Death Eater Takes a Holiday

Hi, lots of you had questions about the Warding. Thought I\'d clear a few things up. Bill and Arthur were not as drained because they\'ve been doing magic for many years longer than Harry, Ron and Hermione who all felt rather wiped out afterwards. Charlie didn\'t participate, he came later.

Please excuse the excessive use of the word ‘goo’ in this chapter.


Chapter 63 Tempers Lost

Harry sat at his kitchen table eating breakfast, getting a cold stare from a certain Snowy owl protesting a serious lack of bacon in her diet.
\"Did I complain last night when you tore into a mouse while I tried to sleep?\" asked Harry, getting no response. \"The crunching is disturbing, you know,\" he added, but she didn\'t appear remorseful. Finishing his eggs, Harry picked up a parchment and quill, scribbling down a quick note. \"I know I\'m spoiling you, but at least you\'ll have to work for it.\" She held out her leg obediently and he tied on the note, sending her off.

While Harry showered and dressed to meet with Kieran, the Great Hall in Hogwarts was abuzz with students. Severus had been concerned that a few seventh years had taken the Mark. He watched over the students, looking for clues. Knowing a shipment of ingredients had arrived at the apothecary, he expected to be summoned again soon. He would keep a close eye. If the Mark were new, it would still ache for a while and eventually itch until completely healed. As well, it was almost impossible for a new, young Death Eater to hide the telltale signs when the Dark Mark burned. Not that he expected all new recruits to be summoned to every meeting.

\"Looks like you have mail,\" Severus spoke softly, knowing only Remus would hear. Severus had once thought Albus was punishing him by seating the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors next to him. However, it had become handy for Remus to open a letter and conveniently place it on the table where Severus could read the notes from Harry.

\"What\'s this about? Is this code?\" he asked Severus, placing the note down. Remus worried until he saw the corners of Snape\'s thin lips curl up while reading the brief note.

Will work for food.

\"I\'ve seen homeless muggles holding signs like that,\" Remus said as he watched Severus inconspicuously push a slice of bacon off his plate, muttering all the while about spoiled birds. It was quickly devoured.


~\\*'


In a large building that once served as a stable, Kieran stood ready, checking his watch. He cast a hex seconds after Harry Apparated into the training room. The hex should have formed a layer of ice around its victim, but was rebounded before it could hit its mark. Kieran jumped aside to avoid his own curse.

\"Good move, putting up a shield before you left,\" praised Kieran before casting three more spells consecutively. Harry dove, rolled and returned fire, fending off only two of the three. They sparred for a while, both landing a few good hexes. Harry had always put up an impressive fight, holding his head up high in defiance regardless of how tired or outmatched he felt. So when he fell back with a whimper, struggling to keep his balance and still nearly toppling over, Kieran was immediately taken aback. He held his next spell when he saw Harry stumble. They were supposed to start treatment after the day’s training, but he was beginning to reconsider that.

Clenching his stomach, writhing amongst the loose hay, Harry shouted \"Expelliarmus! Incarcerous!\"

Kieran\'s wand flew into Harry\'s outstretched hand as the magical ropes bound the Scot before he hit a bale of hay against the far wall. Harry smiled triumphantly, enjoying the moment as he saw astonishment in the scruffy face when his opponent realized Harry had pulled one over on him. He would have enjoyed his victory longer, but the feeling soon waned; Kieran hadn\'t moved since his collision with the hay bale. Harry cast a quick shield before approaching, making sure he didn\'t fall for his own trick.

His trainer was out cold. Harry carefully ran his hand around Kieran\'s head, finding a bump. He immediately conjured an ice pack to reduce the swelling. \"Enervate.\" Harry took the opportunity to watch and listen to Kieran\'s breathing to see if he could recognize signs of awareness. To his credit, Kieran\'s breathing hadn\'t faltered, but a tiny squint of his eyes told Harry he was awake. He was certain his trainer had awakened when he saw Kieran\'s whole body jolt when he tried to retaliate but was prevented by the magical ropes restraining him.

\"Bloody Hell,\" groaned Kieran.

\"You did say not to be predictable,\" Harry smirked. \"Can Healers heal themselves?\" he checked Kieran’s head again, gently replacing the icepack.

\"Healing drains you, so I can\'t heal anything too big on myself. That doesn\'t mean I can\'t use spells like Madam Pomfrey’s.\" He shifted, trying to pull free. \"Harry,\" he said softly. Harry leaned in closer to hear what his trainer wanted to say. That was when Kieran shouted in his ear, \"Unbind Me You Prick!\" He carried on, adding a few new words to Harry\'s ever-growing vocabulary of foul language, which now ranged between several languages, one of which Harry had yet to identify, and Kieran wasn\'t telling.

Kieran taught Harry a spell to heal the bump on his head. Harry had heard Poppy cast it enough times to pick it up rather easily.

