Dum Spiro, Spero
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
3
Views:
3,859
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Part 3 : Noli Me Tangere - Touch Me Not
Disclaimer : I don't own Harry Potter in any way, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling. The Draconians are my thing though. I own Phoebus and Snape"˜s family pretty much, whoot! Unfortunately I don't own Sevs"¦Damn.
Notes and warningSlasSlashy goodness as always, a few upcoming chapters may be NC-17ish and I'm debating on whether to sneak it in, rewriting to fit R, or provide an off site link. I'll probably sneak it in because no way in hell am I rewriting anything. Whoot!
Dum Spiro, Spero
(While I breathe, I hope)
Part 3 : Noli Me Tangere - Touch Me Not
By Reppa
The rest of the year's beginnings were quite strange. The Slytherin house in it's entirety save a few stragglers was becoming even more reclusive and spiteful to the rest of the school. Most likely due to Voldemort's growing influence on the outside. Something Harry noticed seemed to bother Professor Snape in their potions class the other day, especially when one of his sneaky house had used a rebellious tongue to him, forcing the man to remove points. It was an action that caused the rest of the house to look at the Head of House in disdain, which was probably wracking Severus' nerves. How could you run your house when the lot hated you and wouldn't listen? He was sure the Potions master couldn't even step into the Slytherin Common Room anymore.
The class was painfully slow that day, and Harry hated being stuck under the potions master's baleful glare. All ferocity towards him from the man had increased strangely and he was stoutly sure it was due to what he told Dumbledore. As far as he could tell, it had to do with Snape, maybe the boy murdered was somehow related to him or something of the sort. The only seeming knowledgeable people were Snape and Dumbledore, who was obviously mums the word. Despite the Headmaster's telling him not to pursue it, he wanted to ask the professor after class. He had to know, his questions were eating at him.
He nervously glanced up from the papers before him, the vocabulary and notes they had to write. At the moment, the man was just sittbehibehind his desk, long fingers folded together while he glared out over the mass of students. Harry glanced back for a moment, not seeing any Slytherin working save Draco. That was something else strange he noticed. The Malfoy never bothered them, didn't even look at them, he was no longer seen in the company of Crabbe and Goyle, and the blond was always sitting at the teachers' table and making for the dungeons at the day's end, like his dorm was located in there all of a sudden. His staring must have been noticed as Draco glanced up at him, stared back with an indifferent look, and then went back to his work.
Things were just getting stranger and stranger. And then there was Remus, who was acting weird in his classes too. The werewolf, when he wasn't teaching on a subject and the class was busy with an assignment or notes, he was sitting at his desk, staring drealy oly out the window. On occasion Harry would catch sight of Lupin smile and lean forward in his chair before he leaned back and continued his vigil. Obviously he was keeping his eyes on someone, but the green-eyed boy wasn't sure who.
But he had an idea listening to Parvati and Lavender gossip.
"Did you see him? The new Professor?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I see Professor Lupin always staring at him. I bet it"˜s him he"˜s staring out at the window as we speak."
"Really? Well it's only fitting, only monsters could be fitting together."
That was basically what he heard andfrowfrowned. He didn't like hearing people call his favorite Professor a monster, but how was Phoebus a monster? Sure he was extraordinarily creepy, but was that why? He couldn't tell. His mind drifted back into ponderings and questions before a loud slamming noise before him caused him to jump in his seat. He jerked his eyes from the delicate hand that was pressed into his paper to look up at Professor Snape's face. The man was scowling deeply at him, what ha don done now?? Well, other than daydream in his class which was always a bad idea"¦
"You are being quite the dunderhead as of late, do you not see that everyone is gone?" The Professor sneered while Harry looked about and realized indeed, everyone had left"¦but Draco, who was sitting behind the teacher's desk with pursed lips, fighting back a snigger, while Snape continued, "I had to shove Granger and Weasley out to have the pleasure of waking you up myself. You are lucky though that I am in a relatively good mood, Potter. Now take your things and be gone before I decide not to be so kind this time."
