Legally Binding

Chapter 6

Severus watched as Hermione fumed up and down the hall before the court. While she didn’t say anything to them directly she was showing everything now.

“I can’t believe I was so stupid to just let them put me in this position.” Hermione groaned and spun around and started going the other way. She kept mumbling some more but Severus didn’t hear what she said.
h Heh Hermione and Severus turned when they heard all the shouting that was coming from courcourt.

“What is all of that about?” Hermione asked.

Severus didn’t answer her. He wasn’t sure what it was ab but but he had a feeling that Potter was putting up a good argument and that the court wasn’t able to trap him in something. When the door came open, Severus saw Sarin come out first, he knew whatever happened in that courtroom that Potter had won her respect for it.

“What was the shouting about Harry?” Hermione asked.

Harry turned and grinned at Hermione. “I didn’t fall for their trap they tried to set me up for.”

“And what trap was that, Potter?” Severus asked.

Harry turned to him; “They wanted to know if I thought of myself as the head of my family, of course I can’t be. I told them as such then I told them who I wanted to choose for me after they asked another question.”

Potter actually listened to him. He hadn’t given Harry the answer to get away from his relatives, but Harry figured it out. Potter used his brain for once.

“Wait a minute!” Hermione’s anger was boiling now. “You got to choose who was able to pick for you? They didn’t just make you a ward of the court?”

Harry saw the look on Hermione’s face and it dawned on him how much trouble Hermione was actually in. “Gods Hermione, we’ll think of something, we’ll get you out of this.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. “You are able to slither out of everything Harry. Every other Gryffindor has to meet everything bravely while you just slither away from it. Are you sure the hat even put you in the right house? I swear you should be in Slytherin with the way you get out of everything.”

“I’m in the right house Hermione. I asked the hat to not put me in Slytherin.” Harry started walking off, he would rather her deal with that piece of information on her own.

Severus and Sarin had been quiet through the whole exchange. Severus caught up to Potter, not that he wanted to talk to him, but he wanted to actually study this young man more. It had never dawned on him tPottPotter might actually be putting up a front to everything in his life and he was hiding more secrets than just the abuse from his family. The sorting hat was a very big secret, Potter could have gotten along in Slytherin probably as well as he had gotten along in Gryffindor. Severus looked at Potter and really wondered if the staff at Hogwarts even knew who this young man really was? Severus assured himself, that he didn’t, and if he didn’t he was pretty sure no one else did.


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The train station was even more crowded than normal, Severus had Apparated before Sarin, Hermione, and Potter. He was supposed to check the fireplace entrance that had been set up inside the station. It had been hidden from the Muggles, they would still have to make the track through the station to get to platform 9 and ¾. Severus met Remus in the entrance room, there were witches and wizards all in the room waiting.

“This isn’t going to work.” R tol told him. “They can’t come through the fire entrance.”

“I’m aware of that Lupin.” Severus turned and found some of the other Auror that were dressed in Muggle clothes. They motioned for Severus to come over.

“The Ministry has set up a port key. It goes straight to platform 9 and ¾. The gateway has been spelled not to allow anyone but students and their families through.” The Auror pushed the old derby hat in Severus’ palm. “Tell Sarin extra Auror have been called in should the need arise.”

Severus pocketed the derby and turned to Remus. “We’ll meet you on the platform.” Severus Apparated back to Snape Manor and too a very heated argument.

“Damn it I said leave me alone woman.” Potter said stepping behind the desk away from Sarin.

“Why didn’t you say you were hurt? You’ve been here the whole time and haven’t said anything.”

Severus walked into the room, Potter had a desk between the two of them both were glaring at each other.

“Professor Snape has already given me a potion and ointment so one one knows.” Potter hurled at her.

Severus saw Hermione leaning up against the wall just watching the two go at it. She was actually smiling at them. Hermione still wasn’t talking to Harry after she found out that Harry had eluded the courts, and she herself would be subjected to them.

“How long has this been going on, Miss Granger?” Severus asked her.

“Ever since Sarin bumped into Harry and he let out a yell like she broke a bone in his body.” Hermione looked up at Professor Snape. “Actually this has been kind of fun to watch. Harry goes one way, she goes the other and neither one have decided to back down yet.”

