Love, Lies & Loneliness

Chapter 36
(Defence against the Ministry)

“…. nah it’s a Wronski Feint, I tell you Harry.” Harry shook his head continually as Ron persisted in arguing his point, about the article they’d read in the new Quidditch Monthly magazine. The trio walked into the Defence Against the Dark Art’s classroom and took their usual seats in the class.

“I wish you two would stop talking about Quidditch and concentrate on your classes, we’ve got exams in less than four weeks.” Both Harry and Ron looked at one another and rolled their eyes dramatically as Hermione pulled out her special edition, deluxe hard cover with colour pictures defence textbook and plonked it down on the desk in front of her. Harry dumped his own bag on the floor next to his chair and went about rummaging through it looking for his homework but out of the corner of his eye he saw someone unfamiliar sitting in a chair near the back of the classroom that he hadn’t noticed when he’d walked in. The man was strangely dressed, in a robe trimmed with yellow satin, and that had buttons running down at a cross angle across the man’s front, as if someone had cut the fabric wrong and had attempted to patch it up with buttons. The man seemed to sense Harry looking at him and looked up from his clipboard to stare at the boy over the tops of his oval shaped glasses. For a moment Harry met the man’s stare but then looked away quickly.

“Ron?” Finding his homework and his own textbook Harry nudged his friend with his elbow and whispered softly as not to be heard above the noise in the classroom now beginning to fill with the other students. “There’s a man sitting in the back corner of the room, do you know who he is?” Leaning a little closer to his friend on the pretence of looking at his homework Harry whispered again to his friend. The red head cautiously looked behind him at the man Harry was talking about before turning back to face the front of the class.

“Nup, but he’s from the Ministry.” Harry frowned and glanced back at the man himself, who’d gone back to scribbling on his clipboard with his short ugly quill. “He’s one of those jerks that work in the Magical law enforcement department. They’re always on my Dad’s case about paperwork and proper procedure. Dad calls them glorified secretaries but they’re real strict about enforcing magical law.” Harry grimaced as he watched the man continue noting down something on his clipboard.

“What do you think he’s doing here then?” Hermione having listened in on their conversation over the past few minutes queried Ron about the man. Ron shrugged his shoulders as he smoothed some crinkles out of his own parchment of homework.

“Don’t know, they’re involved with everything that happens in the magical world, it could be anything.” Harry had a sinking feeling in his gut as he watched the man in the back corner check the time on the clock which hung on the wall above the teachers desk at the front of the room.

“I doubt Professor Hill has done anything wrong. Maybe he’s just here to check the syllabus the school is teaching?” Hermione flicked open her textbook undisturbed by the man’s presence. Ron didn’t seem too worried either but Harry on the other hand was shaking silently. After Friday night’s detention with Snape Harry had hardly seen the professor all weekend, and when he did it had been fleeting glances with Snape looking unusually stressed. Harry had tried to put the man out of his mind for a while hoping that he could keep himself in control until Snape’s assessment was over but now with the man who might probably be assessing Snape sitting in his class, Harry had to wonder if he too was being watched.

Most of the class were seated when the doors to the Defence room swung open and Professor Snape strode in, a cluster of parchments in his hand. Everyone fell silent as they watched the professor stride to the front of the class and turn around to glare at them.

“Professor Hill is recovering after a nasty accident in his first year class and as such I shall be teaching you for this period.” Harry watched as Snape’s gaze hovered over the class, before finally coming to rest on Harry who did his best not to look up from his book. This would be the first class he’d have with Snape after the detention on Friday and Harry felt rather awkward all of a sudden, as he remembered the way Snape’s lips felt pressed against his own. “Professor Hill has given me your test results from last weeks revision quiz, you may retrieve them at the end of the lesson.” Snape’s voice made Harry snap his attention back to the front of class, as the boy suppressed the thoughts in his mind. “Now turn to page 467 and we shall begin today’s lesson.” There was a rustling of pages and Harry smiled secretly at how everyone automatically obeyed Snape’s command. Most students in the class were not in Snape’s potions’ class and thus had not had the man teaching them since their Owl’s back in forth and fifth year.

Snape turned his back on the class for a moment and spelled the chalkboard to begin taking notes, as he began to talk about Vampires and move slowly about the room in his usual manner. Harry tried desperately to concentrate on the notes he was taking but the mere sound of Snape’s voice made him grow hard beneath the desk. Snape’s voice washed over him like a warm blanket making Harry’s stomach flutter inside. Despite himself though Harry continued to write, and it was only when a shadow fell across his page that he stopped and looked up. Snape stood in front of his desk, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyebrow arched in what Harry knew to be a display of irritation.

