Harry Potter and the Conch of Ice

(2) Snape has returned to be DADA professor. A small group of students from the School of Gaia, known as Elementals, will be attending Hogwarts for a year as their school was destroyed by Voldemort.
(3) Draco is familiar with Elementals as they were key to his survival and healing. The battle faced by the Elementals as they journeyed to Hogwarts is detailed and the Duals explain their fight with the Shadows.
(4) The Golden Trio discuss who RAB could be and the state of the Horcruxes. Draco contemplates his future. The Head Students discover the guardians in their room. Draco discovers that Hermione is his unknown caregiver.
(5) Draco admits to the Gaians that he knows about Hermione. The Hogwarts students learn about battling Elementals.
(6) Ailionora Ivyleaf has her first class. Tanis meets an old friend and seems to make a new one in Blaise. Mesphin does not trust Blaise. Snape receives two visitors to his study – one is a surprise in Ivyleaf and the other is Dumbledore. Hermione and Draco come to a tentative truce.

Author’s Note : Chapter summaries (seen above) will never go past the previous five chapters. This way, I won’t have a page of summaries at the end of this story.

Duels of a Different Nature

Breakfast in the Great Hall was a subdued affair for the 7th Years at the Gryffindor table. No one wanted to make eye contact with Ron who was, for the first time in everyone’s recollection, merely pushing his food around on his plate instead of shoveling it into his mouth. Hermione entered the Great Hall and sat beside Harry. She frowned at Ron’s grunt of greeting.

“What’s his problem?” She asked, her nose scrunched up in disgust.

“I thought you were going to help me, Hermione.” Ron muttered without looking up.

“Really, Ron…you’ll have to learn to study on your own at some point. You can’t expect me to do all of your homework and still think you’ll pass.”

“It’s worked so far.” He said petulantly. Hurt blue eyes stared into dark brown ones.

“Yes, well, not today. This is a live practice session for you. I won’t be able to help.”

“You could have helped him practice the spells.” Harry pointed out.

“So could you.” Hermione fired back at Harry. Her raised voice signaled her hurt mood. “I’m more than just a walking text book, you know!”

The Gryffindor table fell silent and they all looked at Hermione, who reached out and sipped her pumpkin juice.

“What are you looking at?” Hermione snapped, looking down at both ends of the table. Her housemates quickly looked away and resumed eating and quietly talking.

“What’s up with you?” Ron asked, his offense forgotten and replaced by surprise at Hermione’s outburst.

“I didn’t sleep much.” She admitted. It wasn’t a complete lie. Okay, so it wasn’t the complete truth either. But it wasn’t a lie.

“Only one day in and already you’re studying as if exams were just around the corner.” Lavender giggled her assumption. “You really need to pull your face out of the books and enjoy life before it passes you by.”

“And you need to open a book so that you’re ready when life greets us after we graduate.” Hermione said to one of her least favourite Gryffindors before focusing on her food. “I wasn’t studying anyway.”

“Ah.” Harry nodded, thinking he understood. “I wouldn’t sleep much either if Malfoy was around me. It’s okay, Hermione, we understand. It’s going to be a long year for you, having to share the dormitory with him, but you know you can always come and hang out in the Gryffindor common room.”

Hermione smiled gently, unwilling to correct Harry’s misunderstanding.

The sound of crackling fire caught their attention and students looked over at the Elementals’ table. The Fires were creating thin spirals of flame in the air, allowing the orange and red tongues to wrap around each other.

“I’m doomed.” Ron groaned, burying his head in his arms.

“Oh, please, Ronald…it’s quite easy.” Hermione huffed.

Ron looked up, a glimmer of hope etched on his face.

“If you were paying attention yesterday,” Hermione started, “You’ll know the right spells to use.”

“But how do I know which spell to use? Or when?”

“Their vests, silly!” Hermione rolled her eyes. “Their vests indicate their elements. The only time you’ll have a dilemma is if you’re facing one of the Duals.”

Ron sighed, hope gone.

“Like I said, I’m doomed.” He moaned. “Snape’ll give me a Dual for sure.”

Harry bit his lower lip and nodded in agreement.

“He’s doomed.” He said quietly, confirming his friend’s thoughts.

HP***hp***HP

The students stood outside in the gardens of Hogwarts, the mid-morning sun beaming down on them. Quickly, dark robes were tossed aside and shirt sleeves rolled up, so that the students could soak up as much of the late summer sun as they could before cooler autumn weather descended upon them. Only Professor Snape remained fully robed, black cloth billowing gently in the soft, late summer breeze.

“Does the man never sweat?” Seamus asked in a low voice.

“Weasley!” Snape commanded.

Gulping, Ron stepped forward. His nerves were quite visible. Wiping his sweating hands on the tails of his shirt which hung loosely over the top of his slacks, Ron approached the DADA professor.

“Bane!”

