected of him."
"Did Trelawney wake up while you were there?" Harry wanted to know.
"She did." Snape replied quietly. "After I accepted my position and as I was stepping out the door, she sat up and, as if hypnotized, she recited..."
Harry stared. "What is it? What did she say?"
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who've thrice denied him, born as the seventh month dies..." Snape quoted her. "The door closed behind me at that point and I don't know if anything else came after."
"That seems to fit in with what Augusta Longbottom said last night. Neville and I both fit that description. Both our parents were approached by Tom but weren't willing to listen."
"No, the Dark Lord only approached Frank and Alice Longbottom once." Snape told him, shaking his head.
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"He confided to me that Frank was too much under Dumbledore's influence to ever go against him and he never contacted the Longbottom heir again." Snape replied.
Harry frowned. "Then why would Dumbledore tell the Longbottoms that they were in danger?"
"Perhaps..." Snape speculated. "Perhaps Frank only told Dumbledore that he'd made contact but not how many times?"
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "And Dumbles assumed that because Tom had contacted my parents three times, he'd also contacted Neville's parents the same amount?"
"The man thinks himself infallible." Snape replied with a nod. "It's entirely possible that is the way it happened."
Harry sighed. "Should I ask Dumbledore?"
"I wouldn't." Snape counseled. "You have no way of knowing the truth unless you use veritaserum and there's no way you'd be able to slip it to him. Not without him knowing."
Harry sighed. He would put Fred and George on it. If anyone could slip a potion to someone as well protected as Dumbledore, it would be them. "Your class is probably waiting. I should go. I have to meet my Care of Creatures partner."
"Use the classroom door. You are a student, after all." Snape said. "Let them in and thank me for answering a question or something."
Harry smirked as he walked out. "Sure."
The seventh year students barely took notice of him except for Cedric Diggory, who waved him over. "If you don't mind, I'd really like to go back into Helga Hufflepuff's rooms sometime soon. There was an old loom I'd like to look over and see if I can construct one for my mum during the summer holidays."
"No problem." Harry grinned. "I was actually going to owl you because I'm going back in, myself."
"Great! Just let me know!" Cedric rushed into the classroom as Snape came to close the door.
"If you're finished socializing...?" The professor sneered.
"Sorry, sir." Harry smirked. "Thanks for answering that question."
Snape sent him off with a glare but Harry just chuckled as he left.
When he arrived at Hagrid's hut, Susan was outside near the shed. She was hugging a woman Harry had never seen before.
"Hello, Susan." Harry called out. "How is our fire-crab today?"
"They're doing quite well, Lord Potter...but isn't it wonderful?" Susan gushed. "My aunt Amy has come to visit!"
Harry's eyes whipped over to the lovely witch. Her hair was reddish brown and her eyes were cold hazel. "Madam Bones! How nice it is to meet you."
"Lord Potter." Her lips pinched as she looked him over.
"I was under the impression that you were too busy to meet with me." Harry smirked, offering her his hand.
"Lord Potter, I'll thank you to keep any future correspondence between ourselves and not bring outsiders into private affairs." She glared at the young lord's hand.
"Oh, I do apologize, Madam. I happened to be eating dinner next to Lady Longbottom last evening when your owl reached me." Harry explained. "After my meeting with her, she offered to speak to you. I assure you, I meant no disrespect."
"I'm afraid that, due to the conversation she and I had, I have quite a list of questions for you." Madam Bones had her chest puffed out proudly.
"Auntie!" Susan's expression was one of shocked resignation. "Oh...I see. You're here on business."
"Yes, Susan, I am here on Ministry business ..." She turned back to the younger woman. "However, seeing you is a more than pleasant bonus."
"Mmhmm... Well, what's Lord Potter done to get an interrogation?" Susan crossed her arms over her chest.
The older woman sighed. "The point of an interrogation is to find that out."
"No. You taught me that the point of an interrogation is to offer the suspect a chance to incriminate themselves before lawyer-ing up." Susan reasoned sarcastically. "You don't start one not knowing whether or not the person has done something wrong!"
"Ah..." Harry mused with a sly smirk. "Is that what is going on here? Do I need to owl my lawyers?"
"Of course not, Lord Potter." Amelia Bones glared at her niece. "I simply need to speak with you regarding any knowledge you may have of innocent people being sent to Azkaban without a trial."
"Oh, I see." Harry shrugged. "Have you searched the transcripts and checked them against the prisoner roster at Azkaban?"
She huffed, prompting Harry to chuckle. "Not yet."
"Well, before we have our next conversation, I'd suggest doing so for all eleven years of the First Wizarding War. Let my assistant know when you're done and I'm sure he can find some time in my schedule for you this weekend, Madam Bones." Harry gave the older woman a perfunctory bow before turning to his classmate. "Susan, I hope you understand that some ministry business has cropped up."
