Dreams and Lies
Dreams And Lies ch 6
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Over the next several days
the Daily Prophet carried articles about the meaning behind Harry, Draco and
Severus’ show of The War. Draco found
them all highly amusing but he knew that the good cheer over it would not
last.
Every evening now the three
of them gathered, sometimes with Lupin, to discuss
how they were going to stop Voldemort and where and when they would begin their
training. Over the course of it all it
was decided that Harry, Draco and Severus would maintain the same type of
teamwork they had displayed during The War.
Lupin said that he would help them to
prepare. It was unanimously decided that
everyone else would be left out of their plans until it could not be
helped.
“You know Draco,”
admirable that you came back, you could have just sent a message you know.”
“Harry and Severus are the
only people I can bring myself to care about,” Draco said slowly.
this only gave me a reason to come back sooner.”
Lupin
Draco could tell that the werewolf understood more than he let on.
had not asked him. And he kept his mouth
shut about it, another good thing in Draco’s opinion.
trustworthy people.
“Why are you even helping
us?” Draco asked as Harry and Severus stood across the room bent over an old
book of Lupin’s.
“No one asked you and you don’t have to risking your job to help
us. So why?”
“I’m a Marauder,”
“As were Sirius Black, James Potter and Peter
Pettigrew. I’m the only one still
left alive and I promised Sirius that if anything were to happen I’d be there
for Harry, fill in as a godfather. Harry
is a lot like James and Lily but he’s also himself.
and I also think that the rest of you are making the right choice.
all the action.”
Draco nodded.
with.
A sharp tapping made all of
them stop still and fall silent. Harry’s
brow furrowed as he looked around the room and saw they were all there.
room to the door and opened it a little bit to peer out into the hallway.
“Harry you and I need to have
a talk,” Hermione’s voice sounded hard and determined.
Harry looked over his
shoulder to see Severus picking up the stack of books, thrusting them into
bedroom. He waited until the door was
closed and then finally stepped aside without a word to let Hermione into his
rooms. He closed the door behind her.
“How can I help you Hermione?”
Harry asked crossing over to where Draco sat on the couch, taking a seat on the
other end. “We’re a little busy here.”
“Yes, well there are a few
things that need to be addressed,” Hermione sniffed.
“Good,” Draco folded his
arms.
“Good?” Hermione’s voice grew
louder. “Do you have any idea what
you’ve done you creep?!”
“Miss Granger,” Severus icy voice
caused everyone to freeze with their insults still on the tips of their
tongues. “Every one of us knows exactly
what we’ve done, as you so aptly worded it.
In case you were not aware it happened to be the anniversary of Pansy
Parkinson’s death. We were showing a
united front, that we are still just as close as we were then, and mourning the
passing of a friend.”
Hermione scowled at the
mention of Pansy’s death. Three steady
glares were aimed in her direction. She
tried to come up with a good come back but Severus had not left her much of an
opening for one.
“It’s not good how much time
you spend in your rooms with him,”
She gestured to Draco coming up with another reason to pick a fight.
“Last time I checked Hermione
you aren’t my mother,” Harry scowled at her.
“And I needed one you weren’t there to fill in so don’t try it now.
“Fine Harry,” Hermione said
darkly. “Don’t expect any support from
me.”
“I haven’t for three years
now Hermione,” Harry pretended to look confused.
One last furious glare in his
direction and she stormed out of his rooms.
With a tired sigh Harry got to his feet and closed the door, locking it
for good measure. Lupin
came out of the bedroom with the book that Harry and Severus had been studying
before they had been interrupted.
“You were a bit harsh with
her Harry,” Lupin said quietly.
“I know,” Harry replied.
could just demand answers from me and expect me to jump in line and be a good
boy.”
“Mister Potter, you’ve never
just jumped in line,” Severus smiled slightly.
“Even while you were a student.
Miss Granger should remember those days quite well, I’m rather surprised
she doesn’t understand you still since you really haven’t changed all that much.”
“Then how are you able to put
up with him?” Draco asked with a smirk.
“Years of practice,” Severus
said with a put upon expression. “And of
course there’s the fact that the twit has corrupted me.
him expelled from school.”