Hermione closed her eyes. A Dual. Ron was correct apparently. Leave it to Snape to make Ron face a Dual on his first attempt at battling an Elemental. Opening her brown eyes, Hermione looked around and noticed that on the outer walkways which surrounded the gardens, many of the upper years had gathered to watch. It hadn’t taken long for the word of the practice to filter through the ranks of the students. Some of the students had no class first thing and, Hermione frowned, some were obviously skiving off of class.

Draco caught Hermione’s attention and subtly tilted his head towards a far corner. Ivyleaf was watching the exercise with a detached interest. Draco noted that Ivyleaf’s attention was focused more on watching his godfather than on the upcoming interaction of the two students. His pale gaze brushed over the students in the garden and noted that most looked expectantly at Bane, believing that the Elemental would be the victor out of whatever was about to happen. In the Slytherin’s opinion, Mesphin would triumph, not only due to the first strike advantage in the Elemental’s favour, but the fact that it was the Weasel on the other side. The red-headed magical misfit might be good at wizard chess, but was nothing special when it came to actually conjuring any spells.

Part of Draco wished that it was he facing the Earth and Fire Dual. Yes, Mesphin would still have the first strike advantage held by the Elementals, but Draco felt confident that he could not only put up a good fight but prove to be the victor in the end. He had passion on his side. A whole summer of Mesphin’s taunting encouragements still burned within him.

Only Pothead seemed remotely hopeful that Ron had a chance at winning, but that didn’t stop the Boy-Who-Couldn’t-Tame-His-Hair from glancing at Bane in a worried manner and gnawing on his inner cheek. Hermione stared at something across the gardens and a few students turned to look. Madame Pomfrey stood nearby just in case she was needed. Ron noticed this and squeaked out his dismay.

“You’ll be fine, Ron.” Harry said weakly.

“Yes, nothing like a few days in the Infirmary to make a bloke feel well again.” Ernie MacMillan joked and was rewarded with glares from the Gryffindors.

“Remember, Ron, Mesphin’s Elements are Fire and Earth. So you’ll want to counter with either Water or Wind. Just look at what is coming towards you and counter with the appropriate Opposite.” Hermione stated logically.

A muffled ‘eep!’ greeted her sage advice. Apparently, Ronald Weasley was beyond coherent speech or thought.

“Weasley! Bane! Approach the centre!” Snape’s voice rang out. The two students walked to the centre of the garden. Ron looked deathly pale, even when compared against Snape’s fair skin. Bane, on the other hand, walked with an assured confidence, a ghost of a smile flitting around his mouth.

“Backs to each other. Five steps each in the opposite direction, turn and do what you will to disarm your opponent or render him incapable of further attack.” Snape’s voice dropped. “Do not attempt to harm or maim your opponent. Is this understood?”

The two young men nodded, their backs flush to each other.

“Commence walking. One…two…three…four…five…”

Silence reigned in the garden as everyone watched. Sighs of disappointment were exhaled as no flames shot through the air and no boulders fell from the sky. Even Ron gaped at his opponent, confused at the lack of an attack. The Gryffindor raised his wand and was about to cast a spell when he realized that Bane was growing taller. Ron’s jaw dropped in shock at the slow but visible growth of the Elemental.

“Ron!”

The youngest male Weasley heard Harry cry out and looked over. To his surprise, Harry was growing in height as well. He frowned, wondering what Harry was pointing at and looked down. Ron screamed as his knees disappeared into the earth. He was sinking! Placing his hands on the ground, Ron went to brace himself to heave his body from the ground. Unfortunately, his hands, complete with his wand, disappeared beneath the earthen surface. Tugging, Ron was horrified to discover that while his body could sink into the softened earth, he could not pull anything out!

“Ventus!” Ron shouted, hoping to immobilize the Earth Element being applied to him. All that happened was a gust of wind shot from his submerged wand, causing a shower of dirt and grass to billow around him. Coughing on the dirt, Ron tugged on his hand again and discovered that the wind had loosened the dirt, allowing him to remove his wand from the ground.

Just as Ron yelled the wind charm again, a wall of fire surrounded him. The gust of wind only fueled the fire on, the flames gaining in strength and heat. Ron cursed loudly, causing some of the Slytherins, standing nearby, to chuckle in amusement at the Gryffindor’s colourful vocabulary.

“I wonder if tonight’s supper will be roasted weasel?” A Slytherin was heard to remark.

“Aqua Eructo!” Ron shouted, waving his wand around his head in a crazed manner, effectively dousing the fire and showering those standing nearby, including Professor Snape.

“Enough!” Snape bellowed, slicking his wet hair away from his face. His obsidian eyes glittered in anger or disgust. Ron felt a pit growing in his stomach and he looked away from Snape.

“Weasely, get yourself out of that mud pit.” The DADA professor ordered. “I want everyone to write twenty inches on the impacts of Opposites, due Friday.”

Groans echoed through the garden. Snape stalked out of the gardens.

“Does Snape getting his monthly bath count as an impact?” Terry Boot cracked, well away from Snape’s hearing.

“Feels just like home, doesn’t it, Weasel?” Draco taunted as he walked past Ron who was still struggling to pull himself from the earth, which had become a pool of mud with the addition of the water. “Why don’t you spend a few more minutes wallowing around like you’re used to doing.”

