Panthera

A/N and Thank You.... I just wanted to say thank you to mortdevivre for pointing out my really bad Latin translations and for giving me to the correct info... In Chapter four I gave the name Harry uses as Miles Timor, but was informed that if I really wanted it to mean Soldier of Doom, it should be Miles Timoris.... Thank you once again mortedevivre.....

Also to FaeryQueen, who sent me on my path to a new Beta… I took your advice. Thank you very much.

This brings me to a huge thank you to Periculum. Not sure what I would have done if you had never agreed to help me.

Disclaimer....This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


Chapter Six.

Harry stormed into his room, shedding all extra clothing as he went. His one thought was to get to his work room, where he knew the wards would take whatever punishment he could throw at them. His emotions were once again rolling, to the point that he almost missed the spell that activated when he entered the room. A slight pause, and he traced the magical signature back to the Potions master, making him realize that even now the man wanted to know where he was at all times. Wasn’t it bad enough that Snape could track him at any given time, without any other help?

Clad in nothing more than a pair of boxer shorts, Harry finally allowed his magic to run free, knowing that the risks of being attacked here in the center of the castle, surrounded by both the Headmaster’s and the Potions Master’s wards, had been minimized to the point they were almost non-existent. The possibility of anyone else becoming hurt by his wayward magic had also been rendered non-existent; unless of course they managed to break down his own wards.

Closing his eyes, Harry followed his magical pathways down into his core and once he reached that brightly shimmering pool of magic, stepped into it, allowing his magic to do as it wished for as long as it wished.

~~hp~~

Severus sat glaring at his colleagues for the remainder of a meal he couldn’t eat. The accusations made by Minerva about one of her lions, more specifically her Golden Boy left a very bad taste in his mouth. In the past 20 hours, his whole view on Harry Potter had changed, and even before then, he knew without a doubt that Harry Potter did not lie. He relied on others to do that for him. Unable to sit longer without knowing, Severus had to ask. “Mr. Potter mentioned something about not being able to tell lies. Care to explain that comment to us, Poppy?”

“That infernal woman!” Poppy growled, to the surprise of everyone. “If I ever see her again, it will be much too soon.”

“Poppy?” Dumbledore questioned.

“How the Heads of House managed to not know about this… well I’m sure it will remain a mystery until someone decides to speak out.” She hissed, glaring at the four in question. “Dolores Umbridge was using a blasted Blood Quill on select students during their detentions with her.”

“A Blood Quill? Surely you’re not serious?” Pomona Sprout asked.

“Someone brought a Blood Quill into my school, and no one informed me?” Albus’ voice vibrated throughout the Great Hall, the twinkle which never really left his eyes, even when he was upset, completely gone, replaced by cold fury.

“Yes.” Poppy answered simply to both questions.

“I would wager a years’ salary that Mr. Potter was her main victim.” Professor Flitwick stated calmly and smiled grimly at Poppy’s nod. “That would explain so much that just didn’t make sense to me last year.”

“Filius?”

“No one in your house would have been affected by this, Severus, as your Slytherins know to follow those in power and not attract too much notice. Which would be the reason why most of them in the higher years would have joined her inquisitorial squad, and those who didn’t would have known what she was doing and the best way to make those outside of the school aware of it, if she had tried anything on them. After one offense within Hufflepuff, every one of your students, Pomona, would have done everything possible to avoid causing trouble where she would have found out about it,” he explained, and those around the table nodded their agreement. “For the first time since you started teaching here Severus, my Ravenclaws complained about a teacher other then you. I suppose I would have picked up on it sooner if they even complained about Dolores. Unfortunately, it was who they were really complaining about that had me confused, and even now, I’m not sure if I understand why.”

“And who was that, Filius?” McGonagall huffed, not sure where this was going.

“You, Minerva. And I could not find any reason for it. All I heard from them was bits and pieces, saying that someone asked for help but was refused, and other things along the same lines. It would also explain why Gryffindor was near silent about it.”

“And if the others saw that Mr. Potter didn’t go for help, they all would have followed his lead,” Albus finished. Turning to look directly at his Deputy, he asked his next question. “Did Harry ever come to you for help last year?”


Minerva sat silently for a few moments, thinking, before looking up at the others. “No, not that I recall… Wait, he did come to me early in the year about his detentions.”