"Actually"¦Professor"¦I wanted to ask you something." Harry was rewarded a frown from the tall black-eyed man, "Do you know anything about the murder I was talking of yesterday"¦?"
"What makes you think I know anything?!"
Potter flinched as Snape's voice boomed in the dungeon and the blond behind him seemed to jump as well, taking his eyes from a book to blink at them. Harry gulped slightly, hating to be alone when Snape was angry like this, sure Draco was there but that wouldn't help, it was the only time he really felt truly intimidated by the lanky man, "Be-Because yesterday"¦you acted so flustered. Like you knew. So I wanted to know. I'm still having the dreams, and they're getting worse every time."
The Professor huffed laboriously, looking rather bitter, "I don't know a thing. Listen to the Headmaster and pay it no heed! It's nothing"¦Go see Pomfrey, she'll give you Dreamless Draught. And ten points from Gryffindor for being a nosy bugger. Now leave before I make it a good twenty-five!"
*
"What was that about, Professor?"
Snape felt ill to his stomach before he turned his tired eyes to Draco, "It was nothing"¦nothing at all but something unbelievably stupid." Even though he tried to assure himself he didn't have to pay any mind to it, the potions master was actually worried.
He had talked to his brother and since then nothing but dread settled in his stomach. He had been told there will be no secret withheld this year and Snape was ashamed to admit he almost cried at the thought. Feeling weak in his knees, he trudged around the table and sat in Harry's chair. His eyes bore into the papers the boy had left behind, but they were useless as the were covered by the ink stains spattered when the boy had withdrawn into his daydreaming. There was a pang of envy, when was the last time he had ever lost himself in thought? Many years most likely.
"The day's done"¦go eat, Draco, just because no one will even look at you doesn't mean anything. Just go and eat then come right back"¦" He was relieved the boy did as told without question as he left and Snape let himself relax slightly. He groaned softly as he rested his cheek on one hand and leaned his elbow on the desk. How he was going to get through this year was beyond him, "This will be the death of me"¦"
His attentions diverted up to look at the moon chart on the wall is dis desk. He had to pull it out again as the school now had it's resident werewolf and then some in it's corridors. For the past few days, he had brewed Wolfsbane potions after Wolfsbane potion until his hands were raw from handling the prickly ingredients and his shoulder ached from the incessant stirring. He had made the variety of the potion that, though it had a more vile taste, would keep well. Remus would just have to live with what he got.
The Professor winced momentarily as a s pai pain burned in his back and he had to bring a hand over his shoulder slightly with a curse. For a minute, he rubbed his shoulder as he pondered whether he should or shouldn't bother the Headmaster. "He did say to see him if anything but the mark hurts"¦"
"Who did?"
He jerked his head up to whirl around to catch sight of Sirius stepping in, the door closed behind him. The accused murderer had his arms crossed in the trademark arrogant fashion Severus remembered. Last time he had seen him, the man had been grimy beyond belief, but now he was clean cut and dressed in fresh robes. His hair was pulled back into a pony tail and he looked much more well off, obvious being able to eat recently. Black frowned as he cocked his head, "What were you doing with Harry anyway?"
"What's it to you?" Snape scowled, hands in his lap as he remained at the students desk.
Sirius stared annoyingly at him before he stepped forward and sat in the desk just behind him, both of them were practically in the same seating arrangement they had when they had classes together. "Oh, well, Hermione and Ron told me how you shooed them away before they could wake Harry up and my godson looked a little flustered when he came to lunch, so I reasoned you did something, you greasy git." The animagi explained, leaniorwaorward to rest his elbows on the desk, "Leave my godson alone."
An uncontrollable sneer crossed Snape's face, his hands clenching into angry fists, "You are the last person who should be telling me what to do where Potter is concerned."
"Oh yes"¦" Sirius sighed in mock pity, "I forget how I managed to do so back when you were messing with James' head. So good he married Lily when he did, I was a little worried he was a bit attached to the bastard of Hogwarts."
