Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 10

Surprisingly the weekend for Harry past uneventfully. Having spent Saturday in Hogsmeade with Hermione and Ron, Harry had then spent Sunday alone reading the book Snape had leant him. It was certainly interesting and in places a little strange but it gave him a relatively sound knowledge of what he was to expect with this ‘ring ceremony’ and all. It also told him what was expected of him, which meant he had to go shopping and soon. Having visited Dumbledore late Sunday evening, he had arranged for Remus to take him into Diagon Ally on Wednesday after class.

When Monday morning’s potion class rolled around Snape was his normal nasty self, managing to remove 50 points from Gryfindor successively after Harry left his potion cool for too long. Harry had seen very little of Snape all weekend and Harry wondered if he should feel any different now he was married to the man. Snape obviously didn’t feel different judging by the way he acted. Harry had managed to avoid Draco as well, but as the week’s classes started Harry had noticed the boy watching him suspiciously. Every corner Harry turned Draco seemed to be there, his eyes narrowed cunningly watching the boy who lived. This fact alone was why Harry had yet to return Snape’s book. With the blonde Slytherin watching his every move Harry was becoming paranoid that Draco would find out what was going on.

Tonight however Harry had taken the opportunity of the Tuesday night dueling club to return Snape’s book. With his invisibility cloak wrapped around him Harry easily slipped down into the dungeons, most of the school in the great hall eager to learn about duels. Harry had assumed Draco would be among those students in the hall, the opportunity to injure other students without punishment too much of a temptation for the Slytherin, not to attend.

Reaching the dead-end corridor Harry stopped in front of the stonewall and frowned. Last time he’d come down here the door had just opened for him, but now it remained firmly closed. With a sigh Harry tried to remember what Snape had done to open the door and so having looked around behind him, cautiously stuck his right hand out from beneath the cloak and ran it over the central stone on the wall. Nothing happened and Harry frowned trying it again with his left hand. When the door didn’t budge the second time he step forward and pushed on the rocks uselessly. Harry was sure Snape had said to him the doors would let him automatically. There had also been a mention of a password but Harry didn’t know it as yet. With a resigned sigh Harry turned to leave but no sooner had he taken a few steps away than the door behind him suddenly opened up revealing Snape’s impressive shadow standing in the entrance.

“Get in!” Still wrapped in the cloak Harry was surprised Snape even knew he was there but doing as he was told he swept quickly past Snape into the man’s living room. Harry was about to drop the cloak when he heard the splash of water and the sound of a familiar voice calling to Snape from the bedroom.

“Sev, can you pass me a towel?” Harry spun around and glared uselessly at Snape as the dark haired man strode into his lab a moment later returning with a white fluffy towel.

“Where are you Potter?” Snape whispered harshly in completely the opposite direction to where Harry was standing.

“What’s he doing here?” Harry whispered back causing Snape to spin around and approximate where Harry was standing.

“He’s receiving treatment for his injuries Potter, now sit down and be quiet.” Snape gestured for the couch but Harry ignored his offer as he noticed a pillow and a few blankets lying discarded on the couch, as if someone had spent the night there. Harry watched as Snape disappeared in through the door leading to his bedroom before returning a moment later minus the towel. “Potter?” Snape snapped again towards the couch assuming the boy had followed his instructions. Harry however was now leaning against the bench of the small kitchenette.

“What?” Harry snapped back causing Snape to spin around again. The professor went to say something but he was cut off as a wet looking blonde haired boy wandered into the lounge with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Harry scowled at Draco jealously. The boy was muscular, and slightly tanned, his upper arms flexing with strength as the boy flicked his wet blonde locks from his face to smile at his godfather. What really got to Harry however was the tattoo that sat iridescently on the blonde’s right shoulder, the intricate snake twisted around what Harry assumed was a family crest of some sort. Harry had always wanted a tattoo having seen his godfathers.

“Do they look better?” Harry watched as Draco turned around to show Snape his back. Having overcome the twist of jealousy at Draco’s fine appearance, Harry now saw the red slashes across the blonde’s upper torso and back. Like train tracks on the boys skin the slashes were angry and red, some still bleeding a little when the boy twisted around to look at Snape over his shoulder. Snape moved over to Draco and Harry watched in silence as Snape ran his fingers gently over the boys back inspecting the cuts. Harry didn’t know where it had come from but the instant he saw Snape’s hands touching Draco’s milky white skin, he felt instant jealousy swell through his body. Trying and failing to squash the feeling Harry shook his head his fists clenched at his side. Unlike the jealousy of seeing Draco looking better than him, this surge of emotion was different and it shocked Harry completely. The idea of Snape touching him at all turned his stomach but why was he so suddenly jealous of the man’s innocent touch of his godson.