"Of course, Harry. We need to discuss the assignment soon though." She frowned. "Is Friday night alright?"
"That sounds fine." Harry grinned as he began to turn around.
"Potter!" Madam Bones called after him. "Don't you dare lead her on!"
Harry whirled back to face her. "I beg your pardon, Madam?"
Susan's face flushed with color. "Auntie?!"
"Don't, Susan! Don't set your heart on someone like him!" She pleaded. "Your father had his heart broken by Sirius Black while they were in their fourth year and he ended up bed hopping until he finally found your mother after he graduated."
"Madam Bones, I don't know what you've heard, but I've made my intentions with Susan quite clear." Harry stated carefully. "I'm only interested in friendship with her and am currently in a relationship with someone else."
"But..." She frowned at him in confusion. "But Dumbledore said..."
Harry's expression darkened. "Dumbledore doesn't know everything, Madam Bones."
"Perhaps he meant it in a different way than I took it..." She murmured thoughtfully. "He only mentioned that you'd been seeing quite a lot of each other..."
"Auntie! I told you about the assignment for Care of Magical Creatures! Of course we're seeing a lot of each other!" Susan huffed.
"Oh, I'm quite certain the Headmaster wanted you to take it the way you did." Harry snorted. "I hope you realize..."
"No. He said you were seeing the Malfoy heir and the Weasley girl as well." She divulged, clearly distressed. "He implied that you were dating a number of people! I couldn't possibly have misconstrued all of it!"
"I'm only dating Draco Malfoy, Madam Bones." Harry said calmly. "Ginny Weasley is my cousin and Susan is my friend and classmate."
"I had thought that there was a chance for us to be more but Harry set me straight right away, Auntie." Susan nodded earnestly.
"Madam Bones, I'm gay... as in not interested in girls." Harry asserted. "I assure you... the headmaster doesn't know me nearly as well as he wishes he did."
She nodded absently.
"Now, I'm not sure what happened between your brother and my godfather, but I think you said that they were fourteen." Harry frowned. "I have it on good authority that sometimes people are jerks as kids... they can grow out of such behavior and move on to live productive lives. Please help me find out if he deserves the chance to do that?"
She sighed but nodded before saying goodbye to her niece and hurrying away.
"That was strange." Susan commented. "Why would Headmaster Dumbledore want to make her think things like that?"
"I only have theories, Susan." Harry gritted his teeth, wishing he could tell her the truth but knowing she was better off not having that information just yet. "I'm sorry, but I have to speak with Draco about this. I'll see you Friday night." With that, he rushed off toward the Muggle Studies room, hoping to catch both Ron and Draco on their way out.
When he saw them just outside the room, he stepped up behind his betrothed and whispered. "Boo!"
Ron smirked at the way the blond jumped slightly.
Harry chuckled at Draco's glare but asked if they could talk for a bit.
They followed Harry into an empty classroom and listened as he relayed the story of Madam Bones' visit.
Draco hummed. "He's attempting to make you seem like a bedswerver."
"A what?" Harry asked.
"A rake. An immoral person who dates a lot and gambles." Ron explained.
"Like in the romance novels my aunt reads." Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Got it... but what does it gain him if he paints me that way?"
"Perhaps he thinks to persuade my father that you're not a good match for me and is attacking our relationship that way." Draco murmured absently.
"I didn't think about that! I thought he'd come at us head on...but..." Harry frowned. "You may be right. He may be sneakier than that."
"If I was him and I didn't want you guys together..." The redhead hesitated but quickly made the decision to be honest. "I might attempt to attack from multiple directions."
"Interesting theory." Harry considered this. "I guess I'll have to be on the lookout for more tactics like that."
"I'll let you know if he tries anything from my direction, Harry." Draco offered, now worried.
"Alright..." Harry sighed. "So anyway, now I have to meet Susan on Friday night because we didn't get anything done today."
Draco huffed. "I wanted to start meeting for our classes that night."
"I'm sorry." Harry waved for Ron to go on without him. "If it's any consolation, it shouldn't take long. It's one creature and all the notes we took while we fed and groomed the thing. Two hours, tops!"
Draco eyed him speculatively as the door closed behind the other boy. "I'll give you three... just in case."
Harry grinned and leaned in close. "Can I kiss you?"
Draco answered by crossing the distance between them for a soft kiss. "We have double Potions tomorrow morning and dinner's in an hour. Let's start with that tonight."
"Astronomy class at eight." Harry countered. "What can we do in an hour?"
"Not much." Draco sighed. "Unless we work through dinner? Your office?"
Harry nodded and called Dobby to arrange it while they walked through the halls. When they reached the heir's suite, they were met with quite a scene.