The sneer's intensity increased as he relaxed his form, too furious now to tense up, "So true, Black, though he'd be alive today if he had stayed with me. I wouldn"˜t have been stupid enough like that little girl to trust any of you save Dumbledore!"
That comment seemed to have set Sirius over the edge as the animagi practically hurtled the desk and grabbed Snape by the collar of his robes,u tau take that back, you slime ball Slytherin!" Sirius had probably figured he had the advantage, being a good few inches taller than the Potions master until he was kicked in the stomach and they both fell to the floor with loud thuds. The convict shook his head with one hand clasping his stomach while the professor was rubbing his hip which he had the misfortune to land on, most likely bruised now.
"Dammit, Black"¦if you had only refrained from being such an ass, it might have all been with you instead of James, you prat!" Snape scowled angrily before he realized what he had said. With a loud hiss as he craned his head away to ignore Sirius' new look of anger, he pointed at the classroom doorway, "Just get your filthy mutt carcass out of here before I decide to summon a Dementor on you!"
He didn't have to look to know Black was gone as the door slammed so hard it'd best be rocking on a lone hinge. Severus cursed lightly under his breath as he leaned against one of the desks, that had been the last thing he wanted to blurt out. "˜At least you didn't act totally stupid and tell him you still feel that way.' That would have been the final death of him. The Potions Teacher sighed tiredly, still rubbing his hip, and looked up at the ceiling, "I bet James Potter's laughing his happy little ass off up there"¦."
*
Remus could have jumped through the stone of the ceiling as Snuffles barged into his room before kicking the door shut and morphing into his human form of Sirius Black, who was fuming. "I can't believe that bastard!! How dare he-! Do you know what he said, Moony?! Prat! Git! He should rot in hell!! I don't understand how he thinks I'd be jealous over that!! I'm disgusted! Appalled!" The DADA professor had to cast a silencing charm so the rest of the school would not hear his old friend's bellowing.
"Now, Padfoot"¦take some calm breathes and tell me what happened"¦." Remus had hidden what he had been looking at with a little redness to his cheeks as he chanced a glance to him through his sandy brown locks, "I can already tell Severus is a key point in this. So relax and tell me what happened."
The convict scowled as he turned to him, fists on his hips as he stood straight up, anger in his icy blue eyes. "That prat said that James would be alive now if he had been with him instead of Lily and that I would have been the one that greasy git would want to cop a feel on if I wasn't a supposed bastard! Can you believe that?" He bristled as he stalked about the room, not noticing the hidden chuckle of Lupin but he did notice what the other Marauder had been hiding. With a frown, Sirius snatched it up before Remus could stop him, "Phoebus"¦Snape"¦?"
The werewolf blanched under the scrutinizing glare from his friend who was studying the picture and article he had been reading. "He's the Divinations teacher this year"¦." Remus explained, getting a glare before he was hanging his head slightly to hide the blush, "I was"¦just a little suspicious so I was doing a bit of"¦research on him. He's dead accurate with his magic and predictions, and he's a master swordsman"¦He"˜s quite nice when you talk to him."
"Remus, I want you to stay away from him."
"But Padfoot"¦!"
"Don't "˜but' me!" Sirius snapped, crumbling up the paper and tossing it into the trash in annoyance, "He's probably as bad as Severus! So no! No! No! No! No! No!"
Remus' amber eyes were wide with surprise but he gradually looked down to give a submissive nod. He couldn't really say much at the moment, it was hard to argue with Sirius when the man wo ado adamant on something. And anything concerning Snape, even Voldemort himself couldn't sway the animagi's resolve.
*
Dumbledore sighed briefly as he stirred the spoon in the fruit tea, greatly enjoying the scent as he did. The Headmaster was seated with Phoebus and Minerva in the Astronomy Tower which was recently redecorated. The ceilings were magically showing the stars of the skies and heavenly bodies, and the constellation mobile hung suspected in the air with the sound of a distant drone. The class was relatively dark save the immediate area around the teacher's desk. McGonagall looked about as she sipped from the china teacup, "Interesting job, Mister Phoebus, and I hope you don"˜t mind me using your first name. I"˜m worried of mixing you up with your brother. And I'm impressed you became so at home so fast."