“Don’t you have something better to do, Malfoy?” Harry asked, rushing over to help his friend. “Maybe research history’s most well-known cowards so that you can find a hero to worship?”

His blue eyes narrowing in hatred, Draco stormed away.

Mesphin casually strolled over, watching the interaction carefully. With a flick of his fingers, the earth began to solidify beneath Ron’s feet and he was pushed out from the ground.

“Thanks.” Ron mumbled.

“You’re welcome.” Mesphin smiled. “I hope you won’t hold what happened against me.”

“You’re just doing what you’re good at.” Ron said, brushing dirt from his clothing. He sighed unhappily, recognizing that instead of loose dirt, his clothing was stained with mud, dark splotches littered his formally white shirt.

“Then the least you can do is send your laundry to me and I’ll clean it up.”

“We have house elves.” Ron pointed out.

“But they aren’t the reason you’re dirty.” Mesphin argued. “Please, the least you can do is accept my form of apology. I hope I haven’t embarrassed you.”

“I’ll live.” Ron said. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to be embarrassed or mocked or used as the general magical misfit at Hogwarts. Well, that last one only applied when Neville wasn’t around.

Mesphin smiled, his white teeth sparkling in the sun.

“Please send your clothing up to my chambers and allow me to ensure that it is properly taken care of.” Mesphin urged Ron.

Hermione stood beside her red headed friend and nodded.

“It’s not polite to turn down the offered apology of an Elemental, Ron.” She added. “And as we are their hosts, it’s even more rude to refuse a request of our guests.”

Harry bit back a smile.

“Well?” Mesphin asked, amber eyes looking down at the dirty Weasley in concern. He really hadn’t wanted to hurt the Hogwarts student and, while Ron looked physically in one piece, the Dual began to wonder if the Gryffindor was emotionally shattered into shocked pieces. Considering all that the Hogwarts students had been through in the past few months – especially the Golden Trio – Mesphin began to regret his rash decision to have the earth “swallow up” Ron. He should have selected something less outrageous.

“Okay.” Ron slowly nodded. “But you don’t mind if I don’t disrobe here, do you? Can I go to my rooms first?”

“Really, Ron!” Hermione gasped in mock outrage. Only Lavender seemed disappointed in the immediate solution, but any comment of hers was silenced by a glare from Hermione.

The students who were still in the gardens clapped loudly as Ron and Mesphin shook hands. It was all sporting and good. The exercise had exemplified proper dueling etiquette while providing a venue of learning. All in all, a positive experience for all involved…Ron’s clothing being the exception. Ivyleaf nodded in satisfaction and went off to her next class.

HP***hp***HP

“Velcome.” Gunther Staghorn greeted the 7th Years as they entered his classroom. “Zis is communication vit animals. I understand zat Professor Hagrid is teaching how to care for animals. My job is to teach you how to listen to zem und zis vill help you to care for zem. Zoze of you who excel, vill also learn to speak to animals. I know zat if you haff familiars, zey understand you und perhaps you understand zem. I hope to teach you to understand other animals beyond zoze zat you are close to.”

“Vhat is zis animal?” Gunther cleared his throat and began to make a series of clicks and whistles and song.

“Bird.” Pansy said happily.

“Zere is more zen vun kind of bird, Miss Parkinson. Vhat kind?”

“Uhhh…song bird?” She tried futilely. Some Ravenclaws snickered at her. “A pretty song bird?”

“All birds are…pretty.” Staghorn shook his head and smiled. “You are correct zat it is a song bird…but vich vun?”

Silence greeted the question.

“Okay. Let us try zis.” Clenching his teeth, Staghorn’s tongue clicked rapidly in various pitches.

“That’s easy.” Tanis chuckled. “That’s Bane’s hedgehog, annoyed that Bane’s forgotten to feed her again.”

The students laughed. Bane scratched the ruff of his Earth familiar who closed her eyes in utter happiness. Even Staghorn laughed.

“Good. Actually, she did make zat noise at me zis morning vhen I had her brought into zee class.” Staghorn thought for a moment. “Und zis?”

A series of clicks and squeaks greeted the students’ ears.

“Dolphin!” Padma clapped happily.

“But vhat kind?”

“Bottlenose.” A Wind Elemental named Ruby piped up.

“Good.”

“It isn’t enough to know just zee kind of animal, but zee specifics vill help you in talking und listening.” Staghorn pointed at a stack of books on his desk. “Zees are your books. Vhen zey open, simply touch zee picture of zee animal you are studying und you vill hear its call. As vee go further into the course, you vill learn how to know zee animal’s mood und how to respond. Combining zis knowledge vit zat gained from Ivyleaf, you vill know ze mind of zee animal you are tracking.”

Gunther stood off to one side.

“Please form a line und collect a book from zee desk. Ve vill learn how to use zee book first.”

