A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you're all well. Let's kick off this weekend with another chapter! Woot. Thanks for everyone who reviewed. You made me very happy.

I blest his name that gave and took

Chapter 14

A faint knocking on Snape's door had him looking up from the abysmal essay he was in the middle of grading. Sighing and secretly glad for the reprieve, he carefully placed his red-inked quill in its holder and turned the essay over so he didn't have to look at its inane drivel anymore.

"Enter," he called out.

The door opened with much hesitation. Snape kept his expression carefully neutral when he saw that it was Draco Malfoy that had come knocking. He had been expecting the boy. Especially after talking away his quidditch position without even discussing it with the teen. But he had expected for the boy to come in whilst bristling and breezing much like a triggered bull. Instead, his demeanour was demure and much more respectful than expected. Curious.

"Mr Malfoy," Snape said neither welcoming the boy in nor turning him away. He would leave things up to the Malfoy heir for now.

He chose to enter and closed the door behind him. "Professor Snape," he replied in kind, then went to stand behind the desk chair, seemingly not sure if he was even allowed to sit. Snape inclined his head ever so slightly in invitation but Malfoy had been watching him with much scrutiny and hadn't missed it so he sat down.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Snape steepled his fingers and rested his elbows on his desk, peering intently at the boy. "Is your plan to sit here for the remainder of the evening?" he asked sardonically. "Because if so, I'd rather you retire to your own desk chair so I can proceed with my work."

Draco glanced at Snape's quill, then at the man's face and then quickly down at his folded hands.

"I messed up," he said quietly.

"Did you?" Snape replied. "And in what – pray tell – did youmess up?" He narrowed his eyes dangerously but the effect was entirely lost since the boy didn't even look up to meet his gaze.

"I destroyed Potter's stuff," Draco said. "And I hit him. I played little pranks on him. And I shouldn't have done that."

"No, you shouldn't have," Snape replied. "But I realize that you already know that I know these things. Furthermore, you know that I would know that lest you think me a fool. Do you?"

Draco shook his head. "No, sir."

"No," Snape repeated. "As such, one can't help but wonder why you come here to lay out your misdeeds as you are. Have you come to defend your actions, perhaps? To plead for forgiveness? Or do you simply want your position as seeker back?"

"I have been making amends," Draco said.

"Have you?" Snape asked. "And what have these amends been, pray tell?"

"I'm replacing his clothes," Malfoy said. "I gave him a catalogue and told him to pick his favourites. Naturally, he's too proud to accept my apologies so he only chose the bare minimum and I had to threaten him with buying my personal favourites to even get him to do that much, but I'll supplement a little here and there to make it a bit more –"

"I suggest you cease your rambling and catch your breath, Mr Malfoy," Snape said coldly. Though the boy's efforts had honestly surprised him. Instead of ranting about the unfairness of it all; how Potter wasn't a true Slytherin and therefore fair game, he wasactuallytrying to right his wrongs.

Malfoy's gaze flickered upwards for a second, trying to find Snape's approval but he gave away nothing yet. "I also apologised," Malfoy continued. "Genuinely, I promise. And I pushed him to follow the Slytherin rules this morning at breakfast so he wouldn't get in trouble. I haven't done anything else."

"That's rather unexpected, Mr Malfoy," Snape said. "But admirable. I applaud your efforts."

A hint of a smile curled Draco's lips. It seemed that the boy thought he had won. "So…"

"Yes?" Snape asked, his eyebrows raised in a question.

"About quidditch…"

"What about it, Mr Malfoy?" Snape asked.

Draco sighed in mild frustration. "You know what I want to ask, Professor. Please give me my seeker position back. I think I've done enough to earn it."

"No," Snape said simply.

For a moment, Draco stared at him in complete shock. "No?" he repeated in disbelief. He jumped up from his seat and slammed his hands on Snape's desk. "What do you mean 'no'? I've done everything I could think of to make things right. What more could you possibly want from me?!"

Ah,therewas that anger that Snape had come to expect from Draco.

"You have been punished for your actions," Snape said simply. "It is well done of you to try to amend your wrongs but that isn't going to get you out of your punishment. It stands. If you manage to behave for the rest of the year, you may be reinstated next school year."