"Why, thank you, Professor. And I don"˜t mind. I insist, actually, since my brother can get quite territorial." The Snape replied warmly, reclining in his large leather seat.
Once a former Ravenclaw, Phoebus Snape had always had a passion for reading the other students' palms and reciting the names of the stars and memorizing the meanings of each rune and each tarot card. And he loved instructing, or at least he did in a sense. He liked to show people Divination wasn't cheap card tricks and fake crystal balls. Granger was his toughest challenge yet, but he'd work it, even if it meant embarrassing her to America and back. "This will be a very interesting year."
"Indeed, a very long, bumpy road of a year, but interesting none the less." Minerva nodded with agreement, frowning down at her tea. which he was stirring before he drank.
He smiled in admiration as he looked to the others, his bright eyes twinkling gently as he spoke, "I just hope Severus and Harry can live through it. Such dreadful times they"˜ll have ahead." All Albus could do was nod for a moment, studying his tea which he was stirring still before he drank just as he continued, his choice in topic completely different, "Phoebus, where might I find some of this?"
*
The next day progressed sluggishly and as they sat down for dinner, Harry chanced a glance at the teachers' table to look at the two Snapes, Draco, and Remus. Sirius had been in a furious rage all day and all he knew of it was that Severus had said something that threw the convict over the edge according to Remus. And his godfather must have said something about Phoebus too because now the werewolf was sitting another few seats away from him and casting wistful and disappointed glances the taller man's way. Even though Harry personally disapproved at his favorite professor's fawning over the man himself, he was very unhappy to see how Lupin was suffering. He'd have a word with Sirius later.
And Harry was still in the process of figuring Draco out too. The blond had hexed one of his fellow Slytherins at lunch earlier and the Gryffindor had noticed that the other boy no longer got the daily mail from his parents. He reasoned that maybe there were some troubles at home, but the whispers he heard in the halls were changing his mind. More and more talk of Dumbledore being a loon and getting senile plus comments about how monsters and school didn't mix increased with each day. Even Ron seemed to be in on it, Harry and Hermione were rather peeved not being told about it. About half the school knew something he didn't, which irked him to no end.
So Snape was hiding something, there were strange things with Malfoy happening, and Remus was having a crush on the creepy new teacher. Sirius was pitching fits left and right, Voldemort was eerily quiet, and he was ready to go insane from all the strange things going on.
"I don't know, Harry. Maybe Snape has some kind of diary thingamajig in his room that would tell us." Ron suggested, shoveling some potatoes into his mouth and chewing noisily. Hermione gave him a mildly disgusted look over his eating habits as he continued, "Hey, go into his room when he's at lunch or dinner or something with the invisibility cloak. And "˜Mione and me can keep guard if he comes back while you're busy."
Glancing at Hermione, Harry raised a brow to see if she agreed. Which she reluctantly did along with a warning, "All right, Harry, but be careful. Remember what happened last time something went missing in his office, he blamed you and he knew you were there somewhere with the cloak. Don't move anything if you can help it and be quick."
He smiled and nodded as he finished what was left of his dinner. His two friends did also, briefly relaxing as they did. Tomorrow looked quite reasonable, since it was also the full moon and Snape would be leaving his office an hour before dinner to deliver the potion and do a few other things. Harry reasoned an hour and a half would be plenf tif time, since the professor's quarters were said to be small and practically empty save some furniture and many, many books.
Then he nearly catapulted from his seat as a hand gripped his shoulder tightly. Ron and Hermione looked equally fearful as they started past him. Licking his lips slowly with a heart pounding harder than was healthy, Harry slowly turned his head to look up and see Severus Snape staring dat hat him and he felt ill to his stomach as the professor twisted his hand in the cloth of the Gryffindor's robes to tug him to his feet, "Come with me, Mister Potter"¦I believe you and I need to have a quick word." Stumbling to his feet as he was dragged away by the Potions professor, this was one of those times Harry wished he wasn't the boy who lived.
