Circle of Love

A/N The lyrics are from Journey's “Remember Me”
This is a filler chapter bringing everyone together (I hope with some grace!) And it's full of house elves. Welcome to Twinky and Dobby. They will be less obvious in upcoming chapters, but they shed some knowledge (really!) and also they are so dang cute. Don't shoot the betas, they have no clue on this chapter. Enjoy, cause I'm going to talk like a house elf for a week.

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Hermione opened her eyes slowly to the sound of tapping on her window. She looked over to see Harry's owl Hedwig peeking through the curtains. She got up and opened the window to let the snowy white owl in.

“Letter for me, Hedwig?” She murmured sleepily as the owl stuck a leg out for her to retrieve a piece of parchment. “Here you go.” She said as she gave him a tasty own treat. She unrolled it.

Hermione,
Ginny and I will be arriving in a few hours. Want us to bring Crookshanks with us? Anything else?
Harry and Ginny

She picked up her quill and answered back.

Harry and Ginny,
Yes, bring Crookshanks! Also if you can some of my textbooks. I'm so behind. See you soon.
Love,
Hermione

She gave Hedwig another treat as she tied her answer to his leg and reopened the window. Her stomached rumbled as she remembered how little she had actually eaten the night before.


Draco poked around the kitchen looking for something to eat. Can't believe there are no house elves here! He thought as he spied the cookie jar. Well, they are oatmeal! That's a breakfast food. He decided as he lifted the lid and placed a handful on a plate and grabbed a glass of pumpkin juice. Settling back in a chair, he happily munched his makeshift breakfast.

“Cookies for breakfast?” Hermione laughed as she entered. “You can't cook can you?”

“No, I can't.” He mumbled through his third cookie.

“Would you like some eggs and toast?” She asked as she opened the refrigerator.

“Um, sure.” Draco brushed the crumbs off his shirt as he sipped his juice. “What ever happened to the house elves here?”

“There was one, Kreacher, nasty thing. He died shortly after Harry inherited this house.” Hermione answered as she cooked.

“You don't like house elves do you?”

“I think they are treated little better then slaves.” She answered. “Butter this toast, please.” She pointed to a plate filled with bread.

“I have one.” Draco admitted. “His name is Twinky. I left him at the Manor but I can never go back there now. He's not my father's but came to me through my mum. He'd be very useful here.”

“You should free him.”

“Never,” Laughed Draco at her look. “Not all house elves are mistreated. And, Twinky wouldn't know what to do without me. We've been bonded since I was a baby. I'm going to talk to Remus later about him.” He replied as Hermione set a big plate of eggs on the table.

“Ah, I thought I smelt food.” Remus said as he and Tonks entered the kitchen. “Looks delicious, Hermione.”

“Professor, may I summon my house elf Twinky here?” Draco asked.

“Is he in anyway bonded to your father? I can't allow it if he is.” Remus answered as he filled a plate.

“No sir. He's mine alone. Well, he was my mum's also. Father had his own house elves.”

“Sure, Draco.” Remus smiled.

A small sound was heard and an elf appeared in the middle of the kitchen.

“Oh, master Draco sir, Twinky is so glad master called him.” The elf jumped around excitedly. “Mean master has been snarling at him.”

“You live here now.” Draco said. “Retrieve my belongings and anything of my mum's that father has not destroyed.”

“Yes, master Draco. Twinky be back in a flash.” Twinky disappeared in a flash.

Bangs were heard in the foyer as boxes started filling it. They jumped from the table to watch as it began to tower.

“Merlin's beard! What is going on?” Snape said irritably as he opened his door.

“Twinky has arrived, sir.” Draco nodded as he watched his pile grow.

“Twinky done, master. Twinky take all this to master's room now.” The elf smiled happily. The boxes disappeared until only one small one remained.

“This belonged to Mistress, sir. This should now be Snarky Master's.” The elf walked up to Snape. “Mistress say always to keep this hidden till Snarky Master can have or Mistress called for it.”

“Snarky Master?” Snape mumbled as he took the small box from the elf. “Draco order him to call me Snape.” He smiled at the memory of Narcissa's nickname for him, it just didn't sound the same coming from the house elf.

Draco laughed as he instructed the elf. “ Call him Snape, Twinky.”

A hauntingly familiar melody played from the box as Snape opened it.

You know I’d give my life for you
More than words can say
I showed you how to love someone
I know you’ll find a way

Be there to watch over you
Remember me
Feel I’m gone
My heart lives on
Remember me

Don’t you think of this as the end
I’ll come into your dreams
Remember me

Snape took out the picture within the box and ran a caressing finger over it. Looking up at him was the smiling face of his love and him snuggled under a tree at Hogwarts. Narcissa smiled as she kissed his cheek, mouthing the word “Snarky”.