Draco's face drained of all colour. "But that's not fair!" he shouted. "You can't do this! My father –"

"Your father has no say in the matter," Snape interrupted him coldly. "Invoking his name will not change my decisions and it is frankly insulting that you thought it would."

"My father –" Malfoy repeated, his shoulders sagging slightly. "He's there for every match I play.Everytime." He dropped heavily into his seat. "He will expect me there."

"You will simply have to tell him that there's no reason for him to come watch this year," Snape said simply.

"He bought the team brooms," Draco said softly. "The brooms! He won't want you to use the brooms if I can't play anymore."

"If that is the case, so be it," Snape replied. "You may tell your father and inform me of his decision regarding the brooms. If that will be all?"

"Sir," Draco tried again, almost pleading with him now. "Please don't do this. I'm good at being a seeker. YouknowI am."

"So is Mr Potter," Snape said. "It is quite fortuitous that he's a Slytherin at the moment. One can only hope that he'll apply for the position."

"You'd give it toPotter?" Draco spat angrily. "You choose thatscarheadover me?"

"Watch your mouth, Mr Malfoy," Snape warned.

"I thought we could say whatever we wanted in here!" Malfoy yelled angrily and Snape flicked his wand to ward the door against sound. It would not do for his other Slytherins to catch this moment of weakness from the Malfoy heir.

"You are free to express all concerns and opinions here," Snape said. "But I will not tolerate name calling and gossip. I will not be pulled into your bullying ways."

"Well then it is myopinionthat you are betraying Slytherin house," Malfoy spat venomously. "You are betrayingmefor Potter. Me!"

Snape rose from his seat, his six foot frame towering above Malfoy, exuding anger. "You will not question my loyalty, Mr Malfoy," he said angrily. "You very well know that I always do right by my Slytherins, no matter howinsufferablethey sometimes prove to be."

"But Potter –"

"Donotinterrupt me. Punishing you for your mistakes is not cruelty. It is teaching you a lesson. One you sorely need. Your outburst and words prove to me that you've learnednothing. You believe that your fortune can solve all of your problems. You buy clothes at far too great a cost for Potter and try to use the acquisition of your brooms against me as leverage. But I will tell you right now, Mr Malfoy, that the things that matter most cannot be bought with coins. Forgiveness cannot be purchased and loyalty comes at a cost far greater than what you can ever afford."

"You don't know what you're doing!" Malfoy yelled. Clearly, Snape's words were not getting through to him. "Please just give me another chance."

"I will," Snape said. "Next year."

Malfoy locked gazes with Snape and for what seemed to be forever he just stared. But then the boy got up, knocked over his chair like the petulant child he was being and stormed out of Snape's office, not closing the door behind him. Snape simply flicked his wand and it flew shut.

Well… that interaction certainly could have gone better. Snape hoped that Draco's newfound disappointment wouldn't be taken out on Potter. But no, that was unlikely. Draco knew that if he tried anything else, there would be more punishment to come. He would keep his head down. At least until Potter was reinstated as a Gryffindor. Then, all bets would likely be off and Snape would have to revise his strategy.

Sighing, he took his quill, dipped it in his red ink and started scribbling on the nearly forgotten essay.Teenagers.

How long would it take for someone to notice that he wasn't there? Not long, Harry assumed. Snape was pretty anal about being back on time. And before that, he would surely be noted as missing at the dinner table. If not by Snape, then definitely by the twins. He wriggled a bit, trying to loosen his aching limbs but to no avail. It was a dumb struggle anyway.

It was unbelievable how much the Dursleys managed to mess up his life. Now they were interfering with Hogwarts. Sure, not directly and no, they didn't burn the tower down but even with being resorted into Slytherin, everything looked a lot brighter before Snape found out about his home life. It was almost as if an invisible force had been waiting for this exact moment to have his life come crashing down around him. His friends were too busy to even talk to him, his former dormmates already turned against him and Daphne betrayed him. That's what started it all, actually.