“I should have been told, I’m supposed to be protecting you. If you already have an injury it can become worse if something was to happen today.” Sarin crossed her hands over her chest and gave Harry a Snape glare that rivaled her brothers.

“Shite! That glare has got to be inbred into your family line. I can protect myself.” Harry placed both hands on the desk and leaned into his glare.

Severus knew both of them hadn’t reached the boiling point of their anger, he figured he’d let them work it out. He turned back to Hermione. “Come Miss Granger, we’ll leave the two children to play a little longer.”

Hermione took one last look at the two wondering which one would win this little spat, she had a few rows with Harry herself, they had come off about even, sometimes though, she had given in, because she didn’t feel like ruining her friendship. She followed Snape out of the room.

“Protect yourself, well your doing some hell of a job there. Want to enlighten me as to how you got hurt?” She heard Sarin growl at him as she walked further down the hall.

Severus pulled out the derby hat the Auror had given him. “I’ll escort you to the platform and come back. Professor Lupin will be meeting us there, it’ll be better if we did this in groups anyway.”

Severus sat her trunk on end and held onto one of the handles while still holding the derby. “I think you better get you cat.”

Hermione reached out and grabbed the handle on Crookshanks carrier, she had fit getting him in the carrier this morning. It took Sarin and most of the house-elfs in the Snape Manor to find him just so she would be able to take him back to school with her. She looked up at Professor Snape.

“Touch the derby, Miss Granger.” His eyes glared down at her.

When she reached out for the derby her fingers brushed up against his. She hadn’t meant to touch him, but she had. She had touched her most hated professor, she expected to be yelled at, sent to the depths of hell, but Snape didn’t do anything other than say the spell over the derby to portkey them to the platform. When they landed Hermione was not expecting to see what she did.

Lucius Malfoy was talking to Pansy Parkinson’s father, both in a discussion over the new law.

“I can’t believe the wizarding courtlowelowed certain wizards out of Azkaban.” Pansy’s father stated.

“Believe it.” Lucius gave him a wicked grin. “Mainly it was head of families they let out. To oversee the courting phase of the petitions.”

“Have you petitioned someone for Draco?” The two had been planning on Draco and Pansy to be wed after this last year of school but with the new law that could no longer be done.

“Yes. And with the young mudblood being a court ward, she’ll be given to us.”

Hermione was seething, she knew Lucius Malfoy was talking about her. She hadn’t heard of any other Muggleborns being the ward of the court. “I wouldn’t count on that.” Hermione spat their way.

“Foolish.” Severus hissed in her ear. “What happen to your brains? I expected this out of Potter, not from you.”

Lucius turned to face Hermione and Severus. “My, my. Such a saucy little thing. She’ll make Draco an excellent wife.” Crookshanks was hissing and spitting in his cage at the elder Malfoy. Malfoy pointed his cane at her familiar. “And that will have to go.”

Crookshanks was now trying to break out of the carrying cage he was in. Severus pushed Hermione’s shoulder in the direction to the train jarring her, which caused her to drop Crookshanks carrier. “Go find a seat Miss Granger.” He hissed at her. Severus had seen Lupin walking over to them and knew he would see Granger to the train. Turning back to Lucius Severus wasn’t aware of the fact that Crookshanks carrier was now open and the feline was positively livid.

Severus had stepped in front of Lucius to give Hermione enough time to make it over to Lupin who was still a few steps away. Crookshanks was out of the carrier that Hermione bent over to pick back up. He went shooting through Snape’s legs, one target in his mind, the familiar clawing his way up Lucius Malfoy’s body intent on driving his fangs in the man’s neck.

Pansy’s father had backed away when he saw Severus place himself in front of Lucius, he knew better than to tangle with a Snape. For generations, Snape’s had been rumored for their power and pureblood lines, theirs being older than the Malfoy’s.

“Crookshanks!” Hermione screamed at her familiar.

Professor Lupin grabbed a hold of Hermione, “Let him be. He’ll be fine.” He told her as he spun her off toward the train.


**********


“I don’t have to tell you anything.” Harry was stalking around the desk keeping Sarin and himself separated. He wanted to stay as far away from this female Snape as he could.

