Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Disclaimer: Didn't I rant about this last chapter? Not Mine. Really I should only be required to type that once a day!

Chapter 14 - Plan Step Daddy

Once Harry was finally released from the hospital wing – three days after he woke, three days too long if you asked him! - he was thrown back into a schoolwork frenzy, trying to catch up on all his classes, plus his special training. He, Hermione and Ron had not yet put the Rowen and Snape plan - or Plan Step Daddy as Ron liked to call it, laughing for a good five minutes afterward - into effect. Not that it was much of a plan at this point, other than trying to force Rowen and Snape alone together as much as possible. After about a week, Harry finally caught up on his schoolwork, after many sleepless nights and even more prodding ( as it was dangerous to call it nagging now) from Hermione.

It was around then that Rowen decided to introduce some new training into his Seer regimen. They were all greeting each other on a Wednesday, when Rowen mentioned it.

“ Okay Harry, I think we've spent enough time on the lucid dreaming for now. Both Dumbledore and I feel you might be able to try it on Voldemort in the new year. Now we are going to work on another aspect of Seer's. Generally Seer's are more in tune with the natural world than most witches or wizards. They have a better grasp of the planes, and also the elements than your average witch or wizard. Some are even truly proficient in one or more of them. Lily wasn't, but I have enough reason to believe that you will be much more powerful than your mother.” Rowen was looking seriously at Harry.

Harry and Hermione exchanged a startled glance at the news of him trying to spy on Voldemort in the new year. Harry was relieved and terrified at the same time. “ So the first thing we'll be practicing is Astral Projection. Once you've accomplished we'll move on to projecting silently, which means you aren't visible or detectable in anyway. Now Harry,” Rowen leveled a glare at Harry, “ Dumbledore is trusting you by allowing to learn this. It is highly useful, but can be misused. So I trust that you won't misuse it... much.” she smiled at Harry, who grinned back. Harry could see Ron's excited face out of the corner of his eye, and he didn't even need to see Hermione, he could feel the disapproval rolling off of her.

“ So , once again, you'll get into a relaxed state by using your meditation techniques. Once you achieve a relaxed state – remember stop at relaxed, don't go all the way to into a trance.” Harry started to think on his relaxing memory, Hermione's hands, which was much easier now, as he had a whole stock of recent memories to chose from. “ Okay, Harry, now that you are relaxed, I want you to clearly picture Dumbledore's office in your mind. Try to visualize every detail you can, once you get better, you'll be able to do this with a smaller and smaller amount of concentration. Can you see it?” she asked. Harry nodded in response, trying to remember every detail of Dumbledore's office.

“ Alright now I want you to say the incantation – Emineo. If it works, you should find yourself in front of Albus! He is expecting the attempt, so you won't startle him, although I doubt you would even if he wasn't expecting you.” Rowen smiled. Harry took a deep breath, picturing Dumbledore's office clearly.

“ Emineo.” He muttered forcefully. Harry found that spells often worked much better if a certain strength was put behind the words. He opened his eyes to find himself being observed by a pair of twinkling blue ones.

“ Ah, Harry. I have been expecting you. This is your first attempt, correct?” Harry stared dumbfounded at Dumbledore. He looked down and noticed that his .. body? Was really just a mass of silver wisps, that closely resembled his real body. It almost looked as though he were created out of Pensieve material. Harry examined himself, fascinated, as Dumbledore watched. “ Ah yes, I forget how interesting Astral Projection is the first time. I'd offer you something to drink, or a lemon drop, but that would be a bit pointless wouldn't it?” Harry glanced up at what Dumbledore was saying.

“ You mean you can Project, sir? I wasn't aware of that.” Harry said, listening despite his slight distraction at his ability to apparently pass through solid objects.

“ Well Harry, how else do you think I am able to see so much? I find that my favorite relaxation technique is to pace, here, in my office. Sends me right off.” Dumbledore said this with his usual twinkle. “ However, as we don't want to tax your strength, you should be off back to your body. Just picture your physical being clearly in your mind.” Harry did this, and felt a tugging sensation, not unlike a portkey, and all of a sudden he was looking at three curious faces.

“ Well Harry?” demanded Hermione, unable to hold herself back. Harry grinned at all of them.

