With A Dragon's Heart

CHAPTER THREE: The Resolution


Harry Potter thought he had made it to the Gryffindor common room without detection. He was wrong. Voices rang out behind him calling his name. He finally stopped when he reached the stairs leading up to his room.

“HARRY! Wait up!”

Harry sighed, closed his eyes, and turned to see his two best friends running towards him.

“Harry! What happened? What did Snape say? Are you getting expelled? Why did you act…”

“Be quiet, Ron!” Hermione snapped. “Harry. Are you all right? We were so worried about you.”

Harry took in a deep breath. “I’m fine. Its just… well, things just happened so fast. I’m… I’m really not allowed to talk about it. And Ron…” he looked at his friend with regret. “I am so sorry I …I … I hope I didn\'t hurt you. I really am sorry, Ron.”

Ron gave a warm smile. “It’s all right, Harry. I have older brothers, remember?”

Giving a small smile back, Harry said, “Thank you, Ron. I really can’t discuss this though. No matter how much I want to.”

Both friends nodded.

“But will you be…? Ow!”

Hermione frowned as she elbowed Ron’s ribs. She gave him a look of disgust then turned to Harry.

“Harry, whenever you are able to, we will be here for you,” she assured, wrapping her arms around Harry.

“Thank you,” Harry whispered to her.

Hermione shot a glare at Ron and motioned to him forward with her head.

“What? Oh for Merlin’s sake.” Finally taking the hint, he advanced to the two of them, preparing to join in with the hug.

Harry quickly held out his arm and firmly pressed his hand on Ron’s chest. The unexpected dismissal caused both of them to gape at their friend.

“It’s all right, Ron. I know you care,” he mumbled.

Ron raised an eyebrow at him and then looked at Hermione with a ‘See, we’re men!’ type of look. Hermione searched Harry’s face with curiosity.

“Really. I’m fine. I-I just need to be alone right now.”

Both nodded, but Hermione still was suspicious. Harry headed up the stairs and quietly closed the door.

“Something’s wrong, Ron.”

“Of course something\'s wrong! He’s worried that he might get expelled. I’d be out-of-it too!”

Still looking at the stairs, Hermione said, “No. I mean there\'s something else wrong with Harry. I just know it.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. Turning to Ron, “Has Harry acted funny lately?”

Ron pursed his lips together and thought a moment. “Aside from today? No. Not really.”

“Hmm. I just wish I knew.”

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready.”

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I know.”


~*~*~*~*~


Harry had been sitting on the edge of his bed for over an hour, with his forehead still resting in his hands. His thoughts were no clearer than they were when he first sat down. Questions after questions filled his head. The main question being the obvious: what will happen to me? He sighed over and over again, hoping it would relax him. It didn\'t.

There was a small knock on the door causing Harry to jump off the bed.

“Harry?” Ron asked in a low voice, opening the door. “Professor McGonagall is here to see you.”

Time was up. Harry nodded. He thought his heart would burst out of his chest any moment. Surely everyone will see it pounding. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, holding it in for as long as he could.

“It’ll be all right, Harry. I know it.”

Harry opened his eyes and shyly nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered, not convincing himself.

He trudged downstairs and there was Professor McGonagall waiting by the portrait door. It appeared she too was scared for Harry. Not just worried. She tried to give an encouraging smile, but failed.

“Come, Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore is ready to speak with you now.”

Harry lowered his head and gave a small nod. Hermione and Ron were about to speak but were cut off by a simple shake of the head by the Professor. They lowered their heads as well and as soon as the portrait door closed, they gave each other a much-needed hug.

It was eerily quiet in the halls of Hogwarts. It seemed to feel like a ghost castle to Harry. No noise save for the loud beating of his heart.

“Peppermint sticks.”

Harry finally looked up in time to see the great staircase open up. He glanced at his Professor and she gave a short nod.

“I won’t be joining you, Mr. Potter.” Her tone was filled with a slight irritation.

Harry looked at her questioningly. Ignoring him, she motioned him to go ahead. Reluctantly, he obeyed. He arrived at the top of the staircase and paused at the Headmaster’s door. It suddenly swung open and Draco Malfoy emerged. He sneered at Harry as he passed by. Harry thought his heart had stopped. This was not a good sign. He gingerly opened the door and peered in.

“Come in, Mr. Potter,” the headmaster called out.

Harry couldn’t feel his feet, but he WAS getting closer to him. His whole body was numb. He started taking rapid breaths, almost to the point of hyperventilating.

“Please sit down,” Dumbledore said, pointing at the chair in front of his desk.

Harry slowly sat down and lowered his head. There was a slight pause as Dumbledore watched the nervous Harry shift in his seat.