"Harry!" Luna cried as she whirled around the sitting room to music only she could hear. "Harry, Hedwig brought a letter and won't give it to anyone else so it must be for you!"
"There is also an unknown owl who is being equally standoffish." Zack commented from his place next to the fire where he appeared to be doing some homework.
Harry frowned but hurried past Ginny who'd just come out of her bedroom. The owlry was empty but for the two owls so he quickly approached his snowy owl first. "This one is from Sirius. I'll read it in a while. First, let's see where you came from..."
Draco was smiling at the other owl. "It's father's owl. How are you, Homer?"
The noble eagle owl looked pleased at the attention as Harry took the envelope from him.
"It's from both your parents." Harry frowned. "Seems they've got some news for us."
"What is it?" Draco pulled Harry's arm so he could peer around his shoulder.
"She spoke with Bellatrix and they know the location of the horcrux." Harry read. "Only you can access it but it's safe so He says it can wait til Christmas."
"An opportunity for personal growth has arisen." The young man frowned but nodded to accept this. "I wonder what she means by that. Oh, she's invited you to the manor for Christmas. You'll come, won't you?"
"It's nice of her to offer..." Harry said with a smile. "And although I'm certain I'd enjoy my time with all of you, I'm planning to host my family at one of my newly inherited estates... so, I'll have to decline."
Disappointed, Draco sighed. "At least spend Yule with us?"
"Aww..." Harry grinned teasingly at the blond. "Will you miss me?"
Draco's playful glare let Harry know he didn't mind the teasing.
"I'd actually planned to invite you to join us during the break." Harry smirked at the blond.
"I'd love to..." Draco suddenly gripped Harry's arm, having deciphered his mother's hints. "It's in her vault!"
"The horcrux?" Harry asked. "I assumed it would either be there or at one of her estates. What do you think she means here? An out of town guest is expected this spring..."
Draco turned to Harry. "I can only guess that she means Cousin Regulus."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "That fits. What about the 'personal growth' opportunity?"
Draco huffed. "I'm not sure. I'm not due for another growth spurt yet..."
"Of course!" Harry's eyes widened. "Your Dragonlord powers!"
Draco gasped. "You think she's found me a dragon to talk to?"
"It's possible." Harry shrugged. "If I'm wrong I can ask Ron's brother to let us visit the reserve during one of our breaks."
This brought Draco up short. He should've thought of that. He was doing it again - not using his Slytherin instincts to further his plans. Was his mind becoming dull because of his romantic inclinations? "I-I've got to go." Draco said absently.
"Draco?" Harry questioned worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. No." Draco sighed. "I don't know."
"Please talk to me?" Harry asked.
Draco tried to suppress his desire to whine but couldn't quite manage it. "I don't feel like myself, Harry. I'm not thinking things through. I'm reacting instead of being the one in control."
Harry considered the words and Draco's behavior in the past several years. It was true. "Get tested."
Draco shook his head. "What? What are you saying?"
"I don't know how it might have happened, Draco, but you should get tested for potions and spells." Harry suggested strongly.
"You're just paranoid!" Draco shook his head again as he picked up his books. "I don't have time for this nonsense. I've got things to do if we're not going to start our homework."
Harry frowned but said goodbye and ate dinner in his office in order to gather his thoughts. He wrote in his journal for a little while and, when he finally made a decision, he wrote a note and gave Dobby the task of delivering it while he went to astronomy. The young lord felt a bit bad going over his betrothed's head but Harry rationalized that it was for Draco's protection. Then he turned his attention to the letter from Sirius which held his godfather's account of what had happened with Susan's dad.
Astronomy class began as boringly as usual but it soon became quite eventful owing to the professor's announcement that Pansy Parkinson was paired up with Harry's cousin, Ron. The young lord had to suppress a chuckle when Ron seemed so outraged by the pairing that he didn't even attempt to be polite. "Why you?" Ron whined. "I don't wanna work with a snake!"
Pansy, for her part, wrinkled her nose at her new partner and primly picked up her things, moving them to their assigned seat. "I don't know what you're complaining about! I'm the one having to work with a plebeian!"
"Ron!" Harry hissed to his cousin when he saw Ron's face start to flush. "It's not worth the detention! Just go!"
Ron grumbled but picked up his books only to slam them down on the table at his new spot.
Theo Nott eyed Harry as he took his seat beside the young lord. "Lord Potter, I am Theodore Nott."
"I know your name but almost nothing else about you." Harry admitted, holding out a hand to shake.
"We have precious little time to work together but I am a friend of Draco's so we may get to socialize later in the year." Theo murmured as the teacher finished assigning partners.
"Lovely." Harry replied, wondering where this new Slytherin's loyalty lay, when Roger Davies walked in.
"Excuse me, Professor Sinistra." The Ravenclaw student called out as he entered.