“That Mr Potter is the most disgusting attempt at notes I’ve seen in any of my classes this year. I see no possible way you could decipher this scrawl to study for your exams which may I remind all of you are approaching rapidly.” Snape took a moment to look at the rest of the class. “In addition to the prescribed homework given to the class by Professor Hill, you will also rewrite this entire lesson’s notes and hand them into me by Wednesday.” Harry went to protest out of habit but immediately fell silent as he watched Snape’s expression darken somewhat. Snape was in a bad mood and Harry had a feeling it had to do with the man sitting in the corner of the room who was frantically scribbling on his clipboard. Snape moved away from Harry’s table and took up the seat behind the desk in the front of the class. “You will spend the remainder of the lesson silently reading the passage in your text about Vampire bites and their cures, as well as finishing your notes.” Immediately everyone went to work and Harry silently seethed to himself as he began to re write his notes. It had been literally months since Snape had gotten up him in class over something so trivial. It didn’t help either that his present scrawling handwriting was due to the fact he couldn’t stop shaking over the raging hard on he had after listening to Snape talk for the past hour and half.

Finally though the class came to an end and having handed out the quiz results Snape dismissed them with a wave of his hand and a reminder about the homework. Harry couldn’t get out of the classroom quick enough not bothering to wait for Hermione or Ron as he dashed off up the stairs towards the Gryffindor tower. It was lunch now and Harry had heaps of time to deal with his present discomfort and get downstairs to the great hall for the midday meal. Entering his dorm Harry threw his bag carelessly across to his trunk before moving over to his bedside table. Draco and he had been shopping over the weekend in Hogsmeade, the blonde boy equipping Harry with two kinds of lube and three of the dirtiest queer magazines the Slytherin could get his hands on. Admittedly the porn had cost Harry 15 galleons and 45 knuts but it was money well spent in the boys mind. Harry had practically spent the entire weekend reading them and taking in the pictures. Now though wasn’t the time for some browsing and so grabbing the open tube of lube turned to head for the boys bathrooms.

“Frustrated are we?” Harry swore and nearly jumped out of his skin as Draco appeared in front of him, and casually leaned against the upright of Harry’s bed. Harry blushed a little and tucked the tube of lubricant into the pocket of his robe, in case anyone else should come in unexpectedly.

“Yes, not that it’s any of your business.” Harry looked briefly over the boy’s shoulder to make sure no one else had followed Draco upstairs.

“Of course its my business Potter, you’re my pet project remember. How’s it going?” Draco gestured to the pocket where Harry had stowed the tube of lubricant to which Harry smiled and nodded cheekily.

“Better now I know what I’m supposed to be imagining.” Harry was careful not to go into detail, he and Draco having decided on vagueness in their conversations for secrecy reasons, in case someone overheard them talking.

“Good I’m glad I could be of help. How did defence go? I heard Professor Hill’s not quite himself after a first year curse went astray.” Harry shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the lid of his trunk, urging Draco to sit as well.

”Don’t know about Professor Hill, Snape substituted instead.” Draco’s eyebrows rose at this comment as the blonde looked to Harry for explanation. Their first class with Snape for the week would have been Double Potions after lunch but it seemed Harry had had his first class earlier than expected. “Don’t ask it was bloody awful. No concentration what so ever, and he gave me extra homework for scrawling my notes.” Draco chuckled at this and Harry punched him in the arm for the Slytherin laughing at him. “Besides some ministry official was there too.” Draco’s smile fell at this and the blonde leaned closer to Harry having glanced at the door to check to make sure no one was coming in.

“Yeah that’s what I came to tell you about.” Draco paused again this time lowering his voice to barely above a whisper. “He arrived last night and Dumbledore called a staff meeting. He’s staying in that room you had above our common room.” Harry nodded intently listening to what Draco had found out about the man. “He’s here for the next week and he’s been snooping around, asking the students about you staying in Slytherin at the start of the year.” Harry looked utterly worried but Draco calmed him with a warm look. “No one’s said anything though, they’re all keeping quiet, no one trusts him, and he is part of the Ministry after all.” Harry let out a sigh of relief as Draco continued. “Apparently he asked Snape to see your timetable after Dumbledore told him that he’d given Snape authority over your classes this year, because of your transition.” Harry nodded as he remembered Snape giving him his timetable for the year back at the start of term. It was the timetable he was still using although the extra lessons with Snape that were still pencilled in had come to a halt after Harry had defeated Lord Voldemort. “Snape told me to tell you, to make a copy of your timetable but take out the extra lessons you took with him at the beginning of the year so that when this guy comes and asks for your timetable he won’t ask questions about the extra time you spent with Snape.” Harry nodded and instantly reached into his bag, which he’d pushed onto the floor. Pulling out his crumpled timetable Harry spelled a duplicate copy, minus the extra lessons Snape had put in at the beginning of the year. With the new crisp copy in his hand Harry crumpled up the old one and shoved it into his trunk before going about crinkling the new one so that it looked used and worn.

