His Teacher

His Teacher
Chapter Four: The Evening of Fears


Harry stood in front of the mirror, straightening the collar of his shirt. For some reason he was very nervous.

“This damn thing just won’t stay up!”

“You look very good, Master Harry!”

“You think so? Thank you, Iny.”

The elf’s grin was threatening to burst his face into pieces. Iny left the room with the boxes in which he had delivered the suit.

“Great,” Harry sighed, “-I’m listening to a house elf.”

Harry walked to the door and turned back to get one last look.

“This is going to be a long evening.”

He heard music coming from the huge hall where the supposed ‘gathering’ was being held. He stopped at the top of the staircase that led straight to the center of the room. It was truly a magnificent sight. Candle-shaped chandeliers illuminated the room with bright light. Harry gasped slightly as he noticed that the room was filled with people talking and laughing.

Harry stepped down the stairs trying to find someone familiar in the crowd.

“Pleased to see you here tonight, Mr. Potter,” a cold voice drawled.

The boy froze and an instant chill ran up his back. He turned slowly and raised his head slightly to meet the scowling face of Severus Snape.

“Professor Snape?”

* * *

“Dear? Are you ready?” Narcissa Malfoy chirped as she knocked on a huge oak door.

“Yes, mother!” Draco replied, stepping out of his room.

“Lucius is already waiting…we don’t want to be late.”

“Where are we going?” he asked curiously, following his mother.

“To visit a friend of ours. You’ll see,” she smiled.

* * *

“Where IS he?!” Molly Weasley yelled.

“I don’t know, he said something about a gathering,” Percy said, trying to defend himself.

“We told you to keep an eye on him! We thought you were mature enough!”

“But I-”

“No buts! You w-”

“Who’s where?” Ginny cut in.

“Err…don’t worry, Ginny dear. Nothing. Go back to your room.”

“But-”

Molly threw a dangerous look at her, and Ginny backed away from the room.

“Go warn Arthur. NOW!”

“Yes, mother, I will.”

* * *

“Are you sure he will be alright?”

“Don’t worry. He has everything he needs.”

“He will recognize me, and others too… How will I not be able to stand out?”

“I have prepared a Polyjuice Potion for you. Drink it and put on that suit before you go.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Harry gulped. “Nice to see you, Professor.”

“Well, pity I can’t share the pleasure then, isn’t it?” Snape smirked tur turned to leave.

Harry was still dumbfounded, but decided to look for Lauren and excuse himself frhe ghe gathering.

About fifteen people stood in the center of the room, listening intently to a woman in a long, black gown. Harry instantly recognized the woman as Lauren.

He came closer and stood right behind her, listening to the conversation.

“The modern era is technological, and that’s why one must pay special attention to communicative flows, which circulate in the informational environment of state and society.”

“Err, Lauren?”

She turned, as did the other peopl
“Y
“Yes, Harry?”

“Um, can I be excused for the evening?”

“Is this Harry Potter?” a short man with auburn hair asked.

“Why, yes it is, Robert. I train him.” Lauren smiled.

“Really?” The man put his hand on the boy’s forehead. “Well, that is quite impressive for a fifteen year old.”

“He still has a lot of work to do,” she said to the people around her. “Harry, find Adam and you can go,” she said to him.

“Thank you.”

Harry walked through the room again and saw a shadow in the corner.

Adam saw Harry and stepped out of the dark that had concealed his form.

As Adam came into view, Harry’s jaw dropped and would refuse to close. This was the first time he had seen the other boy this evening. He was wearing a similar black suit, but with a white silk shirt. The collar was turned up, and the first three buttons were opened to expose his collarbone and chest, where a silver pendant in a shape of a panther lay. His hair was in the same style as always, but only a few lonely strands hung loose across his eyes.

“Hello to you too, Harry.”

Harry tried his best to control himself, but the sight before him was too much. He remembered when Lauren said that Adam wouldn’t jump him, and gave a sigh of relief. Although now, he admitted to himself, he wished otherwise.

Harry watched mesmerized as Adam tugged on the collar of his shirt, exposing more skin, rolling his head as he closed his eyes.

“Damn…I can’t wait ‘till the evening’s over and I can take this suit off.”

Harry’s breath caught, andcoulcouldn’t help himself as his eyes roamed over the body of the other teen, many images crossing his mind. “Me too,” he breathed.

At the realization of what he had just said, Harry’s head snapped up to meet the satisfied smirk on Adam’s face.

