Hiya guys! DANG the time between updates seems to get longer and longer! For that I am incredibly sorry. I genuinely do not mean to make you guys wait so long between updates, and I apologise still for the shortness of this chapter; I just wanted to give you guys SOMETHING to show that I am still progressing with this story and hopefully I'll get to the good stuff shortly and closer and more frequent updates. Love and adore you all! 3
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were crossing the flagstone to the Great Hall for lunch when a familiar voice called out.
"Mr Potter! A word if you please?"
Harry stopped and turned, eyes landing on the figure of Professor McGonagall as she descended the stairs. Ron and Hermione both hesitated, unsure whether their presence for the conversation was welcome. Professor McGonagall allowed a small, patient smile to grace her lips.
"Yes, the two of you may join us," she stated, gesturing for the three of them to follow her.
They fell into step behind the professor as she led them back up the stairs they had just descended. Harry, Ron and Hermione all exchanged brief, confused looks—surely Harry wasn't in trouble already…
"I do apologise for doing this during your lunch break, Potter, however I wanted to ensure that we would not be seen or overheard," McGonagall stated, treading down the familiar pathway towards Gryffindor Tower.
"What is it, Professor?" Harry asked, unable to hold the question back.
"In a moment," McGonagall replied as a pair of fourth years went rushing past them.
They followed their teacher in silence until they had almost returned to the Fat Lady Portrait. Instead of taking the familiar corridor that would have taken them down there however, McGonagall turned left and instead walked briskly down a perpendicular corridor that ended at a large, mahogany framed portrait. Staring back at them from within the portrait was a stunning young woman dressed in an ornate black gown with a large voluptuous white frill collar. Her eyes were a dark Venetian red and they shifted inquiringly to each of them in turn as she lifted a hand to brush tightly coiled black hair from her face.
"Good afternoon, Zhuri," Professor McGonagall greeted with a gentle nod, "I'm here to introduce Harry Potter to his new lodgings."
Zhuri's eyes brightened and she turned to peer at the three standing behind McGonagall with interest. The Professor turned to gesture Harry forward and he did so, stepping up so he was side-by-side with her.
"Harry, this is Zhuri, she will be your portrait guardian for the foreseeable future. Zhuri, this is Harry Potter," McGonagall said.
"Greetings, Harry Potter," Zhuri smiled, bowing her head but keeping her eyes locked on his face. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Er—thanks," Harry replied with a small smile of his own. "Uh—these are my friends, Hermione and Ron. You'll probably be seeing a lot of them too."
"Greetings," Zhuri repeating, this time bowing her head to each Ron and Hermione in turn. "It is wonderful to be meeting so many." She looked back at Harry and beckon him closer. "Step forward, Harry Potter, so I am able to key your magical signature into the wards."
Harry did as she requested, and he watched as Zhuri raised her own hand and pressed it against the surface of her painting.
"Place your hand against mine, Harry Potter," she instructed.
Harry reached up with his right hand, the darkness of his black dragonhide glove not too dissimilar to the beautiful dark gown Zhuri wore. He pressed his palm flat against hers, feeling the coarse nature of the canvas as he lined his fingers up with hers. She smiled encouragingly.
"Perfect," she praised. "Now you may feel a slight—"
"Whoa—yep—there is it," Harry interrupted with a slight laugh, and, after a brief moment, Zhuri also giggled.
"I was not expecting the connection to begin so quickly," she admitted, "or to be so strong."
"I suppose that is a good thing," Harry replied, smiling up at her.
As the surge of magic began to dissipate, Harry felt a gentle warmth pass over him as it sank into his very being. Zhuri smiled encouragingly at him as she slowly lowered her hand, Harry doing the same.
"Now you have the ability to come and go as you please," she said. "You may also provide entrance to any of those you wish. They simply need to be keyed into the wards and then speak the password each time they wish to come see you—unless you have barred entrance for privacy's sake."
Harry nodded his understanding, glancing back at Ron and Hermione. "How do I key people into the wards, Zhuri?"
"You and whoever it is you wish to grant entrance must place your palms against mine simultaneously," Zhuri explained. "It must be done with you present, Harry, in order to prevent any unwanted access."
"Okay, that sounds easy enough," Harry replied. "Can I add Ron and Hermione to the wards now? Is that okay?"
"Certainly." Zhuri smiled warmly.
Five minutes later, with both Ron and Hermione successfully added to the wards, the four of them were granted entrance to Harry's new rooms. Numerous candles and wall sconces flared into life with an echoing soft roar, bathing the space spread before them in warm light. Harry gazed around appreciatively. His room was spacious, with a large four-poster bed sitting up on a wooden dais at the far end of the room. On each side was a bedside table, with Impes's terrarium already resting on the right one. A few paces to the right of the bed was a door that Harry assumed led to the bathroom and beside that was a large chest of drawers and wardrobe. On the opposite wall was a substantial desk that was surrounded by large bookcases and shelves. The entire room was a beautiful shade of dark mahogany and the bedsheets the classic Gryffindor décor.
"Oh, wow, Harry," Hermione sighed, gazing around the room. "This is perfect."
Ron hummed in agreement—he was already making his way over to Impes's terrarium, gazing excitedly inside to see her. Impes immediately poked her head of out the little rock cave she had been resting in, tongue flickering madly as she took in Ron's scent.
"If this a friend of yours, Master?" Impes asked curiously.
"Yeah, he is," Harry replied, smiling fondly. "Both him and Hermione are really important friends of mine—they will look after you just as much as I do."
Impes began to slide out into the open, gazing up at Ron with interest. Ron looked over at Harry excitedly.
"Can I get her out, mate?" he asked.