The professor read the note and announced that Roger Davies would be joining the class.
"Shit." Theo hissed.
"What?" Harry's eyebrow rose.
"Davies is a tool. That's all." Theo sneered.
Harry frowned but nodded in agreement as their teacher called out for everyone's attention.
"Seems we have a transfer from my Wednesday night class." Professor Sinistra told them. "Mr. Davies, please take a seat with two students from different houses than yours."
Hermione and Hannah welcomed him politely before turning their attention back to the teacher so the class could move on. Each group was given a different objective and a week to complete the assignment.
"Library, Sunday afternoon?" Nott asked.
"Sunday night is better for me." Harry said politely. "I have meetings at the wizengamut this weekend but I'll be back by dinner that night."
Theo nodded once before everyone's attention was drawn by Pansy sending a stinging hex at Ron.
"I'm quite used to people poking fun at my nose but I'll not have my intelligence maligned, Weasley!"
Harry sighed as the Professor sorted them out and assigned a detention for each along with a loss of house points.
When the professor dismissed them a few moments later, Harry drew Ron aside to find out what happened.
"She was acting all ditzy and snarking at me, so I called her a pug-nosed, tickle-brained harpy... and she hexed me!" The redhead pouted, holding a hand against his cheek where her hex had hit him.
The story gave Harry a burst of adrenaline as he rushed through the halls. The door to Snape's office opened at his first knock and he walked in to see the older man waiting at his desk.
"Explain." Snape snapped.
Harry nodded and quickly detailed his theory, making sure to mention both Draco's and Pansy's behavior.
"Interesting...and worrisome if true." Snape replied, gritting his teeth at the possibility that someone had dosed his Slytherins - his godson - without his knowledge or consent. He fumed silently as he stood and began to pace. "You said he didn't believe you. He thinks you're being paranoid. Why come to me?"
"You care about him. You might be able to make him see the value in a simple test... or you might be able to test him secretly." Harry hinted.
"I could test several students... a random student or two from each year." Snape mused. "Dumbledore won't know it's happening and Draco wouldn't know you had anything to do with it... if I told him I had this epiphany myself."
Harry sighed in cautious relief. "I was sort of hoping you'd take credit for the idea."
"Were you?" The professor smirked. "Well, I will... if...?"
Harry was suddenly cautious again. "If?"
"If you will allow me to explore the Chamber of Secrets." Snape concluded as if he'd won the quidditch cup all by himself.
"I don't understand." Harry frowned. "I've already said I would open the Chamber and let you harvest the basilisk. In fact, I asked you to do it."
"Ah, therein lies my request." Snape gave him a sneer-like grin. "I wish to look around... explore the Chamber... see Slytherin's rooms and perhaps find his private laboratory."
Harry nodded. "Alright, I agree."
"Really?" Snape blinked. "That simple?"
"Yes, it's that simple." Harry looked him square in the eye. "You are more than just my professor ... you're my future husband's godfather, and an ally of my ally... beyond that, you were a friend of my mother's... albeit a long time ago."
Snape looked at the young man in front of him. "You would not have brought this worry to me if you didn't care about Draco. Thank you."
Harry nodded solemnly. "Good night, sir."
Snape muttered the same in reply and watched Harry walk out the door.
Once alone, Harry pulled the map from his pocket. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He whispered with his wand on the parchment and smiled as it came to life.
Filch was one corridor away so the young lord sighed and summoned Dobby to return him to his suite. Harry looked around his office as soon as they arrived, knowing he was safe.
"Thanks, Dobby." Harry said softly. "I think that's it for tonight. Go be with Ziva."
Dobby giggled. "If Master Harry Potter sir is being certain!"
"I am." Harry smiled at his old friend and sat at his desk.
As soon as the elf was gone, Harry spread out the map. The students were mostly in their dorms with a few exceptions.
Fred and George were in the Gryffindor common room with their friend Lee Jordan while Hermione was outside the library moving steadily toward the tower. Lisa Turpin was in an unused classroom in the Charms corridor with Adrian Pucey. Cedric and Cho were outside the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. Colin Creevy was in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey watching over him. Professor Mcgonagall was in the staff room with Professors Flitwick and Sprout while Headmaster Dumbledore was pacing in his office.
Harry stared at the representation of the man who had gotten away with so much mayhem and taken so many years away from too many people.
Suddenly, Headmaster Dumbledore's name tag went blank but, in the blink of an eye, it was back. Had Harry really just seen what he thought he saw? He focused on it again and, just as he was about to give up, it happened again!
This was surreal! Why had the Headmaster's name flickered? What would disrupt the map's magic? The only other time Harry could think of something doing that was...
"Last year...The fake Moody..." Harry remembered. "Something weird is going on."