“Err…I…I mean…I want to take it off, too,” he stuttered.

Adam raised his eyebrow questioningly.

“I didn’t mean your suit….err..mine…”

“You want me to take off your suit?” Adam questioned.

“Yes. Err…no…no, no…” Harry couldn’t find what to say. “Can we just drop this?”

“‘Course, Harry.” Adam ggedgged his shoulders. He came closer to Harry and leaned in to whisper.

“Anything you want.” The words were teasing, uttered close to his ear on purpose to brush full lips against the shell lightly.

Harry gulped and Adam swayed into the crowd again to disappear in between the people.

“I really need some fresh air,” Haroaneoaned, deciding to take a walk around the garden.

* * *

“You wanted to speak with me, Lauren?”

“Yes, Broderick. I did.” Lauren addressed the man that stood before her.

He was short but firm. He had short brown hair, narrow eyes and an elegant mustache.

“I wanted to ask a favor.”

“Anything,” the man said with a warm smile.

“I would like you to keep safe a person I know until the situation settles.”

“You want to keep someone safe?”

“Yes, Charlie is very important in our mission.”

“But why don’t you keep him here?”

“First, Potter is here. Second, many people from the Ministry visit me, and his family just found out about his ‘betrayal’, as they like to call it.” They both couldn’t suppress a small ironical smile. “He needs protection now. And I’m afraid I won’t be able to give it to him.”

“I feel that there is more to it than you let on.” Broderick’s warm smile faded.

“I prefer not to comment.”

“Really?” the man questioned.

“Yes, but I assure you that it is nothing good and may get in the way of his true purpose to us.”

“Then I ask no more questions.”

“Cutting short our conversation. Will Melinda and you do this?”

“Yes, of course we will,” Broderick assured her.

“Will there be no questions from young Zabini?”

“There won’t be. Although I--”

Suddenly the door opened and Lucius stepped in.

“I’m sorry that I interrupted your conversation, but the ceremony awaitse Dae Dark Lord is anxious.”

“Yes, yes we are already coming,” Broderick finished quickly and Apparated, followed by Lucius.

Lauren didn’t move. “No turning back now.” She sighed and walked out of the room.

* * enteenter>

Harry practically stumbled through the doors of the balcony. He really needed some fresh air.

He liked this place, and tonight the view was something that he had never seen before in his life.

The full moon shimmered with light. The clouds draped the deep blue sky, encompassing the moon as it dipped them in silver, the sheer luminescence masking the stars. The colors of the night were cold but warming. The colors of the night were dashing, but tranquil at the same time.

The ocean lulled in harmony and the waves crashed against the rocks and the shore. The moonlight danced on the water as on silk, leaving only footprints.

Harry smiled.

“Beautiful,” he whispered. He rested his forearms on the marble rail and closed his eyes. He listened to the rhapsody the waves and the wind played.

He heard a click behind him but refused to interrupt himself.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a strangely familiar voice asked from behind.

Harry’s beautiful fantasy suddenly crashed. His eyes went wide. ‘It can’t be!’

Something clicked in Harry’s mind in that moment. The sudden predatory-like smile wouldn’t leave his lips alone, and he remembered Adam.

The other occupant of the balcony still waited for an answer, curious to know who was standing before him.

“It is, isn’t it?” Harry said as he turned slowly.

Grey eyes widened and Harry’s predatory smile reached his eyes, making them sparkle.

“Potter?” the other person asked, slight disbelief filtrating into his voice.

“Dear Lord.” Harry paused, his body fully copying the theatrical sway that Adam always ‘carried out’. “Is it Draco Malfoy standing before me?”

“Are you drunk, Potter?” Malfoy asked as he looked over Harry’s form. Before realizing what he was doing and snapping back into his usual arrogance hen’t n’t fail to notice the way Harry looked with the moon shining brightehinehind him. He felt the back of his neck become slightly hotter, and he hoped to Lord that he wasn’t blushing.

“Are you worried about me?”

Draco scoffed and walked over to the rail.

As Harry followed his movements with a satisfied glaze, he snickered lightly. He turned and watched as Draco leaned over the railing. Harry was taken by surprise and instantly froze when Draco suddenly stepped right in front of him.

When Draco was inches away from Harry, their noses almost touching, Harry’s breath caught. Draco sniffed and stepped back.

“You are!” Draco scowled again, resting his forearms on the rain and looking off into the distance.