During lunch, Kieran pointed to various small scars on Harry\'s person, asking what caused each one. There hadn\'t been many left after Harry had the skin regrown, so Kieran had to check a list describing where several injuries had occurred and hope Harry remembered them by description. They started with the small stuff, and to no surprise to Harry, Kieran selected injuries that weren\'t caused by his family for the first day of treatment.

For the most part, Harry regarded the situation as another test of pain endurance and didn\'t notice much difference between ‘before’ and ‘after’ the healing, with one exception. In the previous year, he\'d cut open his ankle on a mop bucket and didn’t want to go to Poppy, since it was way past curfew. He also didn\'t want to explain why he\'d been in a broom closet with Stuart Ackerley. After the healing, Kieran had instructed him to walk around to see how it felt.

\"Wow,\" Harry said, moving his foot around in various directions. \"It\'s like something I didn\'t know was tight has loosened up,\" Harry rocked up on the balls of his feet. He was beginning to see there would be other benefits to the treatments. Kieran explained about scar tissue and adhesions and how they affect muscles and tendons.


~*\\/*~


Severus Snape strolled through his classroom, handing back essays as he examined the potions brewing in each cauldron. Hufflepuffs were too easy to intimidate, not nearly as much fun as his Gryffindor/Slytherin class. It was Snape\'s belief that if he hadn\'t heard at least one muttered \'Greasy git\' each day, he\'d been too easy on them.

Oddly enough, the Hufflepuff students did fairly well when paired up with the diligent Ravenclaw. However, not all Ravenclaws were working to their full potential. Snape slapped down a failed essay, startling a few nervous students.

\"See me after class, Mr. Flynn,\" he scowled. Students held their breath as he walked by, checking cauldrons and taking points. When class was dismissed, Severus sat at his desk, ignoring the rush of students as they struggled to get out before any more House points could be taken from Ravenclaw. He appeared to be reading an essay he was holding in his hand while Flynn sat at his desk, waiting to be addressed.

\"Sir?\" he approached the professor\'s desk after waiting five minutes. After another five minutes, Severus finally glanced up.

\"Potions is not a required course for seventh years, Mr. Flynn. Substandard work will not permit your continued presence in my classroom. If you cannot bring your work up to par, then I suggest you speak to your Head of House for a transfer to Divinations or something else equally practical, like basket weaving.\"

\"May I go now?\" Flynn\'s insolent tone would only serve to bury him deeper.

\"You have not been dismissed!\" sneered Severus and stood abruptly. \'He damn well better flinch,\' he thought, looking down his nose at Flynn. \"You will rewrite this essay to meet my standards. You may get away with turning in shoddy work in other classes, but I am not so lenient.\"

\"Yes sir,\" Flynn\'s choice of words improved, but neither his attitude nor tone.

\"Ten points from Ravenclaw for your impudent tone. You are dismissed,\" Severus glared when Flynn didn\'t turn and leave immediately.

\"I\'m sorry, sir?\" Flynn turned his head as if he\'d not heard properly. “Did you say impudent? For a moment I thought I heard you say impotent, but that couldn\'t be right, could it?\" said Flynn with a malicious grin.

\"GET OUT!\" shouted Snape at the top of his voice. \"Fifty points from Ravenclaw!\" he pointed to the door with his wand. It slammed open, hitting the wall with such force it caused the door to vibrate. Obviously, Flynn\'s cousin the potions assistant had been filling him in on some details of his work for the Dark Lord.


Not having a chance to see Harry during the next week didn\'t improve his mood any. Rumors of Professor Snape\'s foul mood spread fast. Over the next several days, students were being exceptionally quiet and attentive in an attempt to escape his wrath.

~\\*'


The Weasleys had cause to celebrate. Ron was the first of his generation to become engaged. It seemed like every time Harry turned around, they were having a family get together. One night it was the Grangers over for dinner, followed the next night by a big Weasley gathering including aunts, uncles, and cousins alike.

Harry was grateful that he was considered family, and he\'d had a lot of fun, but was ready for a night to just relax for a change. With a roaring fire and a huge bowl of popcorn, Harry turned on the telly for a night of brainless entertainment. Two programmes later, his bottle of butterbeer was empty and he had nothing but the few buttery kernels at the bottom of the bowl. He couldn\'t be bothered to get up.

An interesting commercial came on. He couldn’t figure out what the ad was for, but a half-naked man got his attention. Harry wasn\'t actually listening to what the announcer said, but he was sure he heard his name being called.

\"Harry!\" George called a second time from the fire, finally getting his attention. \"Up for some company?\" with a bit of luck he would convince his benefactor to let them set up a cauldron.

\"It\'s like Deja vu,\" muttered Harry. \"I seem to remember turning into a canary the last time you brewed here.\"

\"No pranks, promise,\" George showed his open hands. \"We did have one thing we hoped you\'d try,\" said Fred enthusiastically. George stomped his twin’s foot.