“ Hey did you know Dumbledore could do this?” Harry questioned Rowen. She laughed softly.

“ Yes. It was the cause of many detentions for your father! He isn't a Seer, of course, just a very powerful wizard.” Rowen stated this simply.

“ Does that mean that you don't have to be a Seer to accomplish it? That Ron, or I could try?” Hermione questioned eagerly. Ron looked at her askance.

“ Me? Try that? Are you mental Hermione? If you want to go separating yourself from your body, you go ahead, but bloody well leave me out of it!” Harry laughed at the look on Ron's face. Rowen looked towards Hermione, as if assessing her.

“ Yes, you may try it Hermione, but at our next meeting. I'll need to have someone in place where you'll project yourself. The first time it should be a place you are very familiar with, and as you aren't quite as familiar with the Headmaster's office as Harry here, we'll try next meeting. Perhaps I'll get Minerva to hang around her office? Or her classroom? Yes, the classroom would be better.” Rowen was speaking almost as if to herself and Hermione looked so eager to try, she almost quivered in her seat. Harry smiled at her enthusiasm, hoping , no, knowing that she was clever enough and strong enough to learn.

“ Rowen? Are you supervising Hogsmeade weekend again?” Harry questioned her innocently, putting Plan Step Dadd- rather Plan Rowen and Snape into it's first stages.

She looked up from her musings, her silver eyes narrowing a bit. “ Yes.. why?”

Harry gave what he hoped was an innocent shrug. “ I was just hoping you were. It seems like we hardly get anytime to just talk, we're always training or in class.” Rowen softened at this.

“ You know, Harry, anytime you want to speak to me, you can come to my quarters. The passage is behind the goblin statue across the hall from Dumbledore's offices. The password is House Cup. My portrait is the one depicting the Vampire rebellions. Dumbledore had it specially moved for me, thought it would be funny.” she laughed a little. “ Mind you , you'd better only use it to see me. Other teachers live down there as well.” Harry grinned, and promised he would only use it to see her.

With that, Rowen wished them goodnight and left the room, promising to meet them for a butterbeer on the weekend. Once she had gone Harry looked at Hermione excitedly. “ Brilliant! You know what this means? I don't have to wait until the weekend, we can sneak down to the teacher's quarters tonight and find some way to.. I don't know, lock them alone together or something!” Hermione looked excited and apprehensive all at once.

“ I don't know, Harry, I mean it's the teacher's quarters! And we can't all fit under the cloak anymore, it a tight squeeze for just two of us. And our homework..” she trailed off as Ron cleared his throat.

“ Well, as much as I'd love to lock Harry's Daddy- to- be in a closet, it seems fairly obvious that I should stay back while you and Harry go. I mean if it's a tight squeeze for two under the cloak, better you two than anyone else.” Ron shot a grin at Harry as he said this. Harry grinned back while Hermione rolled her eyes and halfheartedly muttered 'Boys!'.

“ So, tonight we set the plan in motion! And if everything doesn't resolve itself tonight,” Hermione snorted at this thought,” then we'll regroup and attack them on an individual basis. Hogsmeade would be the perfect time to get Rowen.” Harry was feeling very confident in his plan, as the three rose. Harry slung an arm over Hermione's shoulders and pulled her close as they walked towards the Gryffindor portrait.

Later that night Harry and Hermione were pressed closely together under the cloak heading towards the teachers quarters. Once they reached the statue, Harry whispered 'House Cup' and watched the statue slide silently aside. He silently sent up thanks to whoever kept the passages well maintained, as a large scraping noise would have been rather unfortunate. As they slipped into the hall, Harry enjoyed the feel of Hermione pressed so closely along the length of him, her backside pressed into him. They headed towards the portraits. They really had no idea where Snape's rooms were, but Harry knew Dumbledore's nature and had a feeling they were probably very close together.

They found Rowen's portrait at the end of the hall, the last one on the left. Across from it was a painting of a bubbling cauldron. Harry snickered, knowing this must be Snape's rooms. At the very end of the hall was a supply closet. Harry nudged Hermione pointing this out, while she whispered 'perfect!' They prepared first, casting a silencing charm on this end of the hall, closing off all sounds from up the corridor. Hermione then cast a noise charm inside the closet, so that an awful wailing started in it. After a few minutes both portraits wrenched open, their occupants staring out in the hall. Upon seeing each other, they stopped warily.