* * *

“What do you mean?” Arthur looked baffled.

“I’m just saying that you shouldn’t worry too much about Harry.”

“Are you mad? I won’t--” Molly was almost screeching.

“Molly, please.” Remus raised his hand to silence her. “First, the Ministry has its best people working on it as we speak. Secondly, Harry is okay, there is nothing--”

“Mr. Lupin, I will not listen to this nonsense. You have no idea where Harry is and you are saying that I shouldn’t worry?”

“Please calm down. You are not helping with this. Besides, the location has been almost detected.”

“Remus, I think that you should go now and please tell us if something new comes up.” Arthur tried his best to end the conversation.

“Yes, I think I should. See you soon.” He walked out of the house leaving Arthur to calm down Molly.

* * *

Both boys stood watching the ocean. They turned as they heard the door open again.

“Harry? You here?” Adam asked as he stepped onto the balcony.

“Yes, my dear Adam. I am.”

Adam looked at him suspiciously and then at Draco, who turned away. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Harry?”

“Draco Malfoy,” Draco said, the Malfoy-smirk in its proper place.

“Adam Masters,” Adam answered as they shook hands. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said slyly, his eyes slowly roaming over Draco’s form.

“Yes, the pleasure is all mine.” Draco smirked at Adam, examining him in the same manner.

Harry watched the display with narrowed eyes.

“Harry? ‘Ren wanted me to tell you that the evening is over for you. She seems really pissed about somethin’.”

“Aww, I was just startin’ to have fun!” Harry pouted slightly. He took a step away from the railing, but lost his balance and started falling forward.

Adam reached forward and caught him. “Whoa there.”

Although there were many emotions running in Draco’s mind at that moment, he remained still. He watched as Harry stumbled right into the arms of that Adam boy. He watched the body language of the two boys - the way Harry practiy cly clung to the boy, his drunken laughter muffled by Adam’s shoulder.

“Heehee, okay, Adam? Take me to our room!” Harry said excitedly, taking wobbly steps toward the door.

“It was nice meeting you, Draco.” Adam smiled at Draco and finally managed to close the door behind them.

Draco looked at the point where the door closed a few moments ago and blinked. ‘Our room? Did Potter say their room?’ Draco turned to look at the moon, squinting his eyes.

* * *

Lauren stopped before the door to her office. She knew perfectly well what was going to happen after the ceremony, and they would be doomed if she failed now. Despite her brief moment of hesitation and vulnerability, she confidently opened the door. “Good evening.” She greeted the other occupant of the room sharply, her tone radiating malice.

Severus Snape stood looking through a book. He turned sharply when he heard the voice; he was startled, but didn’t show it. “Were you just being polite, or did you actually dare to say that the evening is good?”

“First, I wouldn’t even think of being polite here, second, it is foolish to consider this evening to be good. Simply speaking, no, you didn’t guess,” she finished arrogantly.

“Why are you not pleased about the evening? Tomorrow the world will tremble with the news of tonight.” He watched satisfied as she glared at him. “Aren’t you proud of yourself? Tomorrow your mission ends, for the Lord will have a fully functioning body,” he spat.

“Don’t start with me, Snape.”

The silence in the room was tense. Lauren stopped the glaring contest and looked swiftly at the book in Severus’s hand.

Snape saw this and smirked. “Why do you still have the book?” There was a slight note of mocking gentleness in his voice.

Lauren’s face twisted in disgust at that tone, but she didn’t comment. Instead she walked over to Snape, tore the book out of his hand and placed it back on the shelf in its appropriate place.

“This shouldn’t worry you now, for it didn’t then.” She paused. “We are wasting time, we should go.” Lauren looked out the window. “The moon is almost in the needed phase, we cannot be late now.”

Severus watched as she walked over to her table, took a book off the desk, and left the room. Snape took a vial from an inside pocket of his dress robes and inspected the way the black liquid moved in the glass. “Yes, why would it now?”

* * *

In a room that was at the west end of the Master Palace, a black haired boy slept peacefully until the moon that was shining brightly touched his forehead with its ray. Harry had no idea how he managed to get into his room and fall asleep. He didn’t know anything except the awful pain in his head and the start of the familiar burn of his scar. The aching pain was growing worse and he screamed in agony.

*

A hundred miles away an elderly wizard hurriedly walked over to his window and opened the drapes. He looked up at the moon. “Then it shall begin,” Dumbledore stated, his voice wearing a tone of sadness.

* * * * *