\"I don\'t know…\" Harry debated. \"I just wanted to veg out tonight. I\'m not up for a mess in here,\" he explained tiredly.

\"No messes. Please,\" George pleaded, \"We got an order we have to fill, and there\'s not enough room for the big cauldron at the Burrow. No experimenting tonight, I swear,\" he vowed. Harry sighed and waved them in.

\"Where\'s Fred?\" asked Harry, seeing George alone.

\"Can\'t take the big cauldron through the Floo. He\'s Apparating with it. That would be him,\" George said with a big smile, hearing a knock at the door. Harry watched Fred drag in a cauldron so big he was half expecting them to ask him for blood to raise up a new Dark Lord. Harry held up his hand, stopping the two redheads.

\"Brew only the potion you came for. Nothing you haven\'t brewed a few times successfully,\" seeing them nod in agreement he continued, \"I don\'t want to find something tomorrow, either. No time-delayed pranks.\"

\"We’ll just leave this for you, clearly marked so you can try it another time, or prank a friend,\" George spelled a box he’d taken out of the cauldron so the word \'PRANK\' was in large red letters. Harry couldn\'t help but laugh a bit at the way George spoke to him softly and slowly, as though he were a wild animal ready to strike.

\"There\'s butterbeer in the kitchen,\" said Harry, putting them at ease, and went back to the sofa. \"I\'ll take one, while you\'re in there,\" he added. Fred went so far as to open the bottle in front of him, so Harry wouldn\'t worry about anything being added to it. They chewed the fat for a while before Harry went back to the sofa and put his feet up.

\"Smells like popcorn in here,\" Fred lit a fire under the immense cauldron. \"Not for long,\" he added, knowing the potion wouldn\'t smell as good.

\"Want some?\" asked Harry. He took a small packet out of a box on the table. The twins eyed him curiously as Harry took off the cellophane wrap to reveal a mostly flat paper bag.

\"What is it?\" Fred asked, not sure if anything edible could come out of such an odd looking package.

\"Microwave popcorn. I don\'t have a microwave oven, but this works just as well.\" Harry pointed his wand at the bag. \"Percoquo.\" The whole bag popped within seconds, puffing up to its full size. Harry opened the bag slowly, allowing the steam to escape. \"Just think, the muggles have to wait a whole three to four minutes for this,\" Harry said dryly.

Watching the twins for a while, Harry thought they looked like they knew what they were doing. They worked well together, hardly having to talk much at all, leaving Harry in peace to watch his programmes.

\"This is the biggest order we\'ve had to come up with all at once,\" mentioned George happily. \"Don\'t worry, Harry, we\'ll remember you when we\'re rich and famous,\" kidded Fred.

\"I didn\'t realize how well you guys worked with potions,\" commented Harry on their work. \"I\'m so used to you blowing things up.\"

\"Experimentin\' is like that. You never know what\'s goin’ to work out. We\'ve brewed this one loads of times, so no worries.\" Fred danced around the cauldron comically.

\"Maybe, but you\'ve never made a batch this big,\" Harry liked to hassle them. \"Did you adjust for longer heating times for a larger cauldron?\"

\"Naturally,\" George puffed up his chest. Harry chuckled and went back to ignoring them. He did cast a simple shied, just in case. Eventually, an hour or so later, slouching on the sofa had led to sleeping on the sofa. Harry awoke when a commercial came on much louder than the show he wasn\'t watching. His glasses were pressed on his nose at an awkward angle.

Harry glanced up at the cauldron; everything seemed to be under control. He cast his protective shield once more, and lay back down. He groaned about the inability to put your face on the arm of the sofa while wearing glasses and tossed them onto the coffee table. He scowled when they hit the table\'s edge and fell to the floor, under the sofa. Glasses were quickly retrieved when the half-naked man was back on the telly. Harry still hadn\'t figured out what they were selling, but he didn\'t care. He tossed his glasses back to the table again, hoping for but not succeeding at a better aim this time.


~\\*'


Back at Hogwarts, Severus Snape walked across the grounds to the greenhouses for a fresh herb he needed. He noticed several students milling about outside. Some of the seventh years had taken to hanging around that part of the gardens in the evenings. No one had thought anything strange about it since a number of students were known to go behind the statue in the gardens to sneak cigarettes. But Severus knew better. It was only recently that Voldemort had begun marking students in their last year instead of waiting until they’d finished school. If they were summoned, it would be less conspicuous to Apparate to a meeting if they were already outside and simply happened to take a walk to the castle gate.

As a member of the Dark Lord\'s Inner Circle and due to his role as Potions Master, Severus did not always attend the same meetings as new recruits. Especially since his primary objectives were to make potions and spy on Dumbledore, he wasn\'t involved in every little facet of the Dark Lord\'s regime, and was grateful of it.

