I Understand

TOWER

After dinner that Friday night Hermione’d had plans on talking to Harry about the events of the
week. She was surprised, and just a little pissed, when he ignored her call and ran away. ARG!
What was he two years old? She was angry with Harry sure, but she was also concerned. She was
going to talk to him tonight. She was going to sit in the common room and wait for him.

She would make him talk to her even if she had to threaten him. Which she would probably have to
do, she thought with a snort. She sighed as she thought about what Harry had revealed to her that
Monday afternoon. Lost in her thoughts she missed Ron coming in. If she had seen him she would
have recognized the determine look on his face.

“Hermione we need to talk,” Ron’s voice startled her out of her thoughts, “Privately.”

She was a little miffed that he wanted to talk to her now of all times. She needed to talk to Harry
before she talked to Ron.

“Ron I am waiting for Harry,” she said in a slightly exasperated voice.

“It’s about Harry,” Ron snapped back at her. This, more than anything else he could have said,
made her mind up for her, because Ron never snapped at her. Not since they had broken up at the
end of her 5th year. They had both come to the conclusion that they made better friends than they
did lovers. It had been strained between them for a while but they had gotten over it and had
returned to the easy going manner they’d had before.

That Ron had lost his temper with her for no reason was a surprise and an indication that something
was on his mind.

“Fine, my room,” she snapped back. Missing the surprise in his eyes as she jumped up and made her
way to her head girl room.

Neither of them spoke as they walked the short distance to her room. Hermione’s mind was working
fast trying to think of everything that she could say to get Ron out of her room quickly. She sat on
her bed and watched as he paced her room running his hand thru his hair in an uncharacteristically
Harry like way. His pacing was becoming faster and more erratic by the minute.

“Ron...,” she began.

“What is wrong with Harry?” Ron interrupted her, pacing and talking rapidly, “and don’t tell me
nothing cause I get that from him. I know that something is wrong and I know that you know cause I
have seen the way that you look at him and he hasn’t said anything about Monday. I mean, what
was that? We didn’t discuss him doing that. I ask him and he looks at me blankly and he won’t talk
to me, hell, he hasn’t said anything at all and that just isn’t like him so I know something is going on
and I know that you know.”

His words slowed and then ceased. He had finally stopped pacing and stood in front of her, taking in
her astonished expression at his outburst. He was upset and worried about his best friend and that
showed in his actions and his words.

“Mione,” he asked softly, “what’s going on?”

Hermione sighed. She couldn’t tell Ron. She didn’t know what to tell him even if she could tell him
anything. Damn Harry and his tendency to keep everything to himself.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Ron. Nothing is wr...,” she began only to be interrupted
when the red-haired boy in front of her held up his hand for silence in front of her face.

“Don’t give me that crap,” Ron spat out.

“Ron I can not talk to you right now,” Hermione said in a tight voice.

“Can’t or won’t,” he replied angrily.

Hermione stood to face him, her anger apparent in her red face and cold voice, “Does it matter,
Ron? It is not for me to tell you. Ask Harry.”

Ron took a step closer his red angry face just inches from her own. His unnaturally cold and silky
voice made her shiver slightly.

“You think I haven’t? He tells me that it is nothing. That he is fine. Does he think I am stupid? Do
you think I am stupid? For God’s sake Mione one thing I am not is stupid.” Ron snarled at her.

Ron sighed as the anger quickly left him. He couldn’t be angry with them. They were his best
friends and if they loved each other then it was o.k. With him. “Mione,” he said softly, all the
longing in his voice that he had suppressed for two years. He could tell from her eyes widening that
he knew what he was saying.

“Don’t,” she whispered, a sad look on her face, “we agreed.”

Ron turned away before she could see his face. No, he thought, I agreed with you. I agreed for you. I
knew that you didn’t love me so, I agreed with what you wanted. She will never know that on the
day she broke his heart he had finally got the courage up to buy her the ring he still had hidden in the
bottom of his trunk at home. He voiced none of his thoughts. It was pointless. He had hardened his
heart. He played his part of the loyal best friend while inside he was dead. Kinda like Malfoy’s eyes
eh? he thought. He sighed, yeah, kinda like that.

His next words shocked her more than if You-Know-Who had walked thru that door right now.

“Hermione...why couldn’t you tell me you and Harry were together?” Ron said softly, no anger in
his voice only resignation.

