Smoke & Mirrors

Disclaimer The characters and sheer genius belong to J K Rowling. Any smut is mine, but I don't make a penny/eurocent/cent from my warped imagination.

Chapter 12 Exits and Entrances

"Kreacher? Is he dead?" Harry couldn't keep the note of hope from his voice.

Professor McGonagall looked at him reprovingly. "No, Potter, he's not, and I must say I'm surprised at you. You should take your responsibilities more seriously, especially where Kreacher is concerned."

Harry looked away, a bit shamefaced. "Yeah, suppose I shouldn't REALLY have set him spying in the Ministry," he mumbled.

"That's not what I meant, Mr Potter," Professor McGonagall said impatiently. "By all means order Kreacher to spy in the Ministry - goodness knows we need all the information we can get. But next time, tell him to make sure he doesn't get caught!"

Harry frowned, remembering something Dobby had said. "You mean... Kreacher wanted to be caught?"

"Of course he wanted to be caught! That elf will do you as much harm as his servitude allows... he's already shown considerable ingenuity in finding ways around that, even when he still belonged to the Black family."

Harry's face darkened at the reminder of Kreacher's part in his godfather Sirius's death. "Severus reckoned I should add Kreacher's head to the wall at number twelve Grimmauld Place. Sometimes I think he had a point."

The headmistress tutted. "You'll probably think so even more when I tell you what your house elf has been doing at the Ministry of Magic. In particular, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures." Seeing Harry's blank look, she added, "Amos Diggory still works there. Cedric Diggory's father; surely you remember him?"

Harry swallowed painfully and glared at her. Was she deliberately bringing up all the ghosts from his past? Who would she mention next – Dumbledore? Hagrid? "Of course I remember," he growled. "But where does Kreacher come in?"

Professor McGonagall sighed. "It was Amos Diggory who caught him," she said. "And – eventually – contacted me, because Kreacher is officially employed in the kitchens at Hogwarts. But not before he'd done some damage, I fear. Somehow, Kreacher knew where you and Professor Snape had gone; and apparently you'd omitted to forbid him mentioning it..."

"I didn't even know where we were going!" Harry said indignantly.

"Be that as it may, Kreacher knew – and he told Mr Diggory -"

"I wish that bloody elf was as good at spying on Malfoy and the rest of those arseholes at the Ministry as he is at spying on me and Snape!" Harry said furiously. "But what did it matter that Mr Diggory knew? He doesn't have anything to do with this, er, mole or whatever in the Ministry, does he?" He caught his breath at the look on Professor McGonagall's face. "You think he DOES?"

"I'm not really sure, Mr Potter," she said. "I'd hate to think so. But there's no denying that he has changed, lately. I'm afraid all these years of brooding over his son's death have warped him somewhat. It may well be that it's made him more receptive to evil rumours about yourself - made him want revenge, even." She looked hard at Harry. "Charlie Weasley has been in contact with me. He primarily wanted to make sure I had no objection to his brother Ronald remaining with him in Romania for a week or two before returning to Hogwarts. But he also told me about your encounter with those goblins... and the dragon."

Harry frowned. "But what does that have to do with – oh. Magical creatures. I see."

"Yes, Mr Potter. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Dragons – and house elves – come under their jurisdiction. And I would remind you that the Goblin Liaison Office is also a part of the department. I'm afraid that Amos Diggory was in contact with the goblins who attacked you; he may even have helped them acquire the dragon."

"Just to get revenge on me? Because Cedric – died?"

"Possibly. All this is conjecture, I'm afraid. He wasn't very forthcoming, as you may imagine." Professor McGonagall wrapped her warm tartan cloak snugly around herself as she prepared to leave. "Anyway, I've managed to get Kreacher released for the moment, and he's back in the Hogwarts kitchen for now. But I suggest you don't let him know your present whereabouts."

Harry nodded. As he let the headmistress out of the cabin he remembered her mentioning Ron. "Oh, Professor? You said something about Ron Weasley... do you know when he'll be getting back?"

"Soon, Mr Potter. Or I'll have to cancel all his NEWT courses, I'm afraid."

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"The old cat actually threatened to throw me out?" Ron was indignant.

Harry smiled at his friend. "Just a hint she might have to cancel your NEWT courses... that's why I got Hermione to send an owl to Charlie, to warn you... but you'd already left, yeah?"