Some of his worst memories involved the newest followers. Voldemort referred to it as the molding of young minds to Death Eater ways. Severus called it what it was, \'Go watch inexperienced young wizards torture and kill.\' Death Eaters weren\'t born knowing how to rape and pillage; they had to be taught.

Once the Dark Lord began accepting students it was no longer safe for Severus to take part in the \'molding of young minds\'. Anyone having second thoughts could easily blow his cover. Voldemort wasn\'t willing to risk losing his spy.

Walking past another small group, Severus froze mid-step. The wand in his sleeve had sent a pulse of magic into him. He unconsciously clenched his hand over his wand; he\'d not felt that warning in some time. Severus quickly changed directions and walked briskly to the Apparition point. Something was wrong at Harry\'s.

\"He must have had a burning desire to leave,\" smirked a young Death Eater who saw Snape clutch his arm. He\'d assumed it was the Dark Mark that caused the Potion Master to depart so hastily.

~\\*'


George finished stirring in another ingredient and set the mixing spoon aside. A few seconds later, Fred asked, \"Shouldn\'t we have increased the stirring time too, since there\'s so much more here and that dragon saliva we just added doesn’t react well with the base stock?\" George\'s eyes grew wide. It was an impressive blast that sent the scalding liquid to cover the ceiling, walls, windows, and of course, two redheads.

Instantly, Harry startled awake. The room was pitch black, or so he thought, but then he quickly remembered the twins brewing and the shield he’d put up. Goop slid down the shield, and Harry saw Fred and George had taken the brunt of the blast. He immediately took down his shield and cast a cooling charm in their direction, in case they hadn’t taken similar precautions, hoping his aim wasn\'t too far off. He could hardly make out the twins amongst the goop without his glasses. Taking inventory of the damage, Harry found the clean sofa upon which he\'d slept to be an odd sight indeed.

\"You two are so lucky there\'s a wall between you and the clock Albus gave me! Though I may still hex you for this.\" Harry doubted they even listened as they stripped off their clothes saturated in the still hot, but no longer scalding potion. Harry sighed, looking around at the colossal mess they\'d made. He didn\'t necessarily want a better view, but thought it best to go find his glasses. He\'d only taken one step when he put his food down on a beaker. Thankfully it was unbreakable, but that didn\'t stop Harry from skidding arse over tit, landing in the colorful glop. The substance had cooled, but it still felt disgusting as it seeped through his trousers, the back of his shirt, and into his hair. Looking up at the ceiling from his prone position, he scowled at a large drip forming, waiting to land on him.

Severus feared what he would find when he arrived at Harry\'s. Apparating into the bedroom, he saw no sign of trouble. Hearing the shower running, he quickly opened the door to find Fred and George in the shower. He followed the trail of clothes through the kitchen only to be shocked by the state of the sitting room. His heart plummeted when he found Harry face down on the floor behind the sofa.


Harry had just closed his fingers around his glasses when he heard his name called out. He tried to roll back, but found someone was doing it for him. He looked up to see who was gently turning him over. Harry had never seen Severus look so scared. He knew Sev had been worried about him other times, but he had seldom been conscious to see his lover’s first reaction.

\"Where does it hurt? Are you burned?\" Severus was patting him down, desperately looking him over for injuries.

\"Severus,\" he finally said, breathlessly. \"I\'m okay, really.\" Harry sighed when Severus ran his hands in his hair, exhaling forcibly, pulling him close. He could feel Sev\'s jaw against his temple, felt his lips place a kiss there where they were pressed together. Harry wanted to tell him he\'d only been down there looking for his glasses, but he’d missed feeling Severus hold him close for so long, he didn\'t want to do anything to make it end.

Harry gasped when strong arms picked him up off the floor. \"Not the sofa,\" he begged when he realized where he was going to be put down. Too late. Severus looked over the clean sofa, and his filthy Harry. \"I had to climb down there to find my glasses… I didn\'t get hit with the initial blast,\" Harry finally thought to say, putting his lover somewhat at ease.

\"Why are those two buffoons in the shower while you\'re out here covered in their mess?\" he growled while pulling off Harry\'s shirt, looking for burns.

\"They\'re both in the shower?\" Harry asked with a waggle of his brow. \"Wish I saw that. Was it hot?\"

\"I was too concerned for your safety to notice,\" he said indignantly. \"Answer my question.\"

Harry sat up, but Severus was still kneeling beside him, putting them at eye level. \"I didn\'t get hit with the hot potion like they did. I\'d spelled a shield earlier,\" said Harry smugly, pulling him closer. He enjoyed the look Severus expressed…was it pride, relief?

\"That explains the sofa,\" Severus pressed his lips to Harry\'s, pressing against him regardless of the goo between them. When they parted, Harry remembered why his lover had known to come to his aid.