They shook themselves out of
the joking mood and went back to their studies.
None of them were sure how much time they had to prepare but they were
not going to waste it if they could help it.
After two weeks of studying
they moved on to flying. They practiced
late at night and during the early morning hours before the sun came up.
except perhaps Albus but he said nothing so they did the same.
practice which they held in the
One month later there was
talk of a stranger spotted in Hogsmeade.
coming across Harry, Draco and Severus as they were heading down to
“Hello,” The stranger called
out.
The three turned as one,
hands hovering above their wands. The
stranger’s eyes widened when he saw Harry and instantly he bowed down, low to
the ground in genuflection.
“What do you want?” Severus
demanded.
“I have come from
of the cloak. “I am called
Avendar
pulled back so that it did not get into his eyes.
a natural color seemed to have a golden hue to it.
“I’m Draco Malfoy,” Draco
stepped forward. “I’ve spoken with
that he would be the one to come to Hogwarts.”
“Ely’ed
is gathering our forces,” Avendar informed the
blond. “They sent me ahead to scout
things out and help you plan. They will
come when they are needed.”
“That’s nice to know,”
Severus crossed his arms. “I’m Severus
Snape, Potions Master, Head of Slytherin House and Potions Professor at
Hogwarts.”
“I’m Harry Potter,” Harry
gave Avendar a brief smile.
“You’re more than just a
Professor,” Avendar said seriously.
ruin.”
“Great,” Harry said
sarcastically.
“I am sorry if I offend but
that is the way things are,” Avendar bowed his
head. “If it were possible I would share
in the burden with you but only a few of your friends can do that for you.
“You can stay with me,” Harry
offered. “Come with us for now.
Avendar
approval to himself as he saw them square off against one another.
floor of the forest near the Elf.
“You’re all very well
trained,” Avendar said once they had settled
themselves.
“If they were well trained
they would have seen me,” Hermione declared from fifty feet away coming out of
the under brush.
“Petrificus
Totalus,” Harry said, wand pointed right at Hermione.
She fell over onto the
ground. Severus, Draco and
of shock.
“What?” Harry snapped.
happening right now.”
“True,” Severus agreed.
“The Shrieking Shack,” Draco
suggested. “Or maybe we could have Fred
and George babysit?”
“Fred and George,” Harry and
Severus agreed.
Avendar
on Hermione and the group moved off towards the secret tunnel the twins had put
in. The look frozen on her face was one
of shock and anger. No one said anything
as they entered the tunnel, Harry in the lead with Hermione’s prone body.
but he kept a careful eye on Avendar.
merely that he did not know him.
The twins were happy to see
the small group. They outright laughed
at Hermione’s predicament but promised to watch her.
“How long do you need her
watched for?” Fred asked.
“Yeah,” George added.
start asking questions.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Draco
said dismissively. “We’ll tell you what
to do tomorrow.”
“No problem,” The twins chorused.
The group left the twins
shop, back through the tunnel. Draco was
smirking by the time they were back to Hagrid’s
Hut. Avendar
was looking around, unsure of himself.
“Come on,” Harry said heading
towards the castle. “We’ll all go to my
rooms to discuss this.”
No one argued, everyone
followed after Harry to the castle. He
led them through mostly deserted hallways and Draco was about to ask how he was
so familiar with them until he remembered the Marauders Map and also that Harry
had been teaching at Hogwarts for the past three years.
around him with great interest but he did not stop and stayed close to Harry.
They made it back to Harry’s
rooms without being accosted by anyone or seeing anyone, a rare feet in and of
itself. Hogwarts always seemed to have
the presence of darkness over it now, even Draco could feel it crawling over
his spine.
“So now what?” Draco asked
what everyone was thinking. “We
obviously can’t guard Hermione forever.
People will ask questions.”
“I’m working on that,” Harry
said pacing. “McGonagall will be the
first to notice her protégé missing I should think.
accuse her of being a spy if the Headmaster would consent to such a thing.”
“He might Harry,” Severus
gave a tired sigh. “But there are too
many other possibilities that could come out of such an arrangement.”
“Then we alter her memory,”
Harry said as though the answer were simple.
Perhaps to him it was.