“Mr. Potter?” he asked to get Harry’s attention. Harry raised his eyes to him. “Mr. Malfoy has given his disposition on this matter.” He paused again. “You do realize, of course, the seriousness of this situation?”

Finding his voice, he whispered, “Yes sir.”

Dumbledore nodded. “Good. Then we can begin.” Dumbledore then sighed. “Harry, first of all, it should be noted that a decision has been made.”

Harry’s eyes opened wide, he held his breath and clutched the armrests.

“You will not be expelled, nor will any formal charges be brought against you.”

Harry’s face turned white. This was NOT what he expected to hear. His jaw fell open and he tried to speak, but words failed him.

Dumbledore smiled. “Mr. Malfoy will not be contacting his father regarding this and no legal action will be taken.”

Harry blinked several times trying to comprehend what was just said. “But…but…”

“Professor Snape and I have come to an agreement,” he said nodding towards the back of the room.

Harry whipped his head around and there was Snape, standing in the far corner, arms folded, wearing his typical scowling expression.

Turning back to the headmaster, “I don’t understand, professor. I mean, why am I not…?”

“Mr. Potter. The reason no LEGAL action is being taken,” a low, almost angry voice came from the back of the room. Snape continued, “Is that we do not want any… attention drawn to this…predicament.”

Snape strolled forward and paused just next to Harry’s side. Harry gazed up to the black as night eyes. He almost thought that they displayed concern. But this was Snape, right? It didn\'t make sense for HIM to be concerned.

He tore his eyes away and carefully asked, “Professor Dumbledore. I still do not understand. What exactly will... will…” he stumbled on his words.

“Mr. Potter.” Harry jumped at Snape’s words, being so close to him. Snape snorted and shook his head. “The agreement between the Headmaster, myself and Mr. Malfoy…”

“Malfoy?” Harry interrupted.

“…is an option to you. Not a requirement. Therefore, if the agreement does not … suit you … other appropriate action will then be taken.”

“I strongly recommend, Harry, that you agree to this.” Dumbledore intervened.

Harry, not sure if he should agree without hearing the terms, nodded hesitantly. He trusted Dumbledore implicitly.

“What exactly are the terms of the agreement?” he asked quietly.

Dumbledore and Snape exchanged glances. Snape nodded to him.

“Counseling sessions with Professor Snape.” Dumbledore replied. Harry’s eyes widened again.

“Along with Mr. Malfoy,” Snape finished.

Harry snapped his head to Snape. “What? Why?”

Snape sighed in disgust. “Heartless as you may think Mr. Malfoy and myself are, the fact of the matter is that this has affected him as well as it did you,” he retorted.

Harry couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Malfoy? Affected? Inconceivable. As if Snape had read his mind, he answered the unspoken question.

“Yes, Mr. Potter. Mr. Malfoy has a heart after all. Shocking, is it not?” he said sarcastically.

Harry’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Snape snorted and turned his attention back to Dumbledore.

“Tonight, Headmaster?”

Dumbledore looked at the clock. “It’s a little late for that and both Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter has had a trying day.” Snape huffed in disappointment. “Tomorrow is Saturday, best to start then Severus.”

“As you wish, Headmaster,” he responded, clearly upset. “Come, Potter. I will escort you back to your dorm.” He turned to Dumbledore and nodded good night.

“Whatever time you think is best, Severus,” he answered, as if reading Snape’s mind.

Snape nodded again then stepped aside, waiting for Harry to stand.

Standing up, he said, “Good night, Professor. And thank you.”

Dumbledore smiled. “Do not thank me, Harry. Thank Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy.”

Before he could speak again, he was ushered out the door by Snape.


~*~*~*~*~


Snape and Harry walked together in silence. Harry’s mind was reeling from what just happened. Snape? Malfoy? Their idea? It can’t be true. Can it? But his thoughts were interrupted by an exasperated noise from Snape.

“Ask your question Potter. I would actually like to hear you ramble on needlessly than this irritable silence.”

Harry glanced up at Snape who was looking straight ahead.

“Well, I was wondering…uh…why…?”

Snape stopped and spun around to face Harry. “Oh for Merlin\'s sake, Potter! Out with it!”

Harry flinched slightly. “Why are you helping me?”

“Humph. Finally an intelligent question.”

Snape whipped back around and proceeded to walk away.

“Uh, Professor?”

“Tomorrow, Potter. Questions will be answered tomorrow.”

They arrived at the Gryffindor portrait.

“Why did you ask me to ask my question then?”

Snape smirked. “Good night, Mr. Potter.”


~*~*~*~*~