\"Now we know the extra ward you put up here works,\" he was about to get another kiss, when Severus held his shoulders, looking at Harry incredulously.

\"You knew? Did Albus…\" he trailed off, unsure whether Dumbledore would have mentioned even though he said he wouldn\'t.

\"He didn\'t have to. I could feel it,\" Harry smiled, amused by Severus\' shocked expression.

\"Why did you not mention it?\" he asked, getting a shrug from Harry.

\"Things were a little strained between us back then. I liked feeling some of your magic protecting me. It showed me how much you cared, even if you were being a prat at the time,\" Harry grinned, tilting his head.

Severus gazed into sparkling green eyes, wondering if Harry would ever cease to amaze him.

\"If you keep looking at me like that, knowing how happy I am feeling right now, Voldy\'s going to summon someone,\" Harry ignored the disbelieving look Severus gave him for using the name ‘Voldy’. He leaned in, pressing his lips gently to Sev\'s, sucking his lower lip into his mouth. He loved making kisses last longer. Having kissed his love’s lips at every possible angle, Harry slid in his tongue to mingle with Sev\'s. He\'d almost forgotten about the extra ward Severus had put on his place. He realized the wizard had done many things, large and small, to show Harry how much he loved him. When the kiss ended, Harry had the feeling he was sporting that ‘goofy grin’ Severus had once told him he had after great sex.

\"Every day I love you more. And I keep thinking I finally fully understand what it\'s like to be loved in return, and you keep proving me wrong,\" he hoped his words expressed what was in his heart without being too cliche.

\"I\'ve been doing that for over seven years now,\" smirked Severus.

\"Loving me?\"

\"No, proving you wrong,\" Severus\' attempt to look smug was interrupted when a burning pain in his arm told him the Dark Lord called for his immediate attendance. The memory of Harry with his hand outstretched flashed before his eyes. The uncertainty in Harry\'s eyes brought him back to the moment. \"Harry,\" he began, but was cut off.

\"You have to leave,\" he said resignedly. \"I understand,\" Harry turned his head away, looking toward the loo, where the twins could be heard arguing over towels.

\"Do you?\" Severus stood up, pulling Harry roughly to a standing position. \"Do you understand what you mean to me? You\'ve completely turned my life upside-down, and I couldn\'t possibly show you how grateful I am for it.\"

Harry had been startled initially by Severus’ intensity, but after hearing his words, he thought he just might melt into Sev’s arms.

“Did you know, on the days the elves serve chocolate eclairs, I have to watch the Gryffindor table to help keep the scowl on my face? Otherwise, I may accidentally smile, thinking about you.\" Severus ran his hands through Harry\'s hair, feeling the sludge between his fingers.

\"Two days ago, I was patrolling the halls, looking for students out of bed. I patrolled right out the front door, then to the gates of Hogwarts and Apparated into your bedroom.\"

\"You did?\" Harry laughed, delighted and intrigued. \"Why didn\'t you wake me up?\"

\"I didn\'t have much time. I just wanted to see you, watch you sleep,\" he watched Harry chew his lower lip. \"Try to stay awake for a while. I don\'t know what will happen tonight,\" Severus kissed him soundly before taking a step back, ready to Apparate to the Death Eater meeting.

Harry looked like he would sway on his feet without Severus holding him. He was already feeling the loss where Sev\'s long fingers had caressed his face.

\"Know that you are the most important part of my life.\" With a \'pop\', Severus had gone.

Harry sighed a happy sigh, thinking how much nicer that had been, compared to their last departure.

\"Well, there\'s something you don\'t see every day,\" Fred and George had entered in time to see the impassioned kiss. The twins stood at the doorway, freshly cleaned, wearing crisp white towels around their waists.


\"You\'re important to us too, Harry, but don\'t go expecting to get kissed like that anytime soon.\" The comment finished off with a wolf whistle.

Harry turned around abruptly, flashing his teeth with an evil grin. \"I seem to recall you both wanting to kiss me, at the same time, I might add. Does \'Jo\' ring any bells?\"

\"It ain’t right, bringing that up. You agreed we wouldn\'t talk about \'Joanne\' or \'Sev\'.\" George couldn\'t muster up much indignation, considering the circumstances.

\"That was before you redecorated!\" Harry\'s chiding lost the desired effect when he slipped barefoot on the slimy floor and fell once again on his arse. Harry realized it was the same spot as before, and looked up in time to see the large drip on the ceiling finally lose its hold and fall, splatting on his face.


~\\*'


Severus had yet to reach the door to where the Dark Lord raged. He could already hear the screams. Voldemort was not a happy psychopath. As he knelt before the shouting wizard, Severus fully expected to be hit with a Cruciatus any moment. He was utterly shocked when it didn\'t happen right away. It seemed the Dark Lord had been so angry that his personal servant was barely clinging to life, and he still hadn\'t vented all his frustrations on the suffering follower.