“Yes, considerably so. You need to continue rubbing the lotion into them though or they’ll scar.” Snape stepped away from Draco who turned back around.

“Good, they’ve stop stinging now too. I’ll go get dressed.” Draco disappeared back into the bedroom the door closing behind him. Harry was glad beyond words that Snape couldn’t see him as the man spun back around as if to find out where the boy was.

“Potter what do you want?” Snape inquired hastily still keeping his voice low. Harry ignored the man, suddenly scared and angry that he was feeling so strange towards Snape. Walking over to the door Harry paused and threw the book he’d meant to be returning onto the side table, alerting Snape to his position. “Potter?” Snape demanded again but Harry continued to ignored him, and when the door opened Harry fled easily through it the cloak tucked around him tightly.

Harry returned to the empty dorm, his friends still down at the duel club. With a flurry he put his fathers invisibility cloak in his trunk and got into bed, pulling the curtains closed around him. In the dark of his bed Harry stared up at the canopy his mind filled with a swirl of emotions, he knew he shouldn’t have. He shouldn’t be jealous of Snape, shouldn’t be angry Draco was staying in Snape’s rooms, and he shouldn’t be hurt that the man allowed Draco to use he first name and not him. With an irritated sigh Harry turned over and buried his head beneath his pillow, willing the strange feelings to go away.

Eventually Harry fell to sleep not even hearing when his friends returned to the dorm.

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The next morning Harry sat at the breakfast table alone. He was in an extremely foul mood. Ron and Hermione had picked up on it immediately and left their friend well alone. Others were not so attuned to the boy’s moods and Harry had snapped and snarled at both Dean and Ginny who had attempted to ask him what was wrong. Harry had avoided looking at Snape all morning, and had instead tried to burn a hole in the table with his acidic stare.

“Hey Harry isn’t that Hedwig?” Harry glanced up at Ron’s comment only to watch as the snowy white owl came fluttering down to sit on the table in front of him a letter in her grasp. Taking the letter Harry fed Hedwig what was left of his square of bacon before rising hastily from the table as he recognized the familiar green seal again.

“Harry where are you……” Hermione went to ask where Harry was going but the boy blatantly ignored her and just continued to stride from the hall. Harry arrived at Defense, far too early for class to start. Still Harry sat himself down and got comfortable before pulling out the letter Hedwig had delivered. Ignoring the seal this time Harry tore open the envelope and pulled out the small piece of parchment inside and began to read.

‘Mr. Potter. I have arranged our ‘ring ceremony’ to take place this Friday in the headmasters private observatory. The ceremony will be at 6.00 with a light meal to be served to our guests afterwards. I have also arranged for you to be absent from your dorm that evening. S.S’.

Harry stared at the note, its sharp, irritatingly cold tone causing him some concern. For a ceremony that was supposed to be sacred and romantic, Snape seemed no less concerned by it than he would be a badly written report. Not that Harry wanted the ceremony to be romantic or anything. Harry shook his head in irritation as he felt the familiar well of strange emotions pool in his stomach. And who, did Snape think he was presuming Harry was going to spend the evening with him? Screwing up the letter Harry stuffed it nastily into the bottom of his school bag and sat seething in his chair. It was while he was staring at the front of the classroom that the fluttering of the envelope caught his attention once again. Glancing down at the envelope the green seal drew him and he picked it up to get a closer look. Holding the green seal up to the light Harry ran his hand over the intricate motif stamped in the wax, something about it vaguely familiar. A snake sat curled around a crest of some sort. Harry was still staring at the seal when the doors to the classroom opened and students began filing in chattering among themselves.

“Hey Harry, you alright?” Ron sat down eagerly next to his friend, trying and failing not to notice what Harry was holding. “Was that your letter?” Ron inquired as he began dragging his books out from his bag.

“Yeah nothing important.” Harry brushed the letter off and Ron knew better than to argue. Harry was still staring at the seal on the envelope when he was caught by a passing hand, with a firm whack to the back of his head. Harry spun around and glared as he watched Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle sit down opposite him, the blonde smiling smugly at Potter. Harry went to comment but Professor Lupin strode into the classroom to begin the class.