Several minutes later, when all the students had copies of the furry book and were back in their seats, Staghorn assigned each desk, which had three students each, to find a particular animal. When it was found, he asked that they touch the pictures and allow the animal noise to ring out so that all would know that the assignment had been completed.

Soon the calls of lions and snakes and elephants and camels and gorillas and monkeys and ravens and beavers and wolves and other animals danced throughout the classroom, causing the students to laugh loudly. It was a veritable jungle of cacophony and, as Dumbledore walked past, the Headmaster stuck his head in to ensure that all was as it should be in the class.

“Ah, yes, I remember that book.” The Headmaster smiled as the animal sounds died out. “’The Language of Wild Things’ is an excellent bit of reading. I remember trying to learn to speak with the Giant Squid in the lake. That book helped immensely.”

Several students started flipping rapidly through their books. Hermione was the first to look up, frowning.

“Sir, I can’t find giant squid in the book. What sound does it make?”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled in amusement.

“I really don’t know, Miss Granger. But when the giant squid attacked me, I used the book to smack at its tentacles, allowing me to make my escape.” Chuckling at the stares of shocked disbelief, the Headmaster left the room.

HP***hp***HP

“Don’t suppose you’ll do my laundry as well?”

Mesphin looked up from the pile of soiled clothing in his room to stare at Tanis. The blonde dual was leaning up against the frame of his open doorway and grinned at him.

“What’s in it for me?” He asked innocently

“I think you spent too much time with Draco and picked up his Slytherin ways.” Tanis frowned.

“I’m not the one spending time with Slytherins.” The dark-skinned Elemental countered.

“Oh for the love of Gaia, Mesphin, Blaise just gave me a tour so I can find my classes.”

“That was a nice jacket you came back with. Don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

“Are you jealous?” Blue eyes narrowed in accusation.

“Hardly.” Amber eyes narrowed in anger. “I just…

“Ah, Tanis! Mesphin! I’m so glad you’re here!” The two Duals saw the auburn head of Professor Ivyleaf appear at the top of the wrought-iron spiral stairs. She was panting slightly. “Well, that’s quite the staircase you students have to climb!”

“Professor.” Tanis and Mesphin called out their greeting.

“What brings you up into our drafty attic, Professor?” Tanis asked, burying her annoyance at her fellow Dual for the time being.

“I just came up to say that you handled yourself well, Mesphin. I’m very proud of what you did…and didn’t do…with Mister Weasley.”

Mesphin ducked his head, embarrassed at the praise. He mumbled his thanks.

A more serious look settled across Ailionora’s face as she refocused on Tanis.

“I understand you’ve spoken with Mister Malfoy.” It was a statement, not a question.

Tanis nodded.

“He knows about Dumbledore and is rightfully upset with us.” The blonde girl said sadly.

“We had little choice and in time Mister Malfoy will come to realize this truth.”

Tanis shrugged.

“He also knows about Hermione.”

“Did you tell him about her?” Ivyleaf gasped.

“No!” Tanis denied, her anger bubbling again, this time at the idea that she broke an Elemental promise. “I don’t know all the details, but they are Head Boy and Girl which means they share a common room. It stands to reason that he found out there. How…I don’t know.”

“I suppose that it’s for the best.” The professor said slowly.

“No kidding.” Mesphin piped up. “I swear, if he asked one more time about her, I was going to hit him.”

“Mister Bane!”

“On the plus side, knowing how our darling Pureblood feels about muggle-borns, it’s probably safe to say that he’s going out of his way to keep distance between the two of them. Despite Carr’s hopes to the contrary.”

“Hey!” Tanis protested.

“You, Miss Carr, are a hopeless romantic. It is nice to see such affections in such dark times.” Ivyleaf said softly.

Tanis nodded, blinking back tears as images of Scott can unbidden into her mind.

“I have Potions now. Bye.” Brushing past the former Headmistress, Tanis raced down the stairs.

HP***hp***HP

The rest of the day had the story of the “battle” between Ron and Mesphin. Of course, by the time the words had reached the innocent and imaginative ears of the First Years, the story had evolved to involve fire-breathing dragons, binding curses of barbed vines and shower storms of comets from skies above.

Ron entered the Great Hall for supper unaware of the stories being spun. He blinked in confusion as a group of First Years gasped at his appearance and scrambled to sit elsewhere, carrying their plates and cutlery with them. Frowning, he sat across from Neville who blushed slightly at the youngest male Weasley.

“Okay, what I have done now?” Ron asked, reaching for a warm tea biscuit.

“Oh, they just think you saved Hogwarts from being demolished by meteors.” Seamus chimed in.

“It’s rather funny, how the story has changed since this morning.” Neville admitted. “Depending on who you talk to, you’re either a hero and Bane’s a Death Eater or he’s brilliant and you’re a wizarding disaster on two legs.”

It was Ron’s turn to flush.

“Hey, you’re my hero, Ron!” Harry gushed, slapped a hand on the shoulders of his friend. “Can I sit next to you? Can I carry your books?”

“Sod off, Harry.” Ron rolled his eyes, laughing.