It was times like this Voldemort missed Wormtail. The rat, before he was killed, could be hit with “Crucio” a few times and still manage to bow, cower and beg for forgiveness.

Severus had yet to be acknowledged, and remained prostrate, taking the opportunity to listen and hopefully not suffer an Unforgivable.

\"My Lord,\" he heard a new voice in the room. A glance to the side revealed a wizard wearing full Death Eater garb, hood included, dragging a muggle man into the room. No sooner had the muggle been dropped on the floor but the Death Eater backed out of the room as quickly as possible without being disrespectful, which is a fine line when cowering for your life.

Severus\' knees were starting to ache while he remained perfectly still, listening to Voldemort torture the muggle to his death. He was grateful Harry was awake and not suffering along.

\"Arise, Snape,\" commanded Voldemort. \"Your arm.\" He held Severus\' wrist tightly, sliding is wand along the fabric covering his forearm. The hissed spell sliced open his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. Pressing his wand onto the Mark, Voldemort summoned yet another follower.

Severus chanced a glance at the serpent-like face and red eyes. He recognized a mix of emotions in the brief slip, before the Dark Lord’s expression returned to anger. Severus knew that as powerful as his master was, even he would not show certain feelings; they might be taken as weakness and exploited, even by a loyal follower. He was sure to give no sign of having recognized that the anger was mixed with disappointment and frustration, to name a few.


Severus stood silently beside the Dark Lord where he\'d been directed to stand. It was the position Lucius Malfoy typically occupied. The door opened to reveal the recently summoned follower who was instructed to remove two bodies, the dead muggle and the quietly rasping assistant.

\"Do not get used to that spot; you are not replacing Malfoy as my right-hand man.\" Red eyes narrowed, watching for a reaction on Snape\'s impassive face. As no response was expected, Severus continued to bide his time. Voldemort continued to study his face. He appeared to be involved in a great inner turmoil. After several more tedious minutes, the Dark Lord directed him to a small sitting room.

It wasn\'t the first time Severus had drinks with the Dark Lord, but Lucius had also most always attended in the past. With servants dismissed and a hissed silencing charm, Voldemort began.

\"I\'d like to talk to you about Harry Potter,\" Voldemort paused, taking a sip of his scotch. \"I can feel him; did you know that?\"

\"You had mentioned his happiness had been a irritation of yours, my Lord,\" Severus responded, appearing indifferent.

\"Yes, yes,\" he waved his hand dismissively. \"Do you know why I chose to speak with you about this?\"

\"No, my Lord. I am at your service.\" Severus bowed his head, wondering when the Snake-like bastard would make his point.

\"I know why my followers are loyal to me, Severusss. Everyone has something they need, something that would benefit them by serving me, or at least they believe so, with only a few exceptions. There are very few who are truly loyal for the sake of my cause. It\'s one of the reasons I am trusting you with the information I will be discussing with you this evening.\" With a flick of his wand, their glasses refilled.

\"After the Killing Curse failed to eliminate Potter, you found a way for a penniless wizard as yourself to make all the potions he desired. You went back to the old fool, who gave you a place to live, food on your plate and a fully stocked lab. When I returned to power, your skills were a benefit to me as well. Lucius, instead…\" he trailed off, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

\"Lucius Malfoy endeavored to secure a firm hold in the Ministry and the Board of Governors for Hogwarts. Malfoy thirsts for power, and I am not ignorant enough to believe he wouldn\'t try to take my place should the opportunity present itself. You, on the other hand,\" Voldemort watched Severus over his glass. His red eyes looked like they reflected the fires of Hell itself.

\"I am forever loyal to you, my Lord,\" Severus again bowed his head slightly.

\"Perhaps... I know you are not happy with the assistant I procured for you. But I also know that I provide you with a location and the necessities that allow you to work with potions the Ministry would never permit you approval to brew and experiment with. Without my influence, you could not acquire some of the ingredients unavailable to most.\"

\"I am grateful for the opportunity you provide, my Lord,\" Severus would let him believe what he would, but knew he could just as easily obtain rare and controlled supplies. It was true he’d started out penniless, but after years at Hogwarts with few expenses, he\'d managed to save and invest a tidy sum.

\"I have put in an order for the ingredients to make the potion you ordered, but they have yet to come in. Is there another potion I can serve you with in the meantime?\" Severus asked, hoping his master would get to the point while he was still young.

\"No. Though I\'m aware of your progress, it is not potions I wish to discuss. I had come to believe Potter can feel more than my own strong emotions.\"

Severus prayed to whichever gods would listen that he hadn\'t figured out Harry suffered from his curses.