End of Chapter 3
Notes and warningSlasSlashy goodness as always, a few upcoming chapters may be NC-17ish and I'm debating on whether to sneak it in, rewriting to fit R, or provide an off site link. I'll probably sneak it in because no way in hell am I rewriting anything. Whoot!
Dum Spiro, Spero
(While I breathe, I hope)
Part 3 : Noli Me Tangere - Touch Me Not
By Reppa
The rest of the year's beginnings were quite strange. The Slytherin house in it's entirety save a few stragglers was becoming even more reclusive and spiteful to the rest of the school. Most likely due to Voldemort's growing influence on the outside. Something Harry noticed seemed to bother Professor Snape in their potions class the other day, especially when one of his sneaky house had used a rebellious tongue to him, forcing the man to remove points. It was an action that caused the rest of the house to look at the Head of House in disdain, which was probably wracking Severus' nerves. How could you run your house when the lot hated you and wouldn't listen? He was sure the Potions master couldn't even step into the Slytherin Common Room anymore.
The class was painfully slow that day, and Harry hated being stuck under the potions master's baleful glare. All ferocity towards him from the man had increased strangely and he was stoutly sure it was due to what he told Dumbledore. As far as he could tell, it had to do with Snape, maybe the boy murdered was somehow related to him or something of the sort. The only seeming knowledgeable people were Snape and Dumbledore, who was obviously mums the word. Despite the Headmaster's telling him not to pursue it, he wanted to ask the professor after class. He had to know, his questions were eating at him.
He nervously glanced up from the papers before him, the vocabulary and notes they had to write. At the moment, the man was just sittbehibehind his desk, long fingers folded together while he glared out over the mass of students. Harry glanced back for a moment, not seeing any Slytherin working save Draco. That was something else strange he noticed. The Malfoy never bothered them, didn't even look at them, he was no longer seen in the company of Crabbe and Goyle, and the blond was always sitting at the teachers' table and making for the dungeons at the day's end, like his dorm was located in there all of a sudden. His staring must have been noticed as Draco glanced up at him, stared back with an indifferent look, and then went back to his work.
Things were just getting stranger and stranger. And then there was Remus, who was acting weird in his classes too. The werewolf, when he wasn't teaching on a subject and the class was busy with an assignment or notes, he was sitting at his desk, staring drealy oly out the window. On occasion Harry would catch sight of Lupin smile and lean forward in his chair before he leaned back and continued his vigil. Obviously he was keeping his eyes on someone, but the green-eyed boy wasn't sure who.
But he had an idea listening to Parvati and Lavender gossip.
"Did you see him? The new Professor?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I see Professor Lupin always staring at him. I bet it"˜s him he"˜s staring out at the window as we speak."
"Really? Well it's only fitting, only monsters could be fitting together."
That was basically what he heard andfrowfrowned. He didn't like hearing people call his favorite Professor a monster, but how was Phoebus a monster? Sure he was extraordinarily creepy, but was that why? He couldn't tell. His mind drifted back into ponderings and questions before a loud slamming noise before him caused him to jump in his seat. He jerked his eyes from the delicate hand that was pressed into his paper to look up at Professor Snape's face. The man was scowling deeply at him, what ha don done now?? Well, other than daydream in his class which was always a bad idea"¦
"You are being quite the dunderhead as of late, do you not see that everyone is gone?" The Professor sneered while Harry looked about and realized indeed, everyone had left"¦but Draco, who was sitting behind the teacher's desk with pursed lips, fighting back a snigger, while Snape continued, "I had to shove Granger and Weasley out to have the pleasure of waking you up myself. You are lucky though that I am in a relatively good mood, Potter. Now take your things and be gone before I decide not to be so kind this time."
"Actually"¦Professor"¦I wanted to ask you something." Harry was rewarded a frown from the tall black-eyed man, "Do you know anything about the murder I was talking of yesterday"¦?"