“That wasn’t very sporting of you to pair up Bane with Mister Weasley.” Ivyleaf murmured as she slid into her chair beside Severus at the Professors’ Table.

“I do not recall ever mentioning that I would be sporting, nor do I recall it being a requirement to fulfill the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. If anything, I helped out that dunderhead by demonstrating that the Dark Side does not always work in a sporting manner.” Snape’s tone was silky as he finished swallowing some food.

“Still though, couldn’t you have paired him up with a non-Dual?” Ivyleaf asked.

“For what purpose? Either way, Mister Weasley would have lost.” Snape resisted the urge to snap…bareley.

“At least I’ve helped to impart the importance of proper dueling etiquette on my own students, despite your attempts to embarrass Mister Weasley.”

Severus sighed. It couldn’t be helped.

“Is there a reason behind your incessant badgering of me, woman?”

“Because I can.” Ivyleaf reached for her water goblet. “It’s not as if you’ve told me to stop.”

Snape blinked.

Hadn’t he? He was certain that he had. Racking his brain, Snape turned he head to see Ailionora Ivyleaf grinning at him.

Merlin. He hadn’t told her stop. The bloody woman was right. That galled him. That irritated him. That…

“And now you’re wondering why you haven’t told me stop, right?”

Pursing his lips, Snape replied, “Because you are guests within these walls and it would not be very host-like of me to be rude to you.”

An auburn eyebrow mocked him by arching.

“I was unaware that the name Severus Snape was synonymous with proper manners.”

“It is synonymous with many things.” Snape shot back dryly. Professor Flitwick, sitting on the other side of the DADA Professor choked on his summer and delicately coughed it up out of his throat. Severus winced at his unintended innuendo. Even Ailionora had the good graces to blush slightly, her pink cheeks contrasting with her amused eyes.

“Evenin’ all.” Hagrid announced his presence and took a seat beside Ailionora. “You’ve got yerself a fine group of students there, Miss Ivyleaf. They were quite a smart group in my class today.”

Ailionora smiled at the large teacher and Snape, feeling bereft of her attentions, scowled at the Care of Magical Creatures Professor.

“Something wrong with yer eyes, Profess’r Snape? Yer squintin’ at me.”

“I’m not squinting, you…you…”

“Severus.” The quiet tone of Dumbledore intruded upon their conversation. “I do believe it is your night to tour the castle for things that go bump in the night.”

“Of course, Headmaster.” Pushing himself away from the table, Snape glided out of the Great Hall.

“You do realize that if he was anyone else…” Ivyleaf started.

“He’d be stompin out of here.” Hagrid finished for her.

HP***hp***HP

“There you are, Hermione. We didn’t see you at supper.” Harry approached his friend, who sat along one of the far walls of Hogwarts castle. The evening sun brought out the coppery highlight of her hair and Harry found himself wondering how much more like fire Ginny’s hair would resemble in the light.

“I wasn’t really hungry.” Hermione admitted. “I spoke with Ginny today.”

“Ah…”

“It’s about time you gave in to her. Ginny’s more like her mom than she’d care to admit to.”

Harry winced at the image of Ginny in knitted tops and garishly patterned aprons. Shoving thoughts of Ginny to the back of his mind, Harry sat on the wall with Hermione and watched the sun set.

“Are you okay?” He finally asked, breaking the silence.

“Of course.” Hermione replied quickly. To quickly in Harry’s mind.

“You disappeared over the summer and you just seem…well…rather quiet now that we’re back at school.” Harry’s green eyes showed his concern.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Harry. I’m fine. Really.”

“But you see, there it is again.”

“What?” Hermione’s face showed her confusion.

“You’re not talking. You’re not telling me anything…like where you were, what you did, stuff like that. Usually you go on about all the fun things you did.”

Hermione forced a laugh

“Oh, Harry, I’ve realized that the things I find fun, you and Ron and the others don’t. It’s okay. I understand. But there’s no point in me talking about the stuff I did if it’s just going to bore you all.”

“You never bore me, Hermione.” Harry placed his hand over Hermione’s.

“That’s sweet of you, Harry.” With her free hand, Hermione reached up and touched Harry’s cheek.

“So Pothead finally got himself a girlfriend…again.” Harry and Hermione jumped at the cool voice coming from the shadows. Draco stepped forward, the final rays of the day glinting off of his pale hair.

“Malfoy.” Harry growled. Hermione stared in horror, blood draining from her face. She started to say something, her mouth opening, but no sound came out.

Draco held a hand up, which would have silenced Hermione if she had been capable of speech.

“Don’t deny it, Granger.” Even now, after all they had been through, he couldn’t call her Mudblood…what was wrong with him? “So you and Pothead finally gave in to your feelings for each other. How ever will Weaselette come to terms with this?”

Draco turned his blue eyes on to Harry.

“First I find you on the floor, with Weaselette on top of you and now I find you one step away from snogging Granger. Really, Potter, fancy yourself a veritable Cassanova, do you? You kiss Cho once and now you think the entire female population of Hogwarts is swooning to be in your arms? Pathetic, really.”

