A Looping of the Scales ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 32 ~ Arrangements and Revelations

Professor Slughorn was relaxing in his quarters with a glass of wine when a knock sounded on his door. The wizard took another sip of wine, set the glass down, rocked a bit to get his rotund form out of the plush armchair and answered the door. His walrus-like mustache blew up in pleasant surprise as he took in who was standing at his door.

”Severus! Welcome, welcome! Do come in my boy,” he gushed, holding the door wide.

Snape entered, his black eyes shifting about the lush quarters. Slughorn believed in having the very best.

”Sit down, Severus. I was just thinking about you,” the professor said with a broad smile.

Snape sank into a very plush armchair and had to adjust himself to a comfortable position.

”I wanted to speak to you, professor, about borrowing several items from your Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I am doing a bit of reviewing for my NEWTS. It would be very helpful,” Snape said.

”Well, you aren’t exactly a student, Severus,” Slughorn said, seeing an opportunity to barter. “So I’ll have to think very hard about loaning you anything from the DADA class. Perhaps a bit of Quid pro Quo would be in order.”

Snape frowned.

”What would you want?” he asked the teacher, well aware that no matter how jovial Slughorn seemed, he was still a Slytherin.

“Oh, nothing too involved. I’d like you to attend one of my get-togethers. Mingle and meet or be re-introduced to a few people. That’s all.”

”You want me to attend a party?” Snape asked.

”A very exclusive party. It would be well worth your while, Severus. Making contacts is important, especially for a wizard of your talents.”

Snape considered this. He could always just show up, stand around a few minutes and leave.

”Of course, you would have to stay for the duration,” Slughorn added as if he’d read the wizard’s mind. He remembered Snape wasn’t a very social youth.

”Well, my attendance would depend on whether you can provide what I need, and I need five,” Snape bartered.

”Five what?” Slughorn asked.

Snape told him.

Slughorn went a little ashen.

”What? Why in the world would you need that many? One is terrible enough?”

”I am ‘reviewing’ Charms and hexes with four other students, and thought that these ‘extras’ would be a good addition to the mix. It would make things interesting as well as test our mettle.”

Slughorn was interested.

”Who are you reviewing with?”

”Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley,” he replied.

Slughorn’s eyes lit up.

”All very talented individuals, Severus, and experienced. Excellent duelists.”

”Yes, I know that. Which is why I wanted to add something to the session that would present a bit of a challenge,” Snape explained. “I have an entire scenario planned. Something that will help take their focus off of me. I know they mean to test me, and although I am sure I can hold my own, four against one aren’t my favorite odds. I’m used to the ratio, but still—”

“Ah, yes. The Marauders. Still fresh in your mind, I imagine. That Potter boy was exceptional, too—“

”An exceptional arse,” Snape snapped, not wanting to hear anything complimentary about James Potter. “So, will you provide me with what I need?”

Slughorn nodded.

”That I will, Severus. That I will.”

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

On the way back to this office, Snape was stopped by Draco Malfoy.

”Hello, professor,” the blond wizard said, blocking his path.

It was easy to tell this was Lucius Malfoy’s son. He was almost his spitting image. Snape frowned at him.

”I’m no longer a professor here. You can call me Snape—er—‘

”Malfoy. Draco Malfoy,” Draco offered. “You—you helped me when you were—before this happened to you.”

”Yes, I know. I killed Dumbledore for you,” Snape said, his eyes hard. “Apparently, your mouth got you into something your wand couldn’t handle.”

Draco swallowed.

”It was more complicated than that,” the pureblood said a bit defensively. “You were bound to kill Dumbledore—“

”And to protect you, although I have no idea why I would take an Unbreakable Vow for you. Since it was Unbreakable, I imagine I was still under the onus even after I stood in for you. I would have been bound to watch over you until the day I died if not for this accident,” Snape observed.

Draco didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say and to be honest never thought about Snape still being under that vow when he returned to teaching. But, it sounded correct. Since Snape was now eighteen both physically and mentally, the vow was most likely nullified.

”Well, is there a reason you are blocking my path, Malfoy?” Snape inquired, his eyes a bit cold as he looked at Draco's perfect features. He had always despised overly handsome wizards.

“Um—yes. I heard you were going to be reviewing hexes and charms with Potter and his friends. I was hoping that you’d have room for one or two more. A Slytherin with four Gryffindors doesn’t seem very balanced, and I could use the practice.”

“It won’t be teams, Malfoy. House affiliation won’t matter,“ Snape informed him.

”Oh, you think so? I can’t believe you’re that naïve, pro—Snape,” Draco drawled, feeling more comfortable now that they were on another subject. “You can’t think for a minute they won’t all be testing you, trying to find out just how good you are. A couple of fellow Slytherins would balance out the odds a little. Or are you partial to four against one?”

Snape narrowed his eyes at Draco, who was obviously referring to the Marauders.

”I’ve never been partial to those odds, Draco. All right, you and another friend may join us. Tuesday night after supper at the Room of Requirement,” Snape told him.

Draco gave him a rather dark, pleased smile.

”We’ll be there,” he said with a nod, then turned and walked up the corridor quickly.

”Oh, and Malfoy, be sure to let others know that the session is hereby closed and not to approach me about it,” Snape called after him.

”Done,” Draco called back.

He was grinning as he gave the password to enter Slytherin house. Draco hadn’t made a great showing at the final battle, and Ron had punched him in the mouth twice. Although he grudgingly gave the trio their due concerning their role in the destruction of the Dark Lord, he still felt the need to redeem himself and maybe bring them down to earth a bit. This might be charms review, but he planned to get a little of his own back.