"What makes you think I know anything?!"
Potter flinched as Snape's voice boomed in the dungeon and the blond behind him seemed to jump as well, taking his eyes from a book to blink at them. Harry gulped slightly, hating to be alone when Snape was angry like this, sure Draco was there but that wouldn't help, it was the only time he really felt truly intimidated by the lanky man, "Be-Because yesterday"¦you acted so flustered. Like you knew. So I wanted to know. I'm still having the dreams, and they're getting worse every time."
The Professor huffed laboriously, looking rather bitter, "I don't know a thing. Listen to the Headmaster and pay it no heed! It's nothing"¦Go see Pomfrey, she'll give you Dreamless Draught. And ten points from Gryffindor for being a nosy bugger. Now leave before I make it a good twenty-five!"
*
"What was that about, Professor?"
Snape felt ill to his stomach before he turned his tired eyes to Draco, "It was nothing"¦nothing at all but something unbelievably stupid." Even though he tried to assure himself he didn't have to pay any mind to it, the potions master was actually worried.
He had talked to his brother and since then nothing but dread settled in his stomach. He had been told there will be no secret withheld this year and Snape was ashamed to admit he almost cried at the thought. Feeling weak in his knees, he trudged around the table and sat in Harry's chair. His eyes bore into the papers the boy had left behind, but they were useless as the were covered by the ink stains spattered when the boy had withdrawn into his daydreaming. There was a pang of envy, when was the last time he had ever lost himself in thought? Many years most likely.
"The day's done"¦go eat, Draco, just because no one will even look at you doesn't mean anything. Just go and eat then come right back"¦" He was relieved the boy did as told without question as he left and Snape let himself relax slightly. He groaned softly as he rested his cheek on one hand and leaned his elbow on the desk. How he was going to get through this year was beyond him, "This will be the death of me"¦"
His attentions diverted up to look at the moon chart on the wall is dis desk. He had to pull it out again as the school now had it's resident werewolf and then some in it's corridors. For the past few days, he had brewed Wolfsbane potions after Wolfsbane potion until his hands were raw from handling the prickly ingredients and his shoulder ached from the incessant stirring. He had made the variety of the potion that, though it had a more vile taste, would keep well. Remus would just have to live with what he got.
The Professor winced momentarily as a s pai pain burned in his back and he had to bring a hand over his shoulder slightly with a curse. For a minute, he rubbed his shoulder as he pondered whether he should or shouldn't bother the Headmaster. "He did say to see him if anything but the mark hurts"¦"
"Who did?"
He jerked his head up to whirl around to catch sight of Sirius stepping in, the door closed behind him. The accused murderer had his arms crossed in the trademark arrogant fashion Severus remembered. Last time he had seen him, the man had been grimy beyond belief, but now he was clean cut and dressed in fresh robes. His hair was pulled back into a pony tail and he looked much more well off, obvious being able to eat recently. Black frowned as he cocked his head, "What were you doing with Harry anyway?"
"What's it to you?" Snape scowled, hands in his lap as he remained at the students desk.
Sirius stared annoyingly at him before he stepped forward and sat in the desk just behind him, both of them were practically in the same seating arrangement they had when they had classes together. "Oh, well, Hermione and Ron told me how you shooed them away before they could wake Harry up and my godson looked a little flustered when he came to lunch, so I reasoned you did something, you greasy git." The animagi explained, leaniorwaorward to rest his elbows on the desk, "Leave my godson alone."
An uncontrollable sneer crossed Snape's face, his hands clenching into angry fists, "You are the last person who should be telling me what to do where Potter is concerned."
"Oh yes"¦" Sirius sighed in mock pity, "I forget how I managed to do so back when you were messing with James' head. So good he married Lily when he did, I was a little worried he was a bit attached to the bastard of Hogwarts."
The sneer's intensity increased as he relaxed his form, too furious now to tense up, "So true, Black, though he'd be alive today if he had stayed with me. I wouldn"˜t have been stupid enough like that little girl to trust any of you save Dumbledore!"