“There, looks just like it’s been shoved at the bottom of my bag for the past year.” Draco chuckled and nodded as Harry put the duplicate timetable back into his bag, having completed what Snape had asked of him. It stood to reason why it would look a little odd at Harry spending two extra nights a week in lessons with Snape, and it certainly wouldn’t do for this ministry official to find out what exactly Snape had been teaching Harry during those lessons.

“Great and one more thing, you’ve got to stop coming down to Slytherin to see me. Just until this dickhead goes back to where he came from.” Harry knew that was coming, now knowing that the Ministry official was staying in the Slytherin dungeons. “Snape reckons he spent nearly all of last night answering questions, some of them were about how much time you were spending with me, being Snape’s godson and all.” Harry rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

“That explains why Snape’s shitty today.” Draco nodded in agreement and took an offered chocolate frog from a jar Harry kept hidden from Ron beneath the curtain of his bed.

“Yeah stressed too, he’s biting his nails and that’s always a bad sign.” Draco opened his chocolate and having looked at the wizarding card inside, showed it to Harry.

“He bite’s his nails?” Harry shook his head as Draco offered him the trading card. It was one Harry already had and so Draco pocketed it for his own collection.

“It’s a habit and it’s the only way you can tell if he’s stressed. He does it unconsciously and never in front of anyone he doesn’t trust but you’ll see it if you watch long enough.” Harry made a note to look at the professor’s fingernails during potions, just to see if Draco was telling the truth. The idea of Snape showing any sign of stress or nervousness seemed almost absurd. “So are you coming down to lunch?” Draco stood from the lid of Harry’s trunk. Harry sighed and nodded, his aching need somewhat having died over the past ten minutes of talking to Draco.

“Yeah not much point in heading to the bathroom now, not enough time to do the job properly.” Harry stood up as well and having checked to make sure everything of his was neat followed Draco out of the dorm and down the stairs to the Gryfindor common room.

“Don’t worry too much, I’ve got something planned for us tomorrow after the Quidditch Match.” Draco smiled mischievously across at his friend who frowned at the Slytherin.

“Draco are you intent on getting me killed this week or did you just not understand the meaning of no pranks?” Harry looked seriously across at his friend who blew him off with a flick of his blonde fringe.

“It’s not a prank and I’m offended that you’d think I would make an attempt on your life having put so much effort into getting you and my god………” Draco trailed off as he realised what he was about to say in the middle of a staircase full of students. Swallowing Draco continued more quietly. “….well you know what I’m talking about besides this is going to be worth the risk.” Draco and Harry came to the entry into the great hall both boys pausing.

“Are you going to tell me about it?” Harry inquired as he looked over to the Gryffindor table to see Ron and Hermione already waiting for him.

“Later, after potions during study period in the library. Meet me in the usual spot and we’ll talk then.” Harry nodded before he and Draco parted and went to their respective house tables to wait for lunch.

“Where did you run off to after Defence?” Ron accusingly glared at Harry as the boy filled his goblet with pumpkin juice ready for the meal.

“Back to the dorm I left something there and had to go an grab it.” Harry lied and looked towards the teacher’s table as he saw Snape walk in from his usual side entrance. Harry smiled at the man but Snape didn’t smile back as the Ministry official followed Snape into the hall and sat down at the extra seat Dumbledore had made for him. It was obvious the Ministry Official was lecturing Snape on something but the potions master was doing a fine job of ignoring him, even going so far as to begin a conversation with professor McGonagall while the official continued to talk.

Being careful of how much time he had spent staring at Snape, Harry turned back to his meal which had arrived quickly on the table and went about having lunch and talking to his friends.

Lunch was drawing to a close and Harry had just finished his second helping of sweet pumpkin pie when he saw out of the corner of his eye the ministry official stand up from his seat beside Snape and begin to make his way over towards Harry. Harry swallowed around his mouthful of juice and glanced at Snape briefly in question. Snape nodded to him in comfort and so Harry pretended to be engrossed in conversation with Ron until the weird little man from the Ministry came to stand beside him at the table.