Hermione gave Harry a grateful glance. She was glad he'd left unsaid the reason she'd delayed sending the owl, that she was unsure if she really wanted Ron back at Hogwarts or not...

The three of them were sitting round the table in the gamekeeper's hut drinking tea – out of normal sized mugs this time, Hermione having smuggled some out of the castle. She said keeping Hagrid's memory alive was all very well, but there were better ways to do it than drinking out of buckets.

"Mind you, I'm not sure I WANT to be back," Ron was grumbling. "It's not much fun, still being at school at my age. And having to put up with that shit Malfoy. What a prick! The things he's been saying, even about his old mate Snape–"

He broke off. Harry looked sharply across at them, just in time to catch Hermione jabbing her elbow into Ron's ribs.

"WHAT about Severus?" Harry demanded.

"Er, nothing much, mate." Ron said uncomfortably. "All right Hermione – stop it! I think Harry ought to know. Malfoy's telling everyone who'll listen that Snape's at Durmstrang researching some Dark potion or other to break his connection with you, Harry." And a good thing, too if you ask me, Ron added silently to himself.

"That's crap and Malfoy knows it," Harry said forcefully. "Severus only went to Durmstrang for the wizarding moot; he'll be back with me as soon as he can." He caught another exchange of glances between Ron and Hermione. "WHAT?"

"Well, Harry," Hermione said reasonably. "Don't you think he's been gone rather a long time?"

"He'll be here," Harry said obstinately, ignoring the small voice inside him which was trying to argue that Hermione had a point. "It's impossible to break the connection made by the Essences potion. And neither of us would want to, anyway."

"What sort of effect is it having on you, Harry - now you've been apart for a while?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I don't know if it's the potion or what," Harry began slowly, "but I miss him dreadfully. Not just the sex. I'll be busy doing something, and I'll start to ask him what he thinks, then realise he's not here..." He stared at the wall, trying to explain his feelings was difficult, even to his two best friends. "And if I feel kind of... desolate, and incomplete without him," he finished "then he'll be feeling the same without me - won't he?"

Hermione smiled at him sympathetically and patted his arm. Ron gave a loud cough that sounded remarkably like "Bollocks!" His ears glowed red as Harry glared at him. "Anyway, mate," he said hurriedly, "what's been happening while I've been away? Did Dobby tell you what Malfoy's been up to? And Hermione says Quercus has turned up again - what's that all about?"

"Well, first off, Dobby saw Malfoy sneaking round Snape's office. He thinks he was trying to break in, but I've no idea why."

"Yeah, come to think of it, I saw him near Snape's office just now," Ron said. He grinned. "Maybe he's trying to find ingredients to help break the Essences potion."

Hermione gave him a scornful look. "Shut up, Ron," she said. She leaned forward. "Go on, Harry. I'm dying to know what happened when you met Quercus."

Harry hesitated. He hadn't yet told Hermione about his conversation with Quercus; the thought of explaining what the conspirators intended to do if they ever got hold of a Pensieve was just too embarrassing... Hang on – a Pensieve! Of course! Harry thumped his fist on the table as he finally made the connection. "That's why Malfoy's trying to break into Snape's office!" he blurted out. "He's after Dumbledore's old Pensieve!" He jumped to his feet.

"Sorry guys, I'm going to have to throw you out," he told his friends.

"But -" "-why the Pensieve?" Ron and Hermione chorused.

"There's something I must do - I'll explain later." Harry was almost frantic. It was late evening - just the right sort of time for surreptitious office-breaking. And Ron had even SEEN Malfoy near the office just now!

Harry hurriedly bundled Ron and Hermione out of the cabin, in spite of their protests. There was no time to be lost. He must retrieve the Pensieve and hide it in his hut. Surely it would be safer here than in Snape's office – his hut was protected by Professor Flitwick's Fidelius charm, after all. He swept up his Invisibility Cloak and headed for the castle.

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He was right! It looked as if he was just in time. Malfoy was there, outside Snape's office, and from his triumphant muttering it sounded as though he only had one more spell to overcome in order to get in. Harry remembered Snape boasting that he sealed his office with spells that only the most powerful wizards could break. Draco Malfoy appeared perilously close to joining their number.

The final spell seemed to be giving Malfoy some trouble, though. He paused and looked round furtively. "Potter!"