That comment seemed to have set Sirius over the edge as the animagi practically hurtled the desk and grabbed Snape by the collar of his robes,u tau take that back, you slime ball Slytherin!" Sirius had probably figured he had the advantage, being a good few inches taller than the Potions master until he was kicked in the stomach and they both fell to the floor with loud thuds. The convict shook his head with one hand clasping his stomach while the professor was rubbing his hip which he had the misfortune to land on, most likely bruised now.
"Dammit, Black"¦if you had only refrained from being such an ass, it might have all been with you instead of James, you prat!" Snape scowled angrily before he realized what he had said. With a loud hiss as he craned his head away to ignore Sirius' new look of anger, he pointed at the classroom doorway, "Just get your filthy mutt carcass out of here before I decide to summon a Dementor on you!"
He didn't have to look to know Black was gone as the door slammed so hard it'd best be rocking on a lone hinge. Severus cursed lightly under his breath as he leaned against one of the desks, that had been the last thing he wanted to blurt out. "˜At least you didn't act totally stupid and tell him you still feel that way.' That would have been the final death of him. The Potions Teacher sighed tiredly, still rubbing his hip, and looked up at the ceiling, "I bet James Potter's laughing his happy little ass off up there"¦."
*
Remus could have jumped through the stone of the ceiling as Snuffles barged into his room before kicking the door shut and morphing into his human form of Sirius Black, who was fuming. "I can't believe that bastard!! How dare he-! Do you know what he said, Moony?! Prat! Git! He should rot in hell!! I don't understand how he thinks I'd be jealous over that!! I'm disgusted! Appalled!" The DADA professor had to cast a silencing charm so the rest of the school would not hear his old friend's bellowing.
"Now, Padfoot"¦take some calm breathes and tell me what happened"¦." Remus had hidden what he had been looking at with a little redness to his cheeks as he chanced a glance to him through his sandy brown locks, "I can already tell Severus is a key point in this. So relax and tell me what happened."
The convict scowled as he turned to him, fists on his hips as he stood straight up, anger in his icy blue eyes. "That prat said that James would be alive now if he had been with him instead of Lily and that I would have been the one that greasy git would want to cop a feel on if I wasn't a supposed bastard! Can you believe that?" He bristled as he stalked about the room, not noticing the hidden chuckle of Lupin but he did notice what the other Marauder had been hiding. With a frown, Sirius snatched it up before Remus could stop him, "Phoebus"¦Snape"¦?"
The werewolf blanched under the scrutinizing glare from his friend who was studying the picture and article he had been reading. "He's the Divinations teacher this year"¦." Remus explained, getting a glare before he was hanging his head slightly to hide the blush, "I was"¦just a little suspicious so I was doing a bit of"¦research on him. He's dead accurate with his magic and predictions, and he's a master swordsman"¦He"˜s quite nice when you talk to him."
"Remus, I want you to stay away from him."
"But Padfoot"¦!"
"Don't "˜but' me!" Sirius snapped, crumbling up the paper and tossing it into the trash in annoyance, "He's probably as bad as Severus! So no! No! No! No! No! No!"
Remus' amber eyes were wide with surprise but he gradually looked down to give a submissive nod. He couldn't really say much at the moment, it was hard to argue with Sirius when the man wo ado adamant on something. And anything concerning Snape, even Voldemort himself couldn't sway the animagi's resolve.
*
Dumbledore sighed briefly as he stirred the spoon in the fruit tea, greatly enjoying the scent as he did. The Headmaster was seated with Phoebus and Minerva in the Astronomy Tower which was recently redecorated. The ceilings were magically showing the stars of the skies and heavenly bodies, and the constellation mobile hung suspected in the air with the sound of a distant drone. The class was relatively dark save the immediate area around the teacher's desk. McGonagall looked about as she sipped from the china teacup, "Interesting job, Mister Phoebus, and I hope you don"˜t mind me using your first name. I"˜m worried of mixing you up with your brother. And I'm impressed you became so at home so fast."