\"I recognized a pattern. At times when I could sense Potter\'s strong feelings, I summoned you to brew a potion to help me deal with the brat, and I noticed his happiness ended soon after.\"

Oh, shit

\"If Potter can feel a summons, he can be punished through the same link. At least that\'s what I thought until recently,\" Voldemort paused to rub his temple as if he suffered a headache. \"Potter is showing no signs of discomfort from my recent summonses.\"

\"If I may, my Lord,\" Severus received a nod to continue. \"Is it only strong feelings you can sense from Potter?\" he had hoped showing Harry how much he loved him before leaving would kill two birds with one stone, and it seemed to have worked.

\"I sense only strong emotions, unbidden. However, if I concentrate, I can sense what he is feeling at any given moment,\" Voldemort closed his eyes for a few seconds and Severus knew he was trying to feel Harry\'s emotions. Severus almost dropped his glass when the Lord Voldemort himself snorted in laughter. An actual snort, immediately followed with fierce anger. Severus held back his own laughter and wondered what it was Harry was enjoying. He was roused from his thoughts when Voldemort slammed his glass down, still angry from his momentary lapse in self-control.

\"Occasional happiness is expected. But what I will not tolerate is what I had to contend with earlier tonight. If it keeps up, I can send out someone to attack him again. Actually, I\'m surprised it took him this long,\" he said the last bit more to himself than Severus.

\"What was that, if I may ask?\"

\"Potter is in love,\" the last word pronounced as a blasphemy. He picked up his drink again. \"I want this to end, and you will end it!\"

Severus willed every muscle in his body to remain in control and not jump to conclusions. He simply nodded and sipped his drink.

\"Use your current relationship to your advantage.\"

\"My Lord?\" Severus meant to say more, but found himself at a loss for words.

\"You\'re using the wolf; use him to find out who Potter is in love with and kill whoever it is.\"

\"I doubt Lupin trusts me enough to offer such information.\" Severus lifted his glass again, only to find it empty.

\"Then perhaps you should STOP FUCKING HIM!\"


~\\*'


\"Ron, what\'s wrong?\" Hermione shook him, but didn\'t get a coherent response. Ron had lit a fire to call Harry. She had heard him call out their friend\'s name in a friendly greeting only to be immediately followed by a screech. Initially, Hermione thought she\'d heard a woman scream and ran into the room like a shot only to find Ron making hand gestures and squeaking noises in an attempt to relay what he\'d seen that had disturbed him so, but hadn\'t managed actual words.

Ten minutes earlier…

Harry hadn\'t flinched when the globule of the potion landed on his neck. He managed not to cringe when said potion trailed down to the back of his neck as he stared up at his now aqua ceiling. The only sound in the room was the occasional squelch of goo as it oozed to the floor from the mantel or light fixtures.

The quiet was broken by Fred\'s snort of laughter. With that single sound sucked through the long nose of Fred Weasley, the war had begun. While some would expect a war between wizards would focus around magic, those who grew up with siblings in the wizarding world knew better. Spending the better part of ten years with no magic, and none allowed over school hols, young witches and wizards seldom thought of their wand as their first course of action when battling a sibling-foe. Harry, having spent enough time during summers and other holidays at the Burrow, was no exception.

With lightening speed, Harry scooped up a handful of greenish-blue goo and flung it at Fred, splattering it across his pale chest. George immediately ran, picking up the large cauldron lid to use as a shield. Harry leapt behind the sofa while Fred used what remained of the cauldron as a barrier.

\"Hey, Harry, did you learn those graceful moves in your training sessions? Did that Kieran guy teach you how to slip and fall on your arse?\" Fred taunted him from his hiding space. Harry slung some goo up to the ceiling over his head and waited for it to drip on its victim. He soon learned not to be distracted for so long when George got in a good shot to the side of his head.

\"Maybe it was Snape. After all, he does that cool swish thing with his robes,\" George provoked him while blocking with his shield rather effectively. Harry managed to duck in time to avoid Fred\'s attempt and laughed heartily when the blob he threw up on the ceiling finally fell, blending nicely with Fred\'s red hair.

\"Gross,\" exclaimed Fred, wiping his brow before it dripped down his face.
\"Obviously, Snape\'s been teaching him something else. What I want to know is…\" Fred ducked before continuing, \"Does he take points for a shabby performance?\"

Harry chose not defend his sex life; instead he scooped up two handfuls before launching himself across the floor. As he slid on his side, Harry aimed for them both. Disappointingly, George had once again managed to dive out of the way and shield, too. Sliding across the floor had left Harry open, but it hardly mattered as the floor was covered and so was he.

Coming to a stop near the cauldron, or what remained of it, Harry was right next to Fred. By then they were laughing hysterically. It was almost the same instant when they both noticed the how alarmingly clean George had managed to stay. Sure, he had a splattering of aqua specks, but for the most part, he\'d managed to evade them both.

Harry smiled at Fred conspiratorially and for a brief moment knew what it must be like for the twins to understand each other without a single word being spoken. Fred held up three fingers. When the last finger dropped, Harry and Fred rushed the entirely too clean George and took him down.