Harry paid very little attention to Lupin as he droned on about Vampires, instead he sat staring at Malfoy who was drawing rude cartoons on Crabbe’s books. Despite himself all Harry could think about was seeing Draco in Snape’s rooms the other night. The stupid arse blonde, with his well-defined body, tanned skin and stupid bloody tattoo…

In an instant it hit Harry like a Hippogriff at full speed, the tattoo on Draco’s back matched the seal on the letter. Forgetting completely about the class Harry pulled the envelope from amongst the piles of books on his desk and ran his fingers over the serpent curled around the crest. Harry would never have believed it matched but to him it seemed to match perfectly. The intricacy of the crest something Harry wouldn’t mistake. With this knowledge came another more confounding mystery that stirred some unknown feeling in Harry yet again. Why on earth would Draco have Snape’s seal tattooed on his shoulder?

“Harry? Harry Potter are you at all listening to me?” Harry looked up sharply from the envelope to look guiltily into the eyes of Remus, who was now glowering at him from the front of the class. Coming back to reality Harry ventured a glance around the room and realized that everyone was now over in the practice area waiting for him.

“Sorry Professor.” Harry whispered apologetically as he grabbed his wand and moved swiftly over to join his friends. Naturally Draco and his cronies laughed at his expense but Harry ignored them.

“Harry are you alright?” Hermione laid a friendly hand on Harry’s shoulder, whispering softly as not to be heard above Remus who was now instructing the class again.

“Yeah I’m fine.” Harry whispered back his gaze automatically searching out Malfoy who not surprisingly was glaring right back at him. Shaking his head Harry focused back on class, already making up his mind to ask Snape about the seal when he next saw the potions master.

Class passed slowly. Harry already knew spells to prevent vampire attacks and so he tried desperately not to look bored when Remus went over it for a third time for those in the class still not getting it. When the professor released the class Harry couldn’t have got out of there quick enough. Divination was next and Harry wanted to ask Ron if his family had a seal or something there of. Harry had only just made it out of the door to the classroom when Malfoy stepped out and blocked his path.

“What were you staring at Potter?” Malfoy snapped pushing Harry firmly on the chest sending the boy staggering back a little into his best friend.

“Nothing but your ugly face Malfoy.” Ron barked over Harry’s shoulder having righted his friend again after the push.

“Shut up Weasel, I wasn’t asking you.” Malfoy glared at Ron but then turned his attention back to Harry. Harry glared at Malfoy, remembering the emotions that swept through his body when he’d saw Draco in Snape’s rooms.

“When did you get the tattoo Draco?” Harry inquired calmly his gaze not leaving the blonde’s. Harry watched as Draco’s gaze narrowed the boy now staring at Harry evilly. Harry knew in that instant he was right but no sooner had Draco’s expression darkened, it returned back to its usual sneer.

“You’ve gone absolutely mad haven’t you Potter? Not only are you seeing things but you’re staring at other lad’s in the showers? Not satisfied with your boyfriends body, you have to come sneaking around looking at mine? I don’t have a tattoo Potter, and keep your filthy little gaze away from me.” Like before Draco’s gaze narrowed at the last comment, it’s unspoken meaning far more important than anything he’d heard. Not waiting for a reply Malfoy pushed past Ron and Harry and swaggered off down the corridor his two bodyguards trailing him closely. Harry watched Draco go his fists unintentionally clasped tightly at his sides. ‘So Draco wanted to play that game? Well two could do that.’

“What was all that about? Boyfriends, looking at boys in the shower, tattoos, has the git gone completely off his rocker?” Ron inquired, as they started towards Divination class, undoubtedly going to be late.

“No Ron, Malfoy’s as mad as he usually is. When he said boyfriend I believe he was referring to you and I.” Ron looked completely affronted but Harry prevented any of Ron’s angry retorts by continuing quickly. “As for the rest, I have no idea.” With a shrug of his shoulders Harry began to run up the staircase towards the North Tower, Ron running after him still complaining about Malfoy thinking he and Harry were dating.

Harry had a lot to think about now. Obviously Draco didn’t want anyone knowing about the tattoo but Harry was going to get to the bottom of it, and he spent most of the day plotting ways of getting to the truth….

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>