Not showing up to dinner would likely get Harry into even more trouble. And saying that he was late because he was attacked wasn't going to work either because that only happened because he broke another one of Snape's rules. It's infuriating to know how right the man had been.

The snapping of a twig set Harry on alert. He turned to look at the source of the sounds and felt his breath get stuck in his throat at the sight of a great black dog stalking towards him. His tongue hung out of its gaping maw, teeth glistening with drool. Its yellow eyes were fixed on Harry and its ears lay flat.

The beast resembled the dog from Harry's nightmare. The one he dreamed about the night the tower burned down. "Get away!" Harry yelled. "Shoo, you great black monster."

But the dog didn't react. It just kept coming closer until it was close enough for Harry to feel its hot breath on his skin. Harry froze in fear but the dog didn't do much. It sniffed Harry a little bit, made a whining nose and licked Harry's hand.

And then, the clever creature started tugging at the thick, magically conjured ropes.

"Oh," Harry said. "You're here to help me, are you?"

The dog didn't respond. It just kept tugging at the ropes, its big teeth gnashing and gnawing. Harry had only ever been in contact with one friendly dog. The one his aunt Marge brought was always a hostile menace, biting Harry's legs until they bled. It didn't matter how kind Harry tried to be to it, it always attacked him. The only friendly dog Harry knew was Fang. And while Fang's slobbery kisses had become normal for Harry, he was still cautious around stray dogs.

But this one didn't seem to mean him any harm either. In fact, it had somehow managed to bite through one of the ropes and Harry managed to free one of his arms while the dog kept biting and pawing at the remainder of his restraints.

"Where did you come from?" Harry asked. "I've never seen you around here before and IknowHagrid didn't get a new dog. Are you someone's familiar?"

The dog sneezed.

"No?" Harry said. "Did you come from the forbidden forest, then? I've never seen you around there before."

His other arm was now also freed and Harry drew his wand to get rid of the rest of the ropes.

"Thanks, boy," Harry said gratefully. "I don't think anyone would have come to find me if it weren't for you."

The dog tilted his head a bit as if asking a question.

Harry sighed. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't mean to be so gloomy. I'm usually not like this. It's just… things happened and my friends are too busy to talk to me about it."

The black dog pushed his nose against Harry's armpit and buried its head underneath his arm.

"You areveryfriendly," Harry laughed as he petted the dog on his soft head. "Okay, look, if you really want to know, I have this professor. Snape."

The dog growled low and dangerously.

"Exactly," Harry said bitterly. "He forced me into a check-up that I really didn't want and found out stuff I wish he didn't know about."

The dog barked and – still with his head tucked underneath Harry's arm – rolled over as if to look at Harry.

"Yeah, he's a right prick," Harry agreed, scratching the dog's belly. "And I really didn't want him to know about the Dursleys."

The dog's ears twitched and he looked at Harry intently.

"My relatives," Harry clarified unnecessarily. "They took me in after my parents died. The thing is, they weren't always very nice to me and unfortunately, Snape found out about that."

When the dog whined, Harry sighed. "He says I have to stayhereduring the summer," he explained to the dog. "And while I don't want to go back to the Dursleys, I'm afraid that it's not real, you know?"

The dog just stared.

"My friends decided the right time to be pricks, didn't they?" Harry said. "They – oh, shoot! I have to go back. If I miss diner, Snape will have my hide!"

The dog jumped up when Harry did but when Harry started towards the castle, the dog didn't move.

"Aren't you coming buddy?"

But the dog gave him a long, calculating look before barking once, turning around and running straight towards the forbidden forest.

Alas, Harry was indeed too late and when he entered the castle through the double doors, Snape was standing there with his arms crossed. He was blocking the entrance to the great hall and staring at Harry. "And where have you been?" he asked.

"I lost track of time," Harry said, choosing not to mention the Gryffindors' assault.

"Did you?" Snape asked. "And where are your two housemates that are supposed to accompany you?"

Harry glared at the potions master. He was not in the mood for this. "I didn't bring any," he said. "I just wanted to send a letter from the owlery. Is that a crime?"

"It is not," Snape said. "Nor is it wise. I know that you don't believe my rules to be in place for a reason but I assure you that they are."