“And you did nothing!?” Pomona exclaimed, shocked.

“I would have, had I known it was something like this that he was talking about.”


“What did you say to him? Because he obviously took it to mean that he could not go to anyone for help.” Severus asked coldly.

“I told him to keep his head down and to stay out of trouble.”

Keeping a cold glare leveled at the Head of Gryffindor, Severus asked his next question. “Poppy, how many detentions did Mr. Potter serve with Umbridge?”

“He wouldn’t tell me.”

“But if you were to take an educated guess?”

“More then he’s served with you during his entire time here. Definitely enough to make lying next to improbable.”

“But not impossible?”

“No, Severus, as long as he didn’t give away too many details, Mr. Potter could lie, while continuing to tell the truth.”

“The truth as he saw it,” Albus stated, his voice colored greatly with disappointment, most of it directed inwards.

“Indeed, this is why Minerva didn’t believe Mr. Potter about breakfast this morning.”

“Eating a chocolate frog does not constitute eating a proper meal.” Minerva defended herself.

“Ah, but you never asked him that. You just assumed he wasn’t telling you the truth, after you demanded that he spend even more time in the presence of his professors, over what should have been a relaxing holiday for him,” Filius informed her.

Albus looked Minerva over, refusing to look at Severus, who he could tell was itching to get up and look for the young man in question, even if Severus was not exactly aware of it himself. “Mr. Potter was in a breakfast meeting with myself, as well as Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley. I can verify that he ate a full meal.” Standing and motioning for Severus to follow, he placed a weathered hand on Minerva’s shoulder. “Perhaps, my dear, instead of making accusations, you should have asked him what it was that he did eat.”

~~hp~~

Severus didn’t wait for the Headmaster to send him out to find Potter, he had felt the alarm spells he had placed on both their doors alert him to the teen’s arrival in their suite. His only question was what state he would find their rooms in. Leading the older wizard into the dungeons without a word, he entered through the closest door, which happened not to be his own, and paused long enough to feel the pull of the other’s magic. Not feeling it right away, he slowly made his way through each of their shared rooms before going for the private rooms. The crackle of static electricity around the Harry’s workroom finally gave him the only indication that the young man was still in residence.

Reaching out carefully towards the door, Severus pulled back his hand quickly to avoid being shocked. Turning to his mentor, he gave a one-shoulder shrug. “It seems that the boy does not wish to be disturbed at the moment.”

“Indeed. Perhaps a cup of tea while we wait?” The twinkle in Albus’ eyes that had been missing earlier in the Great Hall once more made itself known. “And perhaps at the same time, you could care to explain the remarkable change in both of your rooms?”

Inwardly cringing at the conversation he knew was coming, he silently urged the teen hiding behind closed doors to finish whatever it was he was doing and join himself and the Headmaster before Severus did something he might regret doing later. Casting an alarm that would alert him the moment the shielding on the room went down, he grudgingly followed the older wizard in the sitting area.

Looking around the room, Severus groaned in dismay when he realized that once again the castle had combined two rooms into one. A single look at Albus’ face confirmed that the older man also knew that it was a joined room.

“What would you like to know, Albus?” Severus asked, resigned to the current situation.

“Now, now Severus, I’m very much aware that the castle has a mind of her own.” Albus stated, amusement lacing his voice. “All I want to know is if she judged you in any way last night?”

“If she judged me, Albus? I’m afraid I’m not sure what exactly you are talking about.”

The twinkle in Albus’ eyes flared brighter for an instant, before he managed to bank it back down. “Yes, Severus, judged. At any time did the castle need to read either yourself, Harry, or perhaps both of you together?” Albus repeated, knowing that his Potions Master was trying to buy time.

Knowing then exactly what his mentor was asking, Severus put up an appearance of thinking over the older man’s words. “Yes,” he answered finally, not willing to give out any more information than that.

“And this was the result, when you woke this morning?” Albus pushed.

“Unfortunately.”

“I see. Well then, I’m sure Harry will be in good hands with you here to keep an eye on him. Please keep me updated on his current... condition… and please do not hesitate in coming to me for whatever help you may need.”

“Albus, what exactly do you ‘see’ this time?”

“All in good time, my boy, all in good time,” was the only answer he would receive.