“What! Ron! What! Harry and I aren’t a couple. Believe me.” Hermione shouted startling Ron out
of his funk.

“But...but,” he stuttered, “if its not you then who?” he asked in a confused voice.

Hermione smirked, “What makes you think that that is what is bothering Harry, oh not so stupid
one?” she said with a giggle.

Hermione was worried. She knew that she would never intentionally tell Ron the things Harry had
told her. Intentionally being the word though. She knew that if he got her angry enough at him she
could easily spill everything. Ron knew this and it made her angry that he was deliberately trying to
make her talk. Sneaky, she silently applauded his tactic but it wouldn’t work. She was smarted than
he was after all.

“Oh please, don’t patronize me. I know the signs o.k.” Ron was starting to get a headache. Please oh
please let this not be true. Ron groaned and sat on the edge of her bed putting his head in his hands
and shaking it violently back and forth. His dejected look made her soften and she sat beside him
putting her arm around him and pulling his hands from his hair.

“Cheer up you stupid git. Harry will be fine.” Hermione said with a smile.

“Just tell me one thing Mione,” Ron said looking into her eyes for he wanted to see the truth in them.
That and only that would help him deal with what was to come.

“I’ll tell you what I can Ron, you know that.”

Ron sighed again shaking his head. He gave a laugh that was filled with all the hurt, anger, and
frustration that goes with having to face something that you were hoping was not true in the first
place.

“Just tell me...does he trust him?”

Hermione sighed and hugged her friend, “yes, Ron, I think he does.”

******************************************************************************

Snape glared at the students he passed on his way to the Headmasters office for their weekly
meeting. He was in a foul mood, worse than usual if he was being honest with himself. Not that
anyone could tell the difference since you are a bastard to everyone, he thought to himself.

“Gobstoppers” he said as he got to the gargoyle guarding Dumbeldores office. Whatever those were.
He had made it a point to always refuse any candy Albus offered him. He really didn’t like the
sound of that particular brand of candy.

The Headmaster was not down from his room so Snape made himself comfortable in his usual place
by the fire.

“Be right down Severus,” came from the Headmasters quarters, “help yourself”

He got a cup of his favorite coffee and sat back down staring absentmindedly into the fire. He
sighed. Feeling a weight settle onto his shoulder he wasn’t surprised to see Fawkes there. The
phoenix rubbed his head on Severus’ cheek wrapping its wings around the potion master’s head and
trilling softly. As the bird sang he gradually relaxed from the stresses of the day. A sense of warmth
and peace settled over him. His eyes closed slowly and his mind began to wander.

Wander straight into forbidden territory. Liquid brown eyes and soft chestnut hair were the makings
of his dreams. Or his nightmares. Depending on when you asked him. Nothing would ever come of
it he knew, but, his subconscious didn’t care. It tortured him with these feeling and images that a
man his age should have given up long ago.

Shaking his head he dislodged the phoenix who left him to fly back to his perch with a slightly
admonishing look. Damn bird, he thought, always meddling. Just like his master.

Dumbeldore came down the stairs with his customary twinkle in his eyes. The old bat thinks he
knows everything Snape thought with disgust. Wonder what he would say if he knew that the
potions master, ex-deatheater, and spy was lusting after the best student Hogwarts had seen in years.
Probably blast me into next year. Or he could approve. Yeah right! as if that would ever happen.

“Ah Severus, how are things coming along for you? I hope that you didn’t have a hard day.” Albus
said in a cheery voice. Snape looked at him suspiciously wondering if the innuendo was intentional
or if the headmaster really did know everything. Looking at the innocent expression on the other
man’s face he really couldn’t answer his own question. The old coot never gave anything away.

“So how did training go this week?” Dumbeldore asked as he made his cup of tea.

“3 to 1,” was the snarled reply.

“Oh my,” the headmaster said with a smile, the twinkling in his eyes getting even brighter if that was
even possible.

“Don’t you,” was all the dark haired man was able to ground out before he was overrun by the other
mans laughter. He suffered thru the others mirth, glaring the whole while.

“Are you quite finished?” he snapped as the gales of laughter turned to snickers and then gasps for
air.

“Thank you Severus. I needed that!” Albus gasped out.

“As always I am here only for your enjoyment, Headmaster.” Snape said sarcastically although with
a faint smile of his own. It had been interesting to say the least.