"Of course," Harry replied. He looked back at Impes. "Is it alright if Ron holds you?"
"Of course, Master," she replied.
Harry could hear the eagerness in her voice and he smiled indulgently as he watched Ron carefully reach inside, extending a hand for Impes to inspect before slithering forward, gliding smoothly up his arm. Harry turned around to see where Hermione had gotten to—she of course had wandered over to his new bookshelves and was perusing the titles with interest, already reaching out to inspect certain volumes.
"I would not be surprised if you find Miss Granger here in your rooms more so than the library," Professor McGonagall murmured good naturally from beside him.
Harry turned a grinned towards his teacher. "I think you might be right, Professor."
She chuckled softly before returning her gaze to the other two Gryffindors. She cleared her throat.
"Now, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, if you wouldn't mind waiting outside for a moment, I would like a private word with Mr Potter."
Ron and Hermione immediately obeyed the request. Impes was returned gently to her terrarium and Hermione placed the books she had removed back into their correct spots.
"We'll wait for you in the corridor, Harry," Hermione said and Ron nodded his agreement.
"You should probably also bring Impes down with you—you know so she doesn't get lonely," Ron added innocently, and Harry grinned.
"I'll see if she's feeling up to it," he replied.
Harry turned to face his teacher as he best friends left the room and, as the portrait door snapped softly into place behind them, Professor McGonagall began to speak.
"Firstly, Harry, I just wanted to extend my gratitude that you are here and safe," she stated, eyeing Harry with a softness in her gaze he had never seen before. "I cannot begin to imagine the traumatic events you were put through over the summer, yet to see you here safe and well… it is more than we could have hoped for."
Harry tried to keep the awkwardness from showing on his face but as he reached up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, he could feel his cheeks begin to burn.
"Er—thank you, Professor, that—that really means a lot." He offered a genuine smile, and proceeded to feel the burn on his cheeks intensify when McGonagall returned it.
"Now," the Professor continued, "in addition to the main entrance to your rooms near the Gryffindor tower, there is one other way to gain access." McGonagall gestured for Harry to follow her as she made her way towards the desk. "These bookshelves here, the two largest," she gestured towards them, "split apart, and there is a short corridor that leads directly to Professor Snape's quarters. This will allow you and Severus to continue your Defence lessons in private without the risk of being discovered by any potential Dark supporters."
"So… this corridor connects straight to Severus's quarters? In the… dungeons…?" At the incredulous look on Harry's face, McGonagall's mouth twisted into a small smirk.
"The Headmaster performed the magic himself, Mr Potter, I assure you, the passage is perfectly safe."
"So, I won't find myself unexpectedly transported to the girl's toilets or something?"
"I sincerely hope not."
Harry chuckled. "Okay, brilliant. That is honestly amazing. I'll make sure to thank Professor Dumbledore when I see him next." He watched as Professor McGonagall reached out to a shelf approximately the same height as Harry's shoulder, her fingers landing on black stone snake with emeralds for eyes. With a small gentle tug the onyx snake tilted, coming to a halt at a forty-five-degree angle. Instantly, the large bookcase split apart, revealing a dark stone corridor lined with burning sconces. A short distance away was a wooden door which Harry assumed was the entrance into Severus's quarters.
"That other door is the rear of Zhuri's second portrait, giving her the ability to move between the two as she requires. The same process of being keyed into the wards and the use of the password will be required to access via this entrance as well," McGonagall explained. "Zhuri's second portrait in located in Severus's sitting room."
"Does Severus already have access or will he need to be keyed into the wards as well?" Harry asked.
"You will need to grant him access," McGonagall confirmed with a nod. She stepped back and Harry followed, the bookcase sliding soundlessly back into place of its own accord.
The four of them made their way back to the Great Hall in order for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to indulge in lunch before their afternoon classes.
With their hunger now satiated, the three of them began their way through the castle to their next class. By some lucky coincidence, Harry caught sight of Draco up ahead, walking amongst a group of Slytherins who were headed in the opposite direction, coming towards them. A thought suddenly materialised in Harry's head, and he casually directed Ron and Hermione down the corridor towards the oncoming group. As they drew level, Harry caught Malfoy's eye, and the Slytherin surreptitiously manoeuvred himself so he was able to brush past The Golden Boy as the three Gryffindors passed them by.
"Come to Severus's quarters tonight," Harry murmured, sharing a meaningful look with the Slytherin.
Malfoy eyed him carefully for a moment before nodding his agreement. Harry continued past him, barely a fault in his step as he conveyed the message, minimising as much suspicion as possible from the surrounding Slytherins. Only Parkinson seemed to notice the exchange and she directed a smirk towards Malfoy who steadfastly attempted to ignore it.
"The Professor is ready for you, Harry."
Zhuri's voice filtered into the bathroom where Harry was finishing up refreshing himself. It was not long post dinner and Harry had been waiting in his new rooms for the all clear from Severus so he could add him and hopefully Draco to the wards that protected the entrances.
Harry poked his head out of the bathroom doorway and found Zhuri smiling at him from her portrait.
"Thanks, Zhuri," he replied, stepping back into the room. "Do you know if Draco Malfoy is with him?"
"I believe there is a young man with pale hair with him, yes," Zhuri replied.
"Excellent, thank you." Harry loosened the tie from around his neck and removed the silk, tossing the red and gold onto his new desk as he walked by towards the large bookshelves. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt before reaching up for the small black snake statue and pulling it forward, the bookcase splitting open before him. With a soft whoosh, the flame sconces that lined the short passageway burst into light.
This is going to make life so much easier… Harry thought with a grin as he stepped inside.