“Cissa,” He said softly as he closed the box, and the music ended. “How?”


“Snape like Mistress's gift? Twinky took it as Mistress wanted so many years ago. He had fun sneaking onto Hogwarts grounds.” The small elf smiled up at the somber wizard. “He has kept it hid all these years.”

“Thank you, Twinky.” Snape said as he drifted back to his room and his memories.

“Professor Snape had a girlfriend?” Hermione asked, the thought of the cold Potions master ever in love shocked her.

“My mum.” Draco answered. “She was also part of the Order.” He pulled the charm from beneath his shirt. “This was my mum's Order of the Phoenix, it became mine when I joined after her death.” The gemmed eye winked at Hermione as it glittered in the lights of the room.


****


“Ready to go, Harry?” Ginny asked as she watched him shrink her boxes and Hermione's. “I have Crookshanks' cage.”

“Time to go lock ourselves away with Malfoy. Loads of fun.” Harry Potter mumbled.

“Just ignore him, love. Professor Lupin will be there as well as Tonks.” Ginny reminded him as she kissed his cheek and snuggled close to him. “I'll be there also.”

Harry drew his fingers through her red hair as he kissed her back. “I'm ready.” He said as he disasparated them.

Remus greeted them as they walked in the door. “Right on time you two.” He smiled. “I'm sure you both remember where your rooms are.”

“Twinky help?” The small elf appeared. “Twinky unpack for Miss Ginny and Mister Harry.”

“Who does Twinky belong to?” Harry asked Remus suspiciously.

“He's Draco's.” Harry rolled his eyes as the Professor said that.

“Dobby will also be arriving. Professor McGonagall thought we'd need him with a house full.” Harry said as he looked at the elf.

“Oh, Twinky has missed Dobby!” The house elf screamed excitedly. “Dobby is Twinky's friend.”

“Harry! Ginny!” Hermione ran down the stairs and hugged them. “Crookshanks, my darling.” She said as she let him out of cage. The half-cat half-kneazle jumped into her arms and purred loudly in happiness.

“Get settled in and we'll discuss how we will be instructing you. Lunch in an hour.” Remus walked off. The full moon was in two days, and he was worried how his change would effect them. He would also be testing Hermione's or Draco's Wolfsbane potion, though they didn't know it. They weren't children anymore he realized with a heavy heart, they were soldiers in a war not of their making.

Dobby arrived a few moments later bearing textbooks that the Headmistress thought would needed. The two elves squealed in delight at being reunited once again.

“Dobby is glad that Twinky no longer lives in that evil house!” Dobby said as the walked to kitchens. “Dobby wished yous had got clothes also, so Twinky could have lived at Hogwarts.”

“Twinky was happy serving Mistress,” The other elf's face fell with sadness. “Mistress died saving Young Master.” Twinky still felt the fear and sadness of the night Narcissa Malfoy died in a hue of green lights.

“Young Master is evil, like Master is!” Dobby said as he remembered the Draco of old. “He is mean to Harry Potter!”

“No, Dobby!” Twinky waved his hands and pots and pans flew about the kitchen, and Dobby brought out the food to cook. “Mistress saved Young Master's heart. Evil Master came back to the evil house filled with rage. Young Master has left the Evil One!”

Dobby gave his old friend a look of disbelief.

“Young Master also saved the friend of Harry Potter! He fought Evil Master with spells openly and saved Miss Hermione's life. He did!” Twinky boasted.

“Mistress would have been proud.” Dobby said as they filled bowls with food.

“Young Master wears Mistress's charm.” Twinky nodded as he set the table.

“The birdie she hid from Evil Master?” Dobby pondered this. “Birdie charm burns those who follow the Evil One.” Could it be true? Could Young Master be one of the ones destined to help Harry Potter defeat the Evil One? He thought in amazement.

“Not one burn on Young Master!” Twinky said with pride. “Snarky Master also still wears his.”


The wizards entered the kitchen to see a table ladened with food. It was like heaven to Remus after weeks of only Tonks' cooking. He breathed in the aroma of roasted bird and yeasty rolls with happiness. He loved Tonks and with every day that passed he thanked Merlin for giving her to him. But how could he ever tell her that rolls were better fluffy and buttered not burned to blackness?

“Dig in all,” Remus said. “Talk later after this feast.”

“Mister Lupin needs some fattening up he does.” Dobby whispered to Twinky. “Dobby so glad that Twinky and him got here when they did. Wizards would starve without them.” Dobby watched as Twinky filled up a plate of food.

“Snarky Master be hiding again. Twinky fill him up!” Twinky walked slowly down the hall as he carefully balanced the plate. He knocked lightly on the Snape's door and waited for it to open.

Snape looked down at the small elf with annoyance. Today was his last free day from the other inhabitants of the house, and he had been in the midst of writing up his advanced potion lesson.