“So, Mr. Potter finally got you.”

“Albus,” came the warning.

“Yes Severus,” came the innocent reply.

The man said nothing just continued to glare.

“No, Mr. Potter finally got himself. You of all people must realize that he has been holding back.
Not wanting to hurt anyone. I have never met anyone who can pick up and remember every curse
that they have been shown or that they have read about. Even Grabbe can’t claim that and he is the
best I have seen in a while.” Snape said grudgingly not really wanting to give the Gryffindor praise.
That he had spoke more than anything he could have said regarding the young man.

“I know, Severus, I know,” Albus said softly some of the twinkle leaving his eyes. “Can you
continue to teach them?”

“You know I can not. I have exhausted my self,” Snape didn’t want to admit that the two groups
were now beyond his teachings. “It is time that I retreat to what I know best and let someone else
take them further,” he said.

“Then it is time to bring in the rest of the Order,” Albus said, bringing the twinkle back to his eyes.

“Do we have to,” Snape said pleadingly. He may not be able to teach them anything else but that
didn’t mean he wanted to give them up yet. Even that walking disaster in the potions room, Neville
Longbottom. These were his special kids. The ones he knew he had saved and he wanted to keep
them safe.

“It will be all right,” Dumbeldore said pouring his friend another cup of his favorite coffee. It was
dark and rich and just a little bitter, just like the man who drank it.

“You obviously have a plan,” Severus said sarcastically. Taking a drink from his mug with a sigh,
“you always have a plan.”

The headmaster took a long drink of his Earl Grey tea with just a hint of lemon and sighed, “Of
course.”

The potions master smirked at the man in front of him. Batty old coot. Of course he had a plan he
always had a plan and the plan always ended with him and Potter in the infirmary.

“After Sunday we will have to split them into their groups. Pomfrey and Sprout will take Mr. Goyle
and Mr. Longbottom, Arabella and Remus will take Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Weasley, Black and
Moody will take Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, and Mr. Potter, Minerva will start their Animagus
training and I will continue with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter, you, Severus, will take Ms. Granger
and retreat to the Potions laboratory and the Library and research the new spell that Voldemort is
hell bent on attaining.” Albus recited the training schedule calmly.

“I suspect that they will all be pleasantly surprised come Sunday, don’t you?” The headmaster gave
no indication, except for a slight increase in twinkle-ness, that he had noticed the start that Severus
had made when he had assigned him his student.

Snape smirked, maybe the old coot was all seeing. “I don’t believe that there will be as big a
surprise on at least one of the groups behalf. I had an interesting Potions class today.”

*****************************************************************************

Harry stood there accepting the astonished looks of the two standing before him. Damn but it felt
good to get one up on Malfoy.

That’s not the only thing you wanna get up on Malfoy.

Shut the fuck up for God’s sakes will ya!

Fine be that way. But you know that I am right.

Harry turned his hand and gently caught the charm, sending a pulse of magic towards it he sent a
message to everyone, Tower.

Harry smirked again and walking to stand in front of the two glanced at Parkinson and nodded then
turned all his attention back to the silver-haired boy before him. Reaching out he gently pushed his
jaw up to close it.

“Cat got your tongue, Malfoy. Evening Pansy.” Harry said softly. He could tell by the suspicious
look that the two Slytherins were giving him that he had them right were he wanted them.

He touched me. Oh! OH he touched me, kept running thru Draco’s head.

Malfoy shook his head to clear it and glared at the raven-haired boy before him.

“What the hell are you doing here, Potty?” he snarled taking a step forward and clenching his hands
ready to start swinging the moment he said anything that would upset his friend again. He caught his
charm in his hand and sent a message to everyone, Tower.

“Oh you know just chillin’.” Harry said casually with a small laugh.

***************************************************************************

In the greenhouses a lone boy jerked his head up and muttered, Harry.

In the Gryffindor Head Girl’s room two friends looked at each other in fear both gasping out, Harry.

In the Hospital corridor a slim young man dropped a vial of dreamless sleep potion on the floor with
a gasp, Draco.

In the Slytherin common room a dark haired youth looked up from his charms homework with a
gasp, Draco.

In the Headmaster office the two men looked at each other in astonishment before gasping out,
Draco! Harry!

A mad scramble ensued to get all seven of them to the tower as quickly as possible.

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Enjoy!

LMG