Hermione jumped up, her temper burning in her eyes.

“Spare me your angry denial, Granger.” Draco sneered. “I only have one question, how does it feel knowing that Harry’s with another girl before he comes to you?”

Hermione quickly stepped forward, ready to slap Draco. As she entered his personal space, Hermione realized that she couldn’t. It wasn’t his fault for misunderstanding what he saw. Yes, he was being a git for not letting her get a word in edgewise, but when wasn’t Draco Malfoy a git? Hermione just stared up at him, brown eyes sad at the current situation. Draco looked down at her, the ever-present sneer on his lips. Neither said a word, seemingly exchanging a battle with their eyes.

“Uh…Hermione? Malfoy?” Harry stepped up to the two students. “Are you two alright?”

Hermione blinked, retreating out of Draco’s space.

“Fine, Harry. We’re fine. Let’s go.” Grabbing Harry’s hand, the two Gryffindor’s all but raced away from Draco, leaving the young man alone up on the outer wall. Draco watched, confusing thoughts racing through his mind. Surely, Hermione and Potter weren’t a…uh…Draco’s stomach knotted up at the thought of those two being a…

((Couple. Come on, Malfoy, just say it. You don’t want them to be together. You have a difficult enough time accepting them being friends with each other, but to be more than friends.)) Draco tensed up. ((I’m jealous. Sweet Merlin…I’m jealous?!?!))

Whirling, Draco marched back into the castle.

HP***hp***HP

Severus Snape ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Did his brief stint in Azkaban impact his brain that much that a mere slip of an Elemental could cause this much confusion within him? Brief stint. No stay in that hell was brief. It would stay with him forever…those sights, those smells, but most of all, those sounds. Never had Snape heard such sounds of despair, even when he masqueraded as a Death Eater. The moans and screams were of hopelessness. The residents, having given up on all expectation of ever being free, vocalized their misery.

“Ah hah! There you are!” Snape shook himself out of his momentary lapse and stared at Ivyleaf who was smiling as she approached.

“You again? Leave me alone…there, I’ve said it. Happy?”

“Blissfully.” Ivyleaf’s smile didn’t fade. “However, this time I’m not here voluntarily. Dumbledore would like to add Staghorn and I to the rotation of hallway inspection. This way, all of the Professors will have more time off to do what they would like. I’m to partner up with you tonight so that you can show me all the good spots.”

Snape hummed his acknowledgement.

“And what will you do with all of this extra leisure time, Professor Snape?” Ivyleaf asked. “Play an instrument? Learn to bake a soufflé? Go into town and get drunk? Have a secret rendezvous with a beautiful witch?”

“My hobbies and interests and extracurricular activities are of no concern to you.” Severus replied. “And why did the Headmaster partner you up with me? What is wrong with Staghorn?”

“Well, who would go into the girls’ bathrooms?” Ivyleaf chuckled.

Pursing his lips at having been outwitted, Snape started to walk down the stone corridor.

“Are you coming?” He asked, without looking back.

“Of course.” Ivyleaf practically sang out.

“Must you always be so disgustingly happy?” Snape practically snapped as the Elemental caught up to him.

“Must you always be so morbidly cruel?” Ailionora fired back.

“I typically start at the top of the school and work my way down.” Snape replied, refusing to answer her question.

“Makes sense.” Ivyleaf nodded. “That way you finish up by your quarters. What do you do if you find someone?”

“Points are deducted from their house.”

“Even if they are from your own house?”

Silence greeted Ailionora’s question.

“Ah, Professor Severus Snape has a soft spot for his own house.” The Earth Elemental chuckled.

“Do not think of me as being unique, Professor.” Snape replied blandly. “All of the House Heads tend to demonstrate preferential treatment towards their own houses.”

“So you merely follow the others as opposed to setting down your own path? I’m disappointed, Professor.”

“I never asked for you to put me on some pedestal.”

The two professors walked up to the top of the castle in silence.

“Oh.” Ivyleaf stopped and looked out along a walkway between castle turrets.

“Do you see something?” Snape asked idly.

“I’ll say.” Ivyleaf’s tone was filled awe.

Curious, Snape approached the Elemental. He frowned when she did not step aside to make room for him and found himself huddled in the small doorway, his dark eyes scouring the darkness. He could feel the heat radiating off of Ivyleaf, as her smaller frame rubbed up against his in the tight space.

“I do not see anything.” He muttered.

“You’re not looking in the right place.” Ivyleaf said softly. “Look up.”

Frowning, Snape did as Ailionora instructed.

“All I see is the moon.”

“Exactly. Look at how full it is and with the early night mist, it is so beautiful. I do believe I’ve just discovered my favourite part of the castle.”

“You called me over to see the moon?” Surprise laced his voice.

“I didn’t call you over. You came.” Ailionora pointed out. Snape looked down to find her moss-green eyes staring back at him. The pale moonlight did nothing to hide the humour dancing behind her eyes and that disconcerted him.