“Listen here Potter!” Sarin was walking around the desk again, it was getting on her nerves that this young man could make her blood boil so easily. “The court placed you undy pry protection, and as such, that gives me the right to know things. If you won’t tell me on your own I’ll be forced to drag them from that scrawny little brain of yours.”

“Professor Snape knows, isn’t that enough. I’m surprised he hasn’t told you.” Harry growled.

Sarin pulled her wand out and pointed it at him, she watched his eyes register her wand. “I’m counting to three or you better start talking.”

Sarin made it all the way to three and Harry still had yet to say anything, she gave him enough time to actually formulate a plan. He couldn’t use magic, even as much as he wanted too.

“Legilimens!” She shouted.

Harry dodged past the spell that was coming at him he was prepared for that and pulled the silver tray that he had been seeing that was on a bookshelf behind the desk out. He had it placed in front of him now. He would have to deflect the next spell that was charging right at him. She had sent the banishing charm and it hit the silver platter and flipped out of Harry’s hands. She was smirking at what she had done and Harry dove behind black sofa before she could send the mind reading spell again at him.

His heart was pounding in his chest, but he wasn’t about to give into her. If Snape hadn’t told her then so be it. This was his secret to tell and he wasn’t about to give it up to her. Snape had seen only because the blasted enchanted mirror in the loo couldn’t keep its mouth shut. He might not be able to use magic from his wand, but he had yet to try and see if he could change into his animagus form. No one had known exactly how Voldemort had died, but he had died at the hands of his animagus form. He crouched low waiting to spring at the right moment. His senses on alert as he knew where she was and coming around the sofa he pounced.

Sarin flew back to the ground not expecting to be attacked by Black Panther. The young juvenile cat trapped her underneath him. His paws hanging down over her shoulders and beside her head. Sarin was grasping for breath that had been knocked out of her and she felt the warmth blowing on her face. She looked into the brightest green eyes that could hypnotize prey. Her wand had been knocked out of her hand when she had landed on the floor.

********

Crookshanks had sunk his fangs in Lucius’s neck while Lucius was drawing his wand out of the sheathing that his cane held. The Auror who had been on thetfortform had their wands raised and as well as Severus. All three sent stunning spells at Lucius and Severus reached down and grabbed Crookshanks by the nape of his neck.

“Let Go!” He commanded the cat. Crookshanks obeyed him and bared his bloody fangs at Severus. Severus shook his wand at the cat. “Don’t press your luck.”

Crookshanks yowled pitifully as Severus carried the familiar onto the train. Students jumped out of his way and for that matter out of Crookshanks way. The cat was trying his best to get out of Severus’ grasp, which he was carrying, at arms length.


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Sarin stared into those eyes, they weren’t soft, and they had a wildness to them. Untamed. The panther had bared its fangs and low growl vibrated from its rib cage. Sarin found herself in a rather awkward place, some animagus forms were deadly, and Potter had one of the deadly forms. When the witch or wizard gave into the animal that was inside him or her, the animagus form would turn wild on them. Potter’s form was wild, he had let the animal that was inside him out. And his form was unregistered, Auror were required to memorize every animagi form. Potter’s wasn’t among them. She could also tell that he had allowed his animagus form to kill, which only made the large cat on top of her that much more deadly.

She was slowly trying to reach for wand, not making any fast movements. Her hand stopped when the panther lowered his head and sniffed along her neck towards her ear. She closed her eyes, cats could sense fear, any weakness on her part and she knew she was in trouble. She willed her breathing to stay normal, if she got her wand she could change Potter back. Then she was going to give him a big piece of her mind. She felt the rough tongue against her cheek and opened her eyes wide, she knew Potter wasn’t in control, his animal form was. The panther moved his paw and trapped her wrist beneath it, she couldn’t reach further for her wand now, and she was close but not close enough. The wild cat met her eyes once more and he held her ensnared inside his shear force and raw presences. The cat lifted its head quickly, the next thing she knew was Potter was the one now holding her down and she heard the Severus yelling.
rin,rin, you and Potter need to get…” That was as far as Severus got when he stepped into the room. “What the bloody hell is going on?”