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

Snape’s Sunday night study session with Hermione was a very quiet one. She was angry and sullen and Snape made no attempt to draw her out of it. He didn’t even ask her what was wrong. He believed she was still upset about him telling her that she was rusty with her hexes.

It wasn’t that at all. It was that he had agreed to let Ron, Harry and Ginny infringe on their private study time. Well, that’s how she would have worded it. The truth was having the three friends join in wouldn’t affect their studies at all but make the time better spent.

Hermione would never admit out loud that she wanted to keep her “special” relationship with Snape, special meaning she was the only one he worked with in academically. Besides, the addition of three more people made it unlikely there would be “personal” moments like they shared last night. Right now, she was so angry, she’d rather kiss a bugbear on the lips rather than Severus bloody Snape.

What kind of thick git was he anyway? He had to be able to tell she was angry, but he made NO attempt to talk to her or coax her out of her mood. Didn’t he care?

Snape sat beside Hermione as he did some reading, watching what she was working on. She didn’t even announce when she started Arithmancy. If he hadn’t been watching, he would have missed it. Plus, she seemed to be going through the equations at top speed—but he kept up, arching an eyebrow at her.

At twelve-thirty, Hermione finished her studies. She had caught up and was two weeks ahead in assignments again. She pointedly closed her book, stood up and began putting away her things, Snape watching her in amusement as she viciously abused the books, slamming them into the cubbyholes.

Finally she slung her knapsack on her back and stormed over to the wall, Snape hurrying past her to open the door, a slight smile on his face that pissed her off even more. She stuck her nose in the air and stalked through, Snape opening the office door solicitously, giving her a courtly little bow as she passed.

She spun when she entered the dungeon corridor. Snape was standing in the doorway, just looking at her.

”You’re—you’re the biggest git I’ve ever met!” she seethed.

”Am I? Being that you’re in a house full of gitty Gryffindors, that’s quite an accomplishment. Do I get some kind of prize?”

“Ooh!” Hermione hissed at him. He smiled at her.

”Good night, Hermione. See you tomorrow evening,” he said softly, then closed the door.

”He’s just—selfish and insufferable. I don’t know why I wanted to kiss him,” she muttered as she headed for the entrance hall.

”I can’t wait until Tuesday. I’m going to set his robes on fire—again.”

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

Harry looked over at Ron, who lay in bed on his back, his arms folded behind his head and looking up at the ceiling. Harry was once again reading a Quidditch magazine, but Ron’s silence attracted his attention. He decided to have a bit of fun.

”No ohmmming tonight, Ron?” he asked with a smile.

”No. I won’t be doing that anymore,” Ron replied shortly.

”It’s good to see you’ve come to your senses. It was stupid to believe you could become an Animagus in a week, Ron. I can’t believe you even fell for that,” Harry said, putting his magazine on his nightstand and taking off his glasses.

Ron scowled at him.

”Why couldn’t I, Harry? I might have been able to do it with the proper intent and desire,” Ron retorted, a bit of anger in his voice as Harry put his glasses on top of the magazine.

“Because everyone knows that you have to have an innate ability to be an Animagus, and that it takes years to develop the control and connection to turn into an animal, Ron. That’s why. If it was just a case of desire, then everyone would have an animal form. That’s basic knowledge. I hate to say it, but what you were doing was a waste of time and money. It was just—dumb.”

”Oh, you think so, do you?” Ron asked him, sitting up on the edge of the bed now.

Harry frowned at his blurred figure.

”Ron, don’t start chanting again in an attempt to prove me wrong. That book doesn’t work and we both know it.”

”I don’t know if it works or not,” Ron said sullenly.

“It doesn’t. I don’t think you’ll ever be an Animagus. You’re too impatient and it takes a long time. I think you should accept that Snape can do something you can’t and focus on other things,” Harry said, turning on his side and snuggling into his pillow. He closed his eyes.

That was it. Harry invoking Snape’s name was the bone that broke the Thestral’s back.

Ron stood up and transformed into orangutan. He gave a little screech-whoop. Harry frowned.

”Cut it out, Ron. Making animal noises won’t help,” Harry murmured against the pillow.

Ron ape-walked over to the side of Harry’s bed and poked him in the side of the head with one long, hairy finger.

”Ow! Cut it out, Ron,” Harry hissed, sitting up. He looked at Ron’s furry form then grabbed his glasses, sliding away from him as he fumbled putting them on.

”Ron?” he said with his eyes round. His mouth dropped open as he looked at his friend.

Ron backed up, stood to his full height and pounded his chest with his fists, the long arms flexing. Harry’s eyes slowly drifted down his body then back up again.

”I—I can’t believe it. You’re—you’re a monkey!”

Ron gave him a very wet sounding raspberry. He wasn’t a monkey. He was an ape.

Harry’s eyes drifted down Ron’s animal form again, stopping.

”I’ll tell you one thing, Ron, you might want to consider wearing shorts or something. Your nads are enormous,” Harry observed. “And really hairy.”

Ron looked down, blinked, then gave a huge ape smile, which was pretty horrible because orangutan teeth aren’t the loveliest set of choppers in the world. Then he began to rock back and forth, making his bigger-than-life sized nobblies swing side to side. Harry shook his head at the display.

If Ron ran around like this, it was going to be a fiasco.

But damn, he had a really cool form, giant nads or not.

*********************************
A/N: lol. Thanks for reading.