“You are laughing at me.” He said, stepping back.

“Hardly.” Ailionora replied. “I’m laughing at us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, us. Complete opposites and yet we seem to end up together.”

“The Fates do have an interesting sense of humour.” Severus conceded. “However, I have learned that what the Fates want, Life does not always cooperate in providing.”

Ivyleaf blinked.

“Let us continue our tour. I do not wish to be up all night for then I shall be extremely grumpy with my students tomorrow.”

“However would they tell the difference?” Ivyleaf asked innocently.

A quiet harrumph greeted her question.

HP***hp***HP

“Draco!” Tanis called out, seeing the Slytherin walking quickly down the corridor.

“Yes?” He stopped and turned to face the Dual.

“Are you…okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you and Hermione…okay?”

“There is no ‘me and Granger’ and I would appreciate it if you would not put us in the same sentence unless it involves me besting her at something, which is typically the case, I might point out.”

“Arrogant prat.”

“And you keep coming back for more.”

“I’m a sadist apparently.”

The two students laughed.

“I’ve missed talking with you, Draco.” Tanis admitted.

“We’re talking right now.” He pointed out.

“Stop being so obtuse.”

“I come by it quite naturally.” Draco grinned at his self-effacing joke.

“Mother?”

“My father.” Draco sighed melodramatically. “Don’t you have any traits from your father?”

“I don’t know.” Tanis shrugged. “I never knew my father. He left my mother before I was born.”

“Talk about your prats.”

“I’m sure he had he reasons. Life is too short for me to waste time hating him or even thinking about him.”

Draco pointed his head towards an empty classroom and Tanis nodded. They entered and saw posters of airplanes and automobiles and something called a cellular phone.

“Leave it to me to pick the Muggle Studies classroom.” Draco moaned.

Tanis laughed at they Slytherin’s discomfort.

“What did your mother do? It couldn’t have been easy, knowing she had a baby on the way and no man to help her.”

“My mother is very self-sufficient woman, thank you.” Tanis replied haughtily. “She’s a Water Elemental.”

“So that means your father was a Wind?”

“Not necessarily. It’s possible, but while I’m no expert at charms and the magic you’re doing, I’m better at it than most Elementals. That leads me to believe he is a wizard…or was. Don’t know if he’s alive or dead.”

“Maybe you could look for him while you’re here in Hogwarts.”

“I really feel little desire to do so.”

“How did your mother manage, though?”

“Draco, it’s rather gauche to talk about money, even amongst the rich.”

“Ah.” Draco understood. Tanis’s mother didn’t need to work or if she did, it was very lucrative. “You know, I never asked this, but always wanted to. Why were you at school this summer? Don’t most students go home? Granger was asked to babysit me. But what about you and Bane?”

Tanis smiled.

“I was wondering when you’d get around to that. My Mom was traveling and, while I could have gone with her, earlier in the year, Ivyleaf asked if Bane and I would be interested in spending the summer at school, honing our skills and focusing on some abilities not typically taught in class. How right she was! I’ve never taken a class on helping a blind person.”

“Ha ha.” Draco rolled his eyes. “Do you look like your mother?”

“Yes. We’re almost twins…so it’s nice to know that I’ll age pretty well. But my eyes are different. Her eyes are green. Mine are blue. I assume I have my father’s eyes.” Tanis frowned. “What’s with this fascination about my parentage?”

“I just want to know what a normal family is like.” Draco admitted. “As much as this galls me to say, I think that Weasley and even Granger are the two students with the most normal families in school.”

“Speaking of Hermione, what’s happening between the two of you? You seemed rather upset when I mentioned her name.”

“Nothing’s happening. I stumbled upon her little tryst with Potter, said my usual demeaning statements and they left.”

“Tryst? Potter? You’re kidding right?” Tanis gaped. “I spent all summer with Hermione, remember? She and Harry are just friends. I’m sure you just misunderstood what you saw.”

Draco raised a blond eyebrow.

“Look, let’s face the facts, Draco. You’re in love, my friend.”

“Malfoy’s do not love.”

“Fine, you’re in lust. Keep in mind, as well, that you said all summer that you weren’t your father. If your father is incapable of love, perhaps then you are.”

Draco narrowed his eyes at Tanis.

“Lust is perfectly acceptable. Questionable in taste, considering who she is, but acceptable nevertheless.” He decided.

“You’re a snob.”

“Yes I am.”

“Did it ever occur to you that Hermione feels the same for you?”

Draco frowned.

“She cared for me because she was asked to. It’s in her nature to be gentle.”

“Hah!” Tanis barked out. “I heard all about the time she decked you in third year.”

Draco absently rubbed his nose.

“Good point. There’s nothing gentle about her right hook.”

“Hermione Granger may seem gentle and that, in your eyes, makes her weak. But considering all that she’s been through in her time here at Hogwarts, I’d say she’s more than a match for you.”

“Ouch. You know how to wound a fellow, Carr.” Draco held a clenched hand up to his heart.

“Spare me your false complaints, Malfoy. You’re trying to deflect the conversation.”

