Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.





Chapter 32 Mixed Emotions

Silently observing the seventh year students file obediently and quietly into his classroom, Severus caught the shrewd look thrown his way from his soul mate’s friend. A distant memory tickled at the back of his mind as the Potions master watched the bushy-haired Gryffindor witch settle into her seat. His thoughts touched briefly on another bright witch from his own childhood. He and Lily Evans had been friends since before Hogwarts and she had been the one constant in his troubled youth. Lily had believed in him when few others had and he once again cursed the stubborn pride that had prevented him from listening to her wise counsel all those years ago. Perhaps, life would have turned out differently if he had only accepted the truth then… Shaking the errant thoughts from his mind as he watched his soul mate quietly enter the room, Severus decided in that moment that he would talk to Harry later about his mother and what her friendship had meant to him. Bringing his mind back to the classroom now full of hormonal teenagers, Severus began the day’s lecture.


Hermione gave a small smile as she prepared to take extensive notes on the potion they would be brewing later in the period. Having given up years ago on trying to get Harry and Ron to take their own notes, the young witch knew she would be making two copies later for her friends. She just hoped that the boys were paying enough attention that they would be able to manage a decent potion later.


To his credit, Ron really was trying to concentrate on the droning voice that was painstakingly explaining the difference between White Dittany and Dittany of Crete and how absolutely important it was to not confuse the two and something or other and… Dumbledore was going to be even more revered than ever after Harry’s little speech, Ron thought disgustedly. Surely there was something they could do to let the Wizarding World know just what an awful man Dumbles really was. A wicked gleam entered the blue eyes as he thought of the perfect pair of pranksters who could help him to set the record straight.


Harry was still feeling a bit bemused after the events of the morning. He knew that Severus and his friends were disappointed that he had defended Dumbledore, but he just hadn’t had the heart to expose the old man for his crimes. Hearing a soft feminine chuckle in the back of his mind, Harry turned his thoughts to Hogwarts. The young Headmaster felt the amusement the castle was projecting to him. Underneath that, though, was the obvious pride Hogwarts felt for him. Surprised that he had warranted such an emotion from the venerable school, Harry could feel a blush rising to his cheeks. Years of being repeatedly told that he was a freak and a worthless waste of space had done little to prepare him for accepting praise of any kind. A gentle brush of acceptance and reassurance caressed his mind before Hogwarts nudged his thoughts back to the lecture his lover was delivering from the front of the room.


Draco kept his Malfoy mask firmly in place as he dutifully took notes as his Godfather explained why the moonflowers for this potion must be picked at the stroke of midnight on the night of the full moon and the inherent danger in collecting the specimens at this time of the lunar cycle. This morning’s events had taken even him by surprise, and Malfoys didn’t like surprises that they were not in on. What would Lucius make of this development, Draco wondered? The man had ceased to be his father in the privacy of his own thoughts since that day Lucius had used ‘Crucio’ on him during his first Holiday break from Hogwarts. Draco’s only crime had been his failure to gain the friendship of ‘The-Boy-Who-Lived’. Lucius didn’t care that the other boy was a Gryffindor who looked down on Slytherins or that the boy had already befriended the youngest Weasley boy. No, all that had mattered to the great Lord Malfoy was the perception that his son and heir was a failure. Since that fateful day in Lucius’ study, Draco could seem to do no right in his father’s eyes. Narcissa was too busy playing the perfect wife to do much more than acknowledge her son’s existence, so the young Slytherin had found no comfort or love there.

Grey eyes narrowed as they observed the stern Potions master. Severus had never hurt him the way his own ‘father’ had, though his Godfather certainly hadn’t lavished him with unnecessary praise either. However, Draco had sensed a difference in the normally taciturn man lately. Something had changed, but the young man wasn’t quite sure what it was… Wait, had Severus just nodded slightly in Potter’s direction? And was that a smile lighting his eyes? Draco had certainly seen his Godfather smile before, and had even been gifted with one of those rare smiles, but never had he seen such a warm expression in the Potions master’s eyes. This definitely bore looking into, Draco thought as he forced his attention back to the lecture.


Minerva squared her shoulders and straightened her hat before calling the students in her class to order. The unsmiling witch immediately launched into her lecture, demonstrating the process of turning a toothpick into a rocking chair. After giving last minute instruction, the professor directed the students to begin their attempts at the difficult transfiguration. The Deputy-Headmistress kept a wary eye on her students while she allowed her mind to process the morning’s chaotic events. She knew better than to believe that Cornelius Fudge would not try to wrest control of the school from the new Headmaster, although Minerva was quite confident that Harry and his powerful mate would prove to be formidable opponents for anyone who was foolish enough to stand against them.

No, the more troubling problem lay with Harry himself. As much as she was a true Gryffindor and valued fair play, Minerva was not as willing to forgive and forget Albus Dumbledore’s many sins. The man had hurt far too many people in his quest for personal gain and greatness, and she for one was not going to allow the public to continue to believe the best of the blighter. Narrowing her eyes as she walked around the classroom, Minerva began plotting the best way to ensure the complete downfall of her former boss and mentor.