“ Can't anyone else hear that?” Rowen was saying crossly, as she alternately eyed the closet door and Snape. They both moved closer, staring at the door.

“ It's probably just Peeves , up to his usual annoying tricks.” Snape muttered staring hard at the door and not at all at Rowen.

“Well , I'm going in and kicking him out, as I would like some sleep sometime tonight!” with that Rowen wrenched open the door peering inside as the noise suddenly stopped. Harry grinned at his girlfriend's impeccable timing. Rowen leaned in the doorway, but it was pitch black in there, so she stepped in, adjusting her vision to search for any trace of Peeves. Snape looked after her, and stepped in behind her. All of a sudden the door fell shut, and Harry and Hermione jointly cast a very powerful locking spell on it. They then stepped up to the door, grinning like naughty children, to wait, and listen.

( slight A/N: I decided rather than explain what Harry and Hermione hear to just switch from Harry's to Rowen's POV. Just didn't want anyone to get confused ;-)

Inside, Rowen had turned around at the first sounds of the door closing. Once they're only light source was cut off, however, she plowed right into Severus. “Ow, dammit! Severus, that's my foot!” She was almost tempted to laugh at their awkward movements, as every time they tried to get out of the way, they would go in the same direction.

“Well, I can't see a bloody thing! What would you like me to do?” snapped Severus. Rowen rolled her eyes at the sheer stupidity of this question.

“Well, can you reach your wand?” she spoke very slowly, as if speaking to a child. “ I didn't grab mine when I left my room. It was stupid. I know” she inwardly cursed herself for not carrying her wand, as usual, but she had been getting ready to take a shower when she had heard 'it'. Whatever 'it' was.

Severus pulled out his wand muttering 'Lumos'. They could finally see, and checking the closet could find nothing around them that could have caused the commotion. “ I am going to hurt Peeves!” Severus whispered, as he turned and headed for the door. When he tried the handle , however, nothing happened. He tried it again. Again nothing. “It won't open!” he accused, glaring at Rowen as if it were her fault. Rowen just rolled her eyes, and snatched the wand from his hand.

“Really Severus! What kind of wizard are you?” she teased, pointing the wand at the door and muttering “ Alohomora “. Still nothing happened. She sighed and handed back his wand. “Well, it would appear we are stuck here for a short while. Until we hear someone coming, at any rate. Since no one else heard, whatever it was, I can only assume everyone else is out at the moment. Lucky us!” As she spoke she sank down to the floor. Severus stepped slightly away from her, before lowering himself to the floor as well.

Rowen laughed inwardly at the sight of Severus sitting on the floor. She knew he hated it, he had always hated sitting on the ground. Once she had wanted to go on a picnic and had been subjected to a twenty minute lecture about the pointlessness of sitting outside to eat when they could easily eat in the comfort of their own home. In the end, however, she had gotten her way. As she usually did. She laughed softly at the memory.

Severus glanced up. “ What are you laughing at? Nothing about this situation is funny!” he snapped at her, which only made her laugh harder. Her eyes sparkled with mirth in the bright light from the tip of his wand.

“ Nothing, I was just.. remembering something, that's all.” she looked away from him as she said this. He stared at her intently.

“What did you remember?” he asked quietly, afraid she wouldn't answer.

“ That time I dragged you on the picnic, you complained the whole time. You hated sitting on the ground, and here we are.. again.” She looked up in shock as Severus actually started laughing, as he too, remembered that day.

“ I hated that! If it had of been anyone but you..” They both fell silent, each thinking of the years between then and now.

Outside, Harry and Hermione were listening avidly, as Hermione had gotten over her moral objections once they started really talking. They had both exchanged glances of shock when Snape laughed. I mean, Snape laughed. It was the first time either one of them had heard the sound without the cruel sneer behind it. Hermione leaned up by Harry's ear whispering, “ Well, at least they are reminiscing, that's good, right?” Harry shivered as her breath reached his ear. He was highly tempted to take Hermione to the astronomy tower and leave Rowen and Snape alone for a while. He forced his thoughts back to the present.