“Is it working?”

“I’d say no.” Snape uttered from the doorway. The students looked up to see Snape and Ivyleaf watching them. “You are aware, I am certain, that curfew is almost upon you.”

“I do believe that as Head Boy I have some immunity from that infantile rule.” Draco replied snidely.

“But your friend is not.” Snape said, dipping his head towards Tanis.

“Surely as she is in my presence, my protection extends around her, as well.”

“You assume much, Mister Malfoy, as always.”

Draco drew a sharp breath inwards.

“Come, Miss Carr. I shall escort you back to your tower.” Ivyleaf marched forward and with an extended hand, all but dragged her student out of the room.

“But…but…” Tanis stammered. The two Hogwarts males could hear her choice utterances down the hallway.

“I see that your friend, Miss Carr, has quite a colourful vocabulary.”

“If she was a true Hogwarts student, I have little doubt that Tanis would have been in Slytherin.”

“I’m sure she would have made me proud.” Snape said quietly.

“Unlike me, you mean.” Draco hissed.

“I have had to control whatever feelings I have had for you, Draco.” Snape admitted. “I can show you no favoritism. It would not be acceptable for me to acknowledge my status as your godfather.”

“Don’t worry, you did a wonderful job at sheltering me from your affections.” The young man snarled.

“Draco, I promised your mother that I would…”

“Don’t mention her!” Draco shouted. “She was blind! Stupid! Weak! I could have taken care of everything by myself if she hadn’t interfered! Instead, she went to you and with her big wounded eyes bleated out her heart’s desires to you…to demand of you a promise that wasn’t necessary!”

“Draco…”

“And now she’s dead! Too damn weak to believe that everything would be fine in the end. Too damn weak to face a life without me. Too damn weak to believe that I could be okay. She didn’t deserve to be married to a Malfoy!” Draco’s voice broke.

“Would it be remiss of me to point out that your father is in prison?”

“For now.”

Snape frowned at that.

“What do you mean by that? You aren’t planning anything…are you?”

“Unlike my mother, I am not stupid, Godfather.” Draco made no attempt to mask his sarcasm. “I would never make an attempt to help my father. But do you honestly believe that he will spend the rest of his days in that god-forsaken place?”

“While it is true that others have escaped, the Ministry of Magic has strengthened the wards around Azkaban.”

“Yes, the Ministry. I tremble at the thought.” Draco flicked his hand, dismissing the very notion of the Ministry having the upper hand. “Just as I’m sure my father is. He will find some way out. He is a Malfoy. And then he will come for me. My mother, simpleton that she was, apparently found the notion of my father a free man too abhorrent to live with. And she was too much of a coward to provide me with any help.”

Snape pursed his lips.

“I will help you…should you need it.”

“You’ve done enough, Godfather.” Draco pushed his way past Snape and made his way down the corridor to his own common room.

Slowly, Snape lowered himself into a chair and stared blankly at the blackboard up front. Yes, Draco spoke true. He had done enough. Perhaps it was time to pass the torch within this fight of good versus evil and content himself with quiet nights, reading by the fire and weekends of testing new potions and draughts. Sighing heavily, Snape left the room and continued about on his tour.

HP***hp***HP

“You didn’t wait for me.” Ailionora said softly, catching up with Snape as he exited the Great Hall. No students had been lurking in there, either.

“I was unaware if you would return to your duties.” Snape replied.

“I’m hardly one to shirk my responsibilities. I escorted Tanis back to her tower, as I said I would. Besides, I had a feeling that you and Mister Malfoy had some things to discuss.”

Snape nodded tersely.

“Has the air been cleared between the two of you?”

“You could say that.” The dark-haired man admitted.

“Ah.” Ivyleaf nodded, picking up on the knowledge that the situation had not been resolved to Snape’s liking.

“This way.” Snape signaled. “Down these stairs into the dungeon.”

“Are you disappointed that we have found no students?”

“Always. Nothing lifts my spirits like docking points from the other houses. I have a difficult time believing that every student is adhering to the rules of curfew within these walls.”

“Perhaps they are aware that it is your night to prowl and they have wisely refrained from crossing your path.”

“Perhaps.” Snape conceded.

The two professors finished up in the dungeons and, must to Snape’s ongoing dismay, no students were found to be hiding in the dark corners. Granted, if the teenagers were looking for privacy for a moment of hormonal romance, the damp and dank dungeons were hardly the ideal location. Even Snape could admit that to himself.

“Well, I guess we’re done.” Ivyleaf said.

“Apparently we are.” Snape replied. The two stood in front of a stone wall, signaling a dead end within the dungeons.

“I should return to my chambers.”

“Allow me to escort you. The ghosts of Hogwarts are known for popping up more unexpectedly.”

“There is no need. I shall be fine.” Ivyleaf smiled.

“You’re not saying no.” Snape pointed out, throwing the Elemental’s words from earlier on back at her.

“Good point.” Ivyleaf began to walk away.

Shaking his head sharply, Snape all but raced after Ailionora.