"Why, thank you, Professor. And I don"˜t mind. I insist, actually, since my brother can get quite territorial." The Snape replied warmly, reclining in his large leather seat.
Once a former Ravenclaw, Phoebus Snape had always had a passion for reading the other students' palms and reciting the names of the stars and memorizing the meanings of each rune and each tarot card. And he loved instructing, or at least he did in a sense. He liked to show people Divination wasn't cheap card tricks and fake crystal balls. Granger was his toughest challenge yet, but he'd work it, even if it meant embarrassing her to America and back. "This will be a very interesting year."
"Indeed, a very long, bumpy road of a year, but interesting none the less." Minerva nodded with agreement, frowning down at her tea. which he was stirring before he drank.
He smiled in admiration as he looked to the others, his bright eyes twinkling gently as he spoke, "I just hope Severus and Harry can live through it. Such dreadful times they"˜ll have ahead." All Albus could do was nod for a moment, studying his tea which he was stirring still before he drank just as he continued, his choice in topic completely different, "Phoebus, where might I find some of this?"
*
The next day progressed sluggishly and as they sat down for dinner, Harry chanced a glance at the teachers' table to look at the two Snapes, Draco, and Remus. Sirius had been in a furious rage all day and all he knew of it was that Severus had said something that threw the convict over the edge according to Remus. And his godfather must have said something about Phoebus too because now the werewolf was sitting another few seats away from him and casting wistful and disappointed glances the taller man's way. Even though Harry personally disapproved at his favorite professor's fawning over the man himself, he was very unhappy to see how Lupin was suffering. He'd have a word with Sirius later.
And Harry was still in the process of figuring Draco out too. The blond had hexed one of his fellow Slytherins at lunch earlier and the Gryffindor had noticed that the other boy no longer got the daily mail from his parents. He reasoned that maybe there were some troubles at home, but the whispers he heard in the halls were changing his mind. More and more talk of Dumbledore being a loon and getting senile plus comments about how monsters and school didn't mix increased with each day. Even Ron seemed to be in on it, Harry and Hermione were rather peeved not being told about it. About half the school knew something he didn't, which irked him to no end.
So Snape was hiding something, there were strange things with Malfoy happening, and Remus was having a crush on the creepy new teacher. Sirius was pitching fits left and right, Voldemort was eerily quiet, and he was ready to go insane from all the strange things going on.
"I don't know, Harry. Maybe Snape has some kind of diary thingamajig in his room that would tell us." Ron suggested, shoveling some potatoes into his mouth and chewing noisily. Hermione gave him a mildly disgusted look over his eating habits as he continued, "Hey, go into his room when he's at lunch or dinner or something with the invisibility cloak. And "˜Mione and me can keep guard if he comes back while you're busy."
Glancing at Hermione, Harry raised a brow to see if she agreed. Which she reluctantly did along with a warning, "All right, Harry, but be careful. Remember what happened last time something went missing in his office, he blamed you and he knew you were there somewhere with the cloak. Don't move anything if you can help it and be quick."
He smiled and nodded as he finished what was left of his dinner. His two friends did also, briefly relaxing as they did. Tomorrow looked quite reasonable, since it was also the full moon and Snape would be leaving his office an hour before dinner to deliver the potion and do a few other things. Harry reasoned an hour and a half would be plenf tif time, since the professor's quarters were said to be small and practically empty save some furniture and many, many books.
Then he nearly catapulted from his seat as a hand gripped his shoulder tightly. Ron and Hermione looked equally fearful as they started past him. Licking his lips slowly with a heart pounding harder than was healthy, Harry slowly turned his head to look up and see Severus Snape staring dat hat him and he felt ill to his stomach as the professor twisted his hand in the cloth of the Gryffindor's robes to tug him to his feet, "Come with me, Mister Potter"¦I believe you and I need to have a quick word." Stumbling to his feet as he was dragged away by the Potions professor, this was one of those times Harry wished he wasn't the boy who lived.
End of Chapter 3