Harry used his impressive skills to get his hold. He sat on the floor behind George\'s head and used his legs to hold his arms, leaving Harry\'s hands free to make sticky spikes in the twin’s hair.

\"Nice,\" laughed Fred. \"The aqua goop on red hair sort of makes purple. That\'s a good look for you, bro’,\" forgetting he too had a headful. Fred took the opportunity to torture his brother drip by drip. When George kicked his legs at his twin, Fred sat down on his sibling’s knees, keeping him still.

Harry, at that point, was sure they must have used a spell to hold their towels in place. Spells like that were probably a necessity of living at the Burrow.

Fred, straddling his brother\'s knees, began making patterns on George’s pale chest, similar to war paint.

It was that particular moment when the three bare-chested, aqua goo covered wizards heard a \'Hello, Harry!\' followed by a high-pitched scream from Ron in the fire.

\"Embarrassing,\" groaned Fred.

\"Tell me about it,\" answered George. \"Our own brother screams like a girl.\"

\"Surprisingly, since now his voice is lower then ours. Hey, that looks pretty good. I didn\'t know you had a talent with hair styling,\" joked Fred, regarding Harry\'s handiwork.

\"Didn\'t you know? All us queer guys can do hair,\" said Harry flippantly.

\"Too bad it isn\'t working for you in the interior decorating department,\" laughed George.


~\\*'


Severus growled while brewing in the lab within the Dark Lord\'s lair. He had expected to be released, but was instead instructed to brew a potion before he left. He didn\'t like to make potions after a few drinks.

\"In a bad mood, are we?\" asked his assistant cockily, entering the room with an air of superiority. \"Our Master was pleased to hear you were so very quick to order the necessary ingredients for the potion he requires. Odd that, me but a lowly assistant, sent to check up on you. You, being higher in rank; that doesn\'t bode well for the faith he has in you.\"

\'That explains why the Dark Lord said he knew of my progress,\' thought Snape, though he would not dignify the young prat’s comment with a response. He knew where he stood and had no need to prove himself to this obnoxious pain in his arse.

\"Seems everywhere you go, the walls have ears...\" The smug look to go with the last comment was cut off by Snape\'s strong hands around his throat. The assistant struggled to keep his feet on the ground.

\"If by ears, you mean Flynn, I\'d strongly suggest you call off your little dog of a cousin. He is in over his head and my patience is running thin.\" He remained in control, allowing his assistant only enough air to maintain consciousness.

\"The wolf might put up with blackmail, but I will not allow a two-bit punk to push me around my own dungeons. The Ministry would have me out on my arse if I were to make a threat to his life, but you, however, can tell him for me. If he wants to live to finish his seventh year, he will not provoke me further.\" Severus punctuated his last words with a firmer grip, raising the upstart a bit higher. The assistant’s feet were then off the floor as he gasped for breath. The strong hands on his throat let go abruptly, dropping him to the floor.

After a few deep breaths, the color returned to the assistant’s face. He stood shakily on his two feet, getting his balance before drawing his wand on the Potions Master. Snape\'s attention was back on the cauldron, but he was acutely aware of every movement in the small room. He didn\'t bother to look at his assistant, but was suddenly holding a wand to him. If Severus had looked, he would have seen his wand jabbing against the thumbprint he’d left on the scrawny neck a few minutes earlier.

\"Don\'t even think about it,\" drawled Severus, slowly and evenly, continuing to stir the potion with his free hand. \"And while I\'m thinking about potions again…\" Severus continued to speak, not even looking to see if the assistant withdrew his wand. \"Do you not recall pledging to our Lord your discretion regarding all potions you make in his service?\"

The affronted assistant disputed Snape\'s accusation and hadn\'t noticed when a shadow darkened the doorway.

\"Enlighten me,\" Snape said calmly, adding a few newt eyes, unobtrusively pocketing his wand. \"One of my own students, your cousin I believe, had the audacity to mention a need I may have had for a potion you made in the Dark Lord\'s service. Where, pray tell, would you suppose he obtained his information?\"

The assistant paled. He\'d casually mentioned the Potions Master’s condition while having a few laughs with his cousin, never expecting him to be stupid enough to repeat it.

Severus knew his assistant had been correct. The walls did have ears. For that matter, so did the doorway, where he knew the Dark Lord was standing just out of sight.

He continued to calmly brew his potion while Voldemort came in and berated the assistant for sponsoring a candidate ignorant enough to attempt to blackmail the Slytherin Head of House, much less a high-ranking Death Eater. Flynn was welcome to share information when it was appropriate, but he was in no way to interfere with Snape or his mission, which included Lupin. The apprentice would pay the consequence for his indiscretion, and the young candidate would again have to prove his worth to regain favor with the Dark Lord. After a session of Cruciatus, the assistant shakily departed to have a few words with his cousin.


TBC
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