Harry sighed. "Okay," he said wearily. "What is my punishment?"

Snape stared at him for a long moment. "Just go inside," he sighed. "And eat. You're skin and bones. Just don't let me catch you alone again."

Harry looked up at him in bewilderment. "Sir?"

"Go on," Snape urged him. "Unless you'd rather cut up flubberwurms for the remainder of the evening?"

"No, sir," Harry stammered. And before Snape could change his mind, he ran past the man and into the great hall, straight where the twins were sitting.

For a moment he glanced at the Ravenclaw table to look for Hermione but she wasn't there. Ron – on the other hand – was stuffing his face. When he saw Harry enter, he waved at him but for now, Harry didn't feel like forgiving his friend just yet so he turned his head and sat down.

"Trouble in paradise?" Fred asked.

"You callthisparadise?" Harry gibed.

"Well," George said. "Thereisroasted chicken."

"And beef stew," Fred said dreamily, practically salivating. "Here, Malfoy, have some."

"Shut up, Weasley," Malfoy replied but there wasn't a lot of bite to his words. Harry frowned. The boy looked about as awful ashefelt before he was able to vent a little to the dog.

"Hey, guys," he said. "Did you ever see a black dog in the forbidden forest?"

"Harry!" Fred said in mock offense. "Why would you think weeverset foot in the forbidden forest? It is forbidden!"

"Yeah," George agreed. "That is hurtful and detrimental to our character. Anyway, I have seen one prowl around there the last couple of times.

Fred nodded. "It seemed friendly, though."

Malfoy mumbled something under his breath.

"What's that, Malfoy?" George asked.

"I said," Malfoy said shakily, "That it is unbelievable that I get punished for the smallest thing but when it comes to you, you can dowhateveryou want WITHOUTFUCKINGCONSEQUENCE!" When he yelled out that last bit, the entire hall went quiet.

"Wow, Malfoy, cool it," Fred said, a little bit more seriously than he normally would. "People are staring."

"Oh please!" Malfoy yelled. "As if you're not relishing all of this attention! The certified class clowns. A proper DISGRACE even to the Weasleys themselves!"

Harry couldn't help but stare. Malfoy had gone completely off his rocker. He looked at his housemates to see what their reaction was but they all just seemed to ignore Malfoy. None of them looked amused but they all seemed to want to distance themselves from him.

"Malfoy," George growled. "We've been very patient with you but I suggest that you quit this tirade right now."

"Or WHAT?" Malfoy yelled. "What are you going to do about it? The both of you are worthless and untalented. Not even good enough to be seen as individuals! Is that why you're always together, huh? Because if you're not, everyone can see that you're nothing? Or wait, is it something much more nefarious than that? Tell me, do you share a bed as well?"

"Malfoy!" Harry couldn't help but interrupt. "That's vile!" Fred and George seemed to be fuming. Harry had never seen them so angry. As for Malfoy, Harry would've expected the boy to be smirking in triumph after landing such an evil remark but he wasn't. He was red with anger and his hands were trembling with energy he didn't seem to know how to direct. If that had been Harry, wild magic would have surely been unleashed.

"Oh yes," Malfoy screeched. "Vile! But what else can you expect from blood traitors? The lot of them! They're almost as bad asDumbledore!"

"And what, Mr Malfoy, is it that I have done to cause this kind of resentment?"

Malfoy spun around so fast Harry thought he might have gotten whiplash. Dumbledore was standing right behind him and somehow even Harry had missed the moment the old wizard had snuck up on them. Snape was still sitting at the high table and seemed about as perplexed as the rest of the Slytherins were.

Malfoy lost all colour his rage had given him and stumbled a few steps backwards. He almost tripped over the bench but Dumbledore deftly grabbed his wrist in time and steadied him. Malfoy pulled his hand back as if the headmasters' touch had burned him. "Professor Dumbledore," Malfoy stammered. It was strange that Malfoy had insulted the headmaster like that, completely forgetting that he was obviously in the room. It was a testament to how deeply the boy was spiralling. Only… where did it come from? Just earlier today, Malfoy had seemed completely normal.