Harry almost jumped out of his skin. He shoved his fist into his mouth to stop himself yelling. Malfoy couldn't have heard him - could he?

"I know you're there, Potter. I can smell your half-blood stink," Malfoy hissed viciously. Harry felt his heart thumping violently.

"Having fun, Potter?" Malfoy went on. "Your precious Snape is, you know. He's having the time of his life, fucking Durmstrang fifth-years raw, they're young and eager, just how he likes 'em. Just how I was, when he had me."

Harry managed to keep still. He was sure Malfoy was only guessing someone might be there and trying to provoke him into showing himself if he was. And it seemed he was right; apparently satisfied, the Slytherin turned his attention to the door again. He ran his fingers lightly over the door knob.

"Ah, a sex spell," he breathed. "I might have guessed. Trust you, Severus, you filthy old sod." And to Harry's amazement, Draco pulled his hard cock free of his robes and began rubbing it on the knob.

Harry gulped. He REALLY didn't want to watch this... but he couldn't look away from the frantically wanking Malfoy. Spunk spattered over the door as the Slytherin groaned "Oh, YES, Prof-ess-or..." Draco slumped against the door, shaking and panting. Eventually he pulled himself together and examined the door knob closely. "Oh come on, Professor," he muttered. "You said you
loved my seed... You want more?" Harry stared as Malfoy turned, lifted his robe and backed towards the door. He winced. Even with the knob slippery with semen, that had to hurt. Draco was now sobbing with pain and frustration.

"You hit my sweet spot every time, now let me in," he moaned. But the door remained obstinately closed. Eventually Malfoy gave up; adjusting his robes, he limped off down the corridor. Harry heard him mutter angrily "I'll be back. You won't keep me out forever!"

Once he was sure that Malfoy had really gone, Harry cautiously approached the door. He probed it with his wand and decided that his enemy had been right – it was guarded by a sex spell. Fuelled by his longing for Snape and his jealousy of Draco, he was soon wanking furiously too – but with a far more successful outcome than his Slytherin rival's.

As soon as his semen hit the door, the knob shimmered and took on a distinctly phallic appearance. Harry stared at it, appalled, remembering how Draco had penetrated himself with it. Was he hallucinating, or did the door knob now definitely resemble Snape's cock? "Oh, I'll so get you back for this, Severus," Harry grumbled, as he turned around and slowly backed towards the door. To his surprise a wave of magic reached out and gently lifted him, drawing him backwards, until his bottom made contact with the knob. "OK," Harry muttered resignedly, and bared his arse.

It didn't feel like part of a door. It was warm, like living flesh, it filled him like a lover. Harry groaned and began to fuck himself on the door knob. It felt so good, like a penis in his arse - like Snape's penis in his arse. Harry forgot what he must look like. He writhed and thrust backwards and forwards. He came for the second time, groaning Severus's name. And the door opened.

Hundreds of miles away, in Durmstrang castle, Severus Snape stirred in his sleep and closed his hand around his firm cock. A faint smile curved his thin lips.

Blushing, Harry disentangled himself from the door knob. He could have sworn he felt a farewell pat on his bum, heard the ghostly echo of a chuckle. "Just wait till I get my hands on you again, Severus," he growled under his breath, retrieving his Invisibility Cloak from the floor and tiptoeing into Snape's office.

The Pensieve retrieved and firmly tucked under his arm, Harry was about to leave when he suddenly remembered his wizard photograph which Snape used to keep on his mantelpiece. Shit, was it still protected by a spell fatal to anyone but the two of them? Be rather inconvenient for a dead body to be discovered in Snape's rooms - even if it was Draco Malfoy's. Now THAT was a tempting thought – no. Harry chuckled regretfully. He'd better check. But a thorough search of Snape's rooms failed to show any sign of the photograph – Snape must have taken it with him. "One less thing to worry about," Harry muttered to himself, as he left the office, carefully sealing it behind him with as good an imitation of Snape's original spells as he could muster.

A few flakes of snow began falling as he made his way back through the dark castle grounds to the gamekeeper's hut. It was winter already. Magic door knobs were all very well... but when, oh when, would he see his lover again?

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

A/N Well, I think I've kept our boys apart long enough for now. Maybe I'll bring Severus back to Hogwarts in the next chapter - or should I - what do you think?