“ I don't know Mione, depends on what they remember.” he stated grimly. They hadn't heard any sound for several minutes. Harry motioned, indicating that they should sit down, to be more comfortable. Harry sat with his back against the door, and Hermione sat in between his legs so that the cloak could cover them both. They weren't too worried about being discovered, as it was so late, but you never could be too careful. Harry also had the Marauder's map tucked in his pocket, which he pulled out to check every few moments. So far they were in the clear. All the teachers appeared to be asleep, except for Dumbledore who was pacing in his office.

Inside, Rowen was staring at Severus in the dim light. It had been so long since she was able to just look at him. Despite her angry resolve in the beginning, it had been very hard to stay away from him, especially when even Lily had tried to defend him to her. She had maintained her anger, however, by just picturing the newly burned black mark that had been on his forearm. She had missed him despite all this, though, and had never moved on, or tried to find another man, wizard or vampire.

Suddenly she realized that he had caught her look, she looked down at the floor, inwardly cursing her weakness.

“ You- “ he started softly, “ You said that you couldn't continue our discussion that day in the hall. Can we - can we continue it now?” She looked at his expression, so serious and frightened of her further rejection.

Rowen sighed heavily. “ I don't really see the point, Severus. You've already explained. I don't know that anything will change with further discussion.” His face looked so infinitely sad as she spoke these words softly. “ Severus, I'm- I'm sorry. I understand that we both made mistakes back then. I just don't know what you want from me. My forgiveness? Absolution? I know you've made an effort with Harry, and I appreciate that, but I don't know if we can- “ Rowen paused, frustrated because she could not find the proper words.

“ I don't want absolution! I know that I don't deserve it. I would like your forgiveness, but I understand that that needs to be earned. I – I still love you Ro. I always have, and I won't stop. I don't want just your friendship, I want it- us back. I realize that the chances of that are non-existent, but I have to try.” he stared intently into her eyes as he spoke. Rowen heard his words of love, and she wanted to return them, so badly. She did still love him, she had even forgiven him for his mistakes of the past. But she didn't know if she could trust his words of love. He had spoken them before, and broken them.

“ Ugh! It is just so you Severus, to just declare your love and then what? I trusted you with my heart, my soul, my life! You broke that trust! You did that! Not Voldemort, just you! I can't just forgive you, and it will all be okay! I can't just replace that trust instantly!” as Rowen spoke she stood, her voice increasing in volume. Severus stood as well, moving closer to her.

“ I know that! You think I haven't had to live with that for the last seventeen years! I just didn't know how- I am trying here! What am I supposed to do?”

“ Does it really matter how hard you try? I thought that we were it! That we would never be apart! I thought I knew you, and in the end it didn't matter what I thought! What do I want you to do? I want you to crawl for it! I want you to prove that you aren't going to break my trust if I happen to place it with you again! I want you to- I want you- “ Rowen stood looking at him with tears in her eyes. They were so close now, she could feel his ragged breathing in her hair. She was so torn, she didn't know what she wanted from him. “ I want you to hurt as much as I did that day. I felt as if my whole world had just been ripped away from me, it was if you died for me, and I know that it's wrong of me to want you to hurt like that, it's petty and childish, but I haven't moved past it yet.” she whispered all of this in a broken voice.

“ Rowen.. I have hurt that much. Everyday since you left, I -” Rowen stopped him with her lips on his. She kissed him softly.

“ I'm.. I'm not ready yet Severus. I need- time- or something. I'm sorry.”

All of a sudden, outside, Harry and Hermione were startled by Dumbledore's voice next to them. “ I think that will be enough for tonight, don't you?” Harry turned to see the silvery version of Dumbledore. Damn, his Astral Projection, I forgot! The astral Dumbledore smiled at Harry. “ I'll be down to let them out, I suggest you two make your way to your beds.” Harry and Hermione both nodded, and made their way down the hall, and out of the statue entrance.

A/N: Okay , I know this was a bit more on Rowen, but I needed to explain their story a bit, cause it lives inside my head and kept wanting to be told, lol! Oh! I JUST discovered the ability to reply to reviews, so I replied to all of em! So if you've reviewed check it out! And I will continue to reply in the future! So read, Review... love me! Lol There's a Harry/Hermione date next chappy! Review please?