“Snar- Snape, sir. Twinky be thinking that yous be hungry and he brought you this.” Twinky held up the plate filled with a welcoming fragrance. Snape took it from the elf and motioned for him to enter the room.

“Thank you, Twinky.” Snape sat down at his desk and began to eat.

“The food be goods for yous, sir. Mistress would hate that you grieve her so, Twinky thinks.”

“Cissa deserves to be remembered,” He answered as he took a forkful of chicken and put into his mouth.

“Happy memories with smiles, sir. Why he be giving yous the picture.” Twinky nodded. “Picture made Mistress smile.”

“Were you there when she died?” Snape asked the elf.

“Yes, Snape sir.” The elf's head bobbed sadly.

“Was Lucius's wand pointed at Draco or her?”

“Mistress was his target, sir.” Twinky confirmed Snape's fear. “Young Master was hidden by Mistress, but Evil Master was angry. Twinky feared for Young Master, but Master only laughed as he walked away. Than the Goodies and yous come and helped poor Young Master.” The elf looked up at Snape with tears in his eyes. “Mistress was always good to us, and taught Young Master well.”

“Yes she did.” Snape nodded as he looked surprised at his now empty plate. “You may go Twinky.”

“Yes, Snape sir.” The elf and the plate disappeared. Snape sighed as he gathered up his notes and made for the sitting room.


“Hello, Severus.” Remus greeted him as he entered and took a seat near the fire.

“Let's get this over with.” Snape said, looking at the students, Remus and the Aurors. “I will be teaching the Potions aspects of your training. Miss Weasley may attend but will not actually handle most of the ingredients because of her age. You will partner up with Potter and he will do the actual combines. The first lesson I will teach is the Wolfsbane potion.”

“I will be tutoring you in your normal class studies as per by agreement with Mr and Mrs Weasley and Professor McGonagall. Any of you fall behind in your grades, and I will be forced to return you to Hogwarts early.” Remus warned. “All Potions work of course will be handled by Professor Snape.”

“Tonks and I will be training you in DADA and also adding physical defenses to your lessons. Bring your pain potions because we'll be giving you a work out.” Kingley Shacklebolt said. “You all will learn how to defend yourselves against surprise attacks and how to avoid being hit. You also will learn how to effectively cast the Unforgivables on dummies that the Headquarters' Room of Requirement provides.”

“There is an RoR here?” Harry broke in.

“As Aurors we are allowed to create a private practice room where we live, Harry.” Tonks said.

“Any other questions?” Remus asked.

“Well, sir, there are others that would benefit also by being here.” Hermione said as Snape groaned. Remus gave him a look before speaking.

“Like who, Hermione?”

“Neville, Luna and-”

“Merlin's beard!” Exclaimed Snape as he interrupted her. “Longbottom will blow my lab up with his idiocy.”

“Maybe in time we can add more, those two being the first. But for now we'll keep this experiment down to you four. The less that know about Snape, Draco and the Headquarters the better.” Remus said. “Anything else?”

Yeah, thought Harry. Why does Malfoy and Snape have to be here? But wisely chose not to voice it.

“Good, no more questions.” Remus said. “Tomorrow you'll start with Potions. Enjoy the rest of your day.” The room emptied, leaving only Remus and Harry.

“Harry, you're going to have to give up your anger against those two.” Remus' sad eyes looked down at Harry.

“They killed Professor Dumbledore!”

“Yes, Harry they did. They both live with that everyday. It was all part of the plan to keep Snape as a spy. He was ordered to do it. You've seen the Pensieve of what happened.”

“I know, sir. But-”

“No buts, Harry.” Remus interrupted him.

“Forgiveness, Harry.” Albus spoke from his portrait. “That is the key. I have faith that you'll learn it one day.”

“Professor!”

“Harry you've known for years now your destiny. The ones gathered here will help you only if you let them. Don't throw them away in your petty obsessions. Grow up, boy.” Albus said harshly. “I don't ask that you like them, just accept them.”

“Yes, sir.” Harry grumbled. “I'll try.”

“Do better then try, Harry. Your success depends on it.” Remus added as Albus's portrait emptied. “Go spend some time with Ginny, and have fun for today. Tomorrow you'll forget what that is.” Remus laughed at his expression.

“Wonder if Snape will be as hard on us as he was at Hogwarts?” Harry pondered out loud.

“I'm betting he'll be worse, Harry.” He patted the boy on the shoulder. As the sitting room door slid shut behind the boy, he thought about how Harry was going to have to deal with Hermione's growing friendship with Draco.
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Thanks for the wonderful reviews. More updates coming, just the betas have been busy with their writing projects, so I started writing "Ensnaring The Senses" to releive myself of the plotbunny. I love reviews, so keep em coming. huggles~~juls