Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Disclaimer: I don't own him, Meh, I'm too sick to write the rest of the disclaimer:)

Chapter 9 – Can you believe it?

Harry arose early in the morning, after a night of tossing and turning. Between dreading his first day of Potions, and cursing himself for his stupidity last night in the common room he did not sleep very well, if at all. Not wanting to face Hermione just yet, Harry dressed quickly and went downstairs early, hoping to eat and leave for Potions before she came down. Of course Harry realized that he would have to see her in class, but he wanted the extra hour alone to help clear his head.

On his way down to the Great Hall, he spied Rowen and Snape standing in the corner of the entrance hall arguing. Harry paused on the stairs, not wanting to interrupt, but reluctant to overhear at the same time.

“.. and what did you expect, Severus? That I would come home and hear how you had finally seen the light, switched sides and I would just fall into your arms and continue as if nothing had happened?” Rowen was whispering in a broken voice. “ How am I to know you didn't just jump ship when you realized that Dumbledore stood a fair chance of winning?”

Harry had never seen the Potions master look as he did then. He no longer wore his usual cold detached face, on the contrary, Snape's face was a mixture of shame, anger and a bit of.. longing?

“ Please.. please just listen to me, Ro. I never meant for it to be like that! The Dark Lord.. he.. he “

“ You mean Voldemort! Don't talk about him as if you still serve him, fear him!” Snape flinched at the mention of Voldemort's name.

“ He threatened you... he knew of my study of the Dark Arts, said he needed my skills, and if I would not join, he would kill you.” Snape stated this so quietly, Harry almost didn't catch it. Rowen just stared at him.

“ He would have killed me anyway, Severus, I'm a half-breed, remember? You could have gone to Dumbledore, or to me!” Rowen cried.

“ I did go to Dumbledore! He convinced me to turn against V- Voldemort, and give evidence to the Order almost immediately. I wasn't thinking clearly when I took the mark, I was terrified and could see no other option. Then you left, and when you finally did come back for Lily and Harry you wouldn't even see me, let alone speak to me!” Snape declared bitterly.

Rowen paused at this, looking thoughtful. “ Even if I did believe you about this, it makes no difference! Look at who and what you've become, Severus. This cold, bitter, twisted man is not the man I once lo.. knew. And Harry.. Severus he is my godson and I am going to be here for him. I promised Lily. You can't even get over your hatred of a man who died 15 years ago! The sins of the father are not the sins of the son. I.. I can't do this with you right now... I'm sorry.” With that Rowen walked away into the Great Hall as Snape stared after her looking pole-axed. He then shook his head and turned towards the dungeons.

Harry sat on the stairs thinking of what he'd heard. It had sounded as though Rowen had actually loved Snape before he took the mark. Ugh. As for what she said about him, Harry was glad that she planned on staying, but a part of him bristled at her inference to his father's sins. Remember Snape's pensieve whispered Hermione's voice in his head. Harry grimaced, allowing the thought that his father had not been perfect.

While sitting and thinking, Harry did not hear Hermione come down the stairs. “ Harry? What are you doing up so early?” she asked softly. Harry looked up at her, startled by her appearance.

“ I came down.. early, for breakfast and to review my Potions notes from last year.” Hermione had a look of pleasant surprise on her face at this. She noticed however, that something was not right with Harry.

“ Harry, what happened?” Hermione asked in a concerned tone. Harry was yet again amazed by Hermione's perceptiveness. He stood up and began to tell her what he had overheard as they walked into the Great Hall and seated themselves at the Gryffindor table. Harry was stacking his plate with eggs, bacon, and toast when Hermione responded,

“ I don't know Harry.. but I mean, I think it's best left to Rowen, isn't it? I know you dislike Professor Snape, but Dumbledore trusts him, so that has to mean something right? Rowen is smart, I'm sure she will handle it just fine.” Harry listened to Hermione, conceding that she was right about Dumbledore, and he was a good judge of character, even if he tried to find the good in everyone.

“ You don't think I should ask her about it, then?” Harry questioned Hermione.

“ Well, I think she'll answer you if you do ask. But Harry,” Hermione placed her hand on top of his, “ Rowen's decision is just that. Her decision. You wouldn't try to interfere, right?”

Harry nodded thoughtfully, glancing down at Hermione's hand on his. Hermione, following the direction of his gaze, jerked her hand away while blushing furiously. “ Come on Harry, we don't want to be late for class.” she stated briskly, getting up to leave. Harry smiled and followed her.

Once they arrived in the Potions classroom they sat in their usual beck row seats. Harry was not looking forward to this class, especially after this morning. If Snape did love Rowen, then he had just been rejected and was bound to be in a terrible mood. More terrible than usual that is. Don't know if I blame him either. Harry shook his head. Charitable thoughts for Snape? I must be ill.

Once the class had settled in, Snape came swooping through the doors, causing the class to immediately quiet down. As usual his presence seemed to command silence. He stalked to the front of the classroom, turning to face them all once there.

“ You have all been granted the extreme privilege of being accepted into this class. Whether you will stay is another matter entirely. I expect no less than an E or O on all graded essays, or you will be removed from this class” Snape stated this in a cold voice. Harry could hear Malfoy sniggering to the right of him. Harry gulped, realizing how much work he would have to put into this class. Thank Merlin Hermione was here with him.

Snape went on to outline the potions they would be studying, all of them much more complex than their O.W.L. Level potions. After his lecture ended, Snape flicked his wand at the blackboard and the instructions for the Draught of Living Death appeared. Harry grimaced, remembering the mention of this draught made in his very first, humiliating potions class.