"Nothing, Sir," Malfoy replied. He appeared cowed but Harry noticed the clenched fist at his side. The entire student body and all the members of the staff present were still staring.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said kindly. "And have the Messrs Weasley done something to offend you so extraordinarily?"

Malfoy scoffed. "No," he said bitterly.

"Well," Dumbledore said calmly. "It would appear that you've greatly disturbed everyone's meal for no reason at all, wouldn't it?"

Malfoy glared at the headmaster angrily but the man's expression remained kind. "Yes," he replied through gritted teeth.

"Kindly apologise for your transgressions," Dumbledore told Malfoy. "And afterwards, please join me in my office for the rest of your supper."

If Malfoy was worried about that prospect, he didn't show it. "Yes sir," he said plainly and then he turned to face the majority of the great hall with the Slytherin table behind his back. Harry was sure that was intentional. "I apologise for my uncouth behaviour."

"Don't forget about Messrs Weasley," Dumbledore said. "They are still very upset with you. And rightly so."

It was true. Harry could see that the normally friendly and happy faces were distorted in anger and disgust. In his anger, Malfoy had really managed to hit them where it hurt. And for what? Because they wandered into the forbidden forest from time to time?

"I'll do so later," Malfoy grumbled. "In private."

"Oh, I don't think that you will," Dumbledore said. His tone was friendly but anyone could recognise the stern aura he exuded. "Your allegations were quite public therefore so too shall be your apology."

"Do as the headmaster says, Mr Malfoy," Snape suddenly joined in. He stood next to the headmaster, his strict façade in place. "You're in enough trouble as it is, I assure you."

"Fine," Malfoy spat. He raised his chin haughtily and locked eyes with Fred. "I apologise for what I said," he said. "It was uncalled for."

"I'll say," George said angrily. "You're a vile little demon, do you know that?"

"That will be quite enough of that," Dumbledore interjected. "We've all been given more than enough of a show and I have personal business with Mr Malfoy. If that's alright with you, Severus?"

"Of course, Professor," Snape said readily. Malfoy didn't even look at his head of house. With Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder, he walked out of the great hall, his shoulders slightly slumped and his gaze fixed on the floor.

As soon as the door closed behind the two, sound exploded in the great hall. Every person in the room seemed eager to discuss what had just happened. Everyone except those at the Slytherin table. Normally, Harry would have likely talked to Fred and George about it but since they had been Malfoy's target and were still seething about it, he thought that to be a bad idea.

Glancing across the great hall, he locked eyes with Ron who widened his eyes as if to say 'What the bloody hell, mate'? And while Harry was still angry at his friend's earlier dismissal, he couldn't help but shrug as if to say 'Hell if I know'.

The Slytherins finally resumed normal conversation as well, painfully ignoring Malfoy's absence entirely. Only the first years seemed a bit confused but already knew better than to ask.

"Harry," a small voice suddenly asked.

"Yes, Astoria?" Harry replied kindly. He might be mad at Daphne but that didn't mean he had to ice out Astoria. The little girl hadn't done anything.

"Did you find out more secrets?" she asked. "You know, while talking to the snakes?"

Harry shook his head. "No," he said. "I've been a little preoccupied so I haven't really explored anything else."

Astoria seemed a bit disappointed. "Oh," she said. "Well, if you're looking for a target, I found a little hidden snake that I'd like you to talk to."

"Ahiddensnake?" Fred suddenly seemed to have forgotten all about Malfoy. "Dotell. Where is it?"

"It's on the inside of one of the bookshelves," Astoria said eagerly. "You couldn't see it because it was blocked by a boring old book and even then it's hard to see. I only noticed it because I touched it by accident and felt that the wood wasn't even."

"Oh, Astoria, you wonderful girl, you," George said, patting her on the head. "Harry, it would appear that we have a new mission."

Harry didn't think that he was up for it. But right now, it appeared that it was Fred and George who sorely needed the distraction. And while his friends hadn't been there for him, he was definitely not going to treat the twins the same way.

A/N: And there you have it. Please don't hesitate to leave me a review. Many more things to come!