“Mr Harry Potter, I presume?” Harry put his cup of juice down and turned slightly to face the older man, who looked him up and down with a critical eye. Harry nodded and watched as the man held out his hand for the boy to shake. “I am Minister Julius Bugglesworth.” Cautiously Harry shook the wizard’s hand noting with some concern that the man wore his wand at his hip in a specially designed holder beneath his robe. “I understand you know of why I am here?” It wasn’t really a question but having glanced undetected at Snape and seen the other man watching them intently nodded slowly in reply. “Good then you will gladly assist me in my investigation, I wish to see your 6th year school timetable.” Harry nodded and pulling out his wand muttered an Accio charm that had his modified timetable flying into his hands within moments. Handing the timetable over to the Minister, Harry watched as the man looked down at the timetable over the tops of his oval glasses before nodding. “I will return this when I have finished with it. I will also be conducting a room search this afternoon.” The Minister casually tucked Harry’s timetable into his clipboard but Harry paid little attention to it having only just registered what the man had just said.

“Like hell you will.” Before he could catch himself Harry had instantly spoken his mind to which end the Minister scowled at him intently.

“I beg your pardon Mr Potter?” Over the shoulder of the Bugglesworth Harry saw both Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore rise from their seats, the three professors making their way hastily over to where Harry stood in front of the official in defiance.

“I said like hell you’ll be searching my room.” Harry repeated more slowly this time, emphazing his disapproval with by crossing his arms across his chest.

“Harry? Is there are a problem here?” Dumbledore spoke calmly towards Harry who continued to glare at the Minister.

“Yes, this fuck wit here thinks he’s going to go through my stuff.” Harry didn’t bother curving his language as he pointed rudely at the Minister.

“Language Mr Potter.” Snape snapped purposefully from the other side of the Minister. Harry spared his professor a cursory glance before turning back to Dumbledore for the headmaster’s comments on the situation.

“Harry the minister is here on an official inquiry and as such has the right to access all parts of Hogwarts, including students personal items and effects.” Dumbledore looked apologetically at Harry who continued to shake his head in refusal.

“Well he can just go back to where he came from and tell those cunts in the Ministry that Harry Potter won’t have anyone poking though his stuff.” Harry raised his eyebrow in challenge his fingers tightening their grip around the end of his wand. It wasn’t that Harry was scared or worried about anything he’d find in his things, after all it wasn’t as if he and Snape had been secretly sending love letters or anything but it was the principal of the thing. Everything Harry owned in the world was packed inside his small trunk, and nothing was going to make him open his life up to a stranger to be poking around amongst his things.

“Harry please calm down. The minister will respect your things and you along with both myself, Dumbledore and Professor Snape will be present when the Minister is conducting his investigation.” Harry continued to shake his head his gaze never leaving that of the Minister who’s eyes had narrowed to angry little slits behind the oval shaped glasses. Professor McGonagall sighed as her student paid her no attention.

“Mr Potter I will search your room with or without your consent, but I would much rather you be cooperative than for me to force this upon you. If you have nothing to hide then you should have no objections to me conducting my investigation?” Harry glared at the man his anger making his skin flush. His knuckles where white where they held his wand so tight, the boy trying to keep control over his anger. Despite everything that had happened, Harry was still experiencing transition and while Snape had taught him to control his magic it would still be disastrous for Harry to attempt any magic while so upset. Snape obviously sensed Harry’s internal struggled and stepped cautiously between the Minister and Harry, his hand coming up to rest over Harry’s white knuckled grip of his wand.

“Mr Potter, calm down.” Snape’s voice was deadly the entire school having now fallen silent as the confrontation continued. Slowly Harry took a deep steadying breath and loosened his grip on his wand. Snape visibly relaxed as his student lowered his arms from across his chest and stood silently looking rather defeated.

“Fine do what you like, you will anyway. I hope you find what your looking for cause maybe then you’ll leave me alone.” Harry picked his mail up from the table causing his plate and glass to roll of the table and smash on the floor. Tucking his wand back inside his robes Harry paused and glanced back at the Minister who looked rather pleased with himself. “I lost a sock last week, if you find it do us all a favour and shove it down your throat.” With that as his parting shot, Harry strode from the great hall the doors slamming loudly behind him. Harry was practically radiating magic and while Hogwarts wards didn’t shudder on their foundations, as they would have done earlier in the year, everyone still understood to give Harry a wide birth. Snape looked quickly across at the Slytherin table at where Draco was sitting and instantly met his godson’s gaze. Cocking his head at the doors Snape watched as Draco got the message and instantly rose from the table and ran to follow Harry. When Harry was this unstable it was not a good thing to leave him alone, and while Snape couldn’t comfort his student directly he could at least send Draco to keep an eye on him.


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

(A/N) *Throws hands up in the air in defeat* I give up, hell hath no fury than pissed off English students.......