Snape stalked about the class observing their work, snapping out comments as he went. Harry did his best, reading the instructions three times, as well as writing them down before proceeding. He tried not to let Snape's hovering about distract him until..

“ Potter!” Snape snapped. Malfoy looked up, eager to see Harry's usual 'What is the crap? No points!' that he got from Snape. Snape glared at Harry. “ You are supposed to be stirring in a clockwise , counter clockwise motion, Potter!” Almost at once Snape's sneer fell off his face , and it became neutral. “ If you correct your stirring now, the Draught will still be somewhat acceptable.” With this he swept up to his desk leaving everyone with a shocked expression. Harry continued, correcting his stirring and at the end of class capped a vial of potion and placed it on Snape's desk.

Hermione caught up to Harry outside class. “ Harry, can you believe it? Do you think what Rowen said to him effected him that much?” she asked as they headed to lunch.

“ Either that, or Snape's all of a sudden bi polar!” Harry replied. “ Who knows? All I care about is that I might actually pass potions this year!” Harry sat down to eat lunch,feeling a bit of relief at this development. A few minutes later Ron stumbled into the Great Hall, plopping down to eat.

“ Ron Weasley! Don't tell me you just woke up! For goodness sakes Ron, you should be using your free period to stay on top of school work!” Hermione hissed at Ron.

“No work to be on top of just yet, is there now?” Ron answered around a mouthful of food. Hermione huffed at this, but didn't comment further. Harry took this opportunity to fill Ron in on Potions and the mornings happenings. “ Well, at least it cuts you some slack, eh Harry?” Ron stated optimistically. After that the discussion turned to what they thought DADA class would be like.

After lunch, they headed towards their defense class. Harry was quite excited to see what Rowen would teach them. As they entered the class, they saw that it had been rearranged. The desks were now lined the walls in a U shape, creating a large empty space in the middle of the classroom. The trio chose a table in the middle of the back row, allowing them to face the front directly.

Rowen came striding in after a few moments. She walked to the front of the class and made her name appear on the board. “ Good afternoon class. I am Professor Silva and I will be teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. As you all know, you are entering the advanced portion of your education. I know that your teachings in this subject have been... somewhat erratic, however we have no time to re-learn O.W.L. Level spells. All of you in this class had at least an E on your O.W.L's, so I expect that I shouldn't have to review with you.” Rowen walked around the open area as she spoke to the class. She strode to the middle of the area.

“ All of you! Up! Surround me please!” she barked out these orders. The class, puzzled, followed her commands. “ Wands out, please. Now I want all of you to hex me at once, do you understand?” The class looked around searching for confirmation that she wasn't joking. “ Come now, if one of you land a hex, I will give you 20 points!” Harry and Hermione exchanged confused looks. “ On my count! One ,, two,, three!” Rowen held her wand above her head, shouting 'Infragilis Aegis'!

Every student shot various hexes and spells at her, Harry included and were all shocked to see that not one spell made it to her. A cone of gold light had poured out of her wand tip and dropped over her, absorbing all the jinxes making it glow brighter, When the class finally stopped casting, she lowered her wand and the light disappeared. “ Can anyone tell me what spell I just performed?”

Hermione's hand shot up. “ It was an Unbreakable Shield charm. They are supposed to be very complex and draining, and it's rarely used in battle.” she answered.

“ Excellent Miss Granger, ten points to Gryffindor. Now can anyone tell me why this would be rarely used in combat?” Rowen asked. Harry was the first one to raise a hand this time.

“ Well, if it drains you, you wouldn't be able to perform anything besides this spell. It would leave you defenseless.” Rowen smiled in his direction.

“Another 10 for Gryffindor. Can anyone give me an instance when it would be useful in battle?”

Surprisingly, Ron was hesitantly raising his hand. “ Well, if someone were strong enough, it would be a good idea for one person to cast it over two people, while the other curses through it?” Ron's voiced seemed to get smaller as he answered, afraid he was wrong.

“ 10 more for Gryffindor! Excellent use of strategy, Mr. Weasley.” Ron beamed at this compliment. “ Now, I want all of you to form two lines across from one another to practice. Remember, wand straight up, slightly circle the tip and say Infragilis Aegis,”

Rowen walked in between the rows as they lined up to practice. No one produced anything on their first try. Upon his second try, Harry produced a gold mist, but it did not fully cover him. Rowen observed him. “ Very good, Mr. Potter! Next time try to envision the power being drawn out of you, through your wand tip.”

Hermione had been listening, as she was next to Harry, and on her third try produced a full shield. She was only able to maintain it for a few moments though. Harry watched her proudly and shortly thereafter was able to produce his own. He was quickly followed by Ron and Neville.

Rowen finished up class asking for ten inches of parchment on the derivation and proper incantation of the charm. As the trio walked towards their common room, Hermione was commenting on how strong Rowen must be to hold her shield for so long, when Cho Chang approached them.

“ Harry hi! Could I talk to you a moment?” she asked. Hermione glared at her while Ron observed. Harry just stared at her blandly.

“Sure, what do you want Cho?” he asked.

“Privately, Harry?” Cho answered. Hermione fairly bristled at this.

“Anything you have to say and be said in front of my friends.” Harry stated simply.

“ I , uh, just wanted to apologize for last year, and I was thinking.. maybe..” She was stumbling. Harry cut her off.

“It's alright. It's over and done with, and I hope we can be friends.” Harry said firmly. Cho's face fell at this, while Hermione's face lit up. Ron looked at Hermione and then Harry with a knowing smile on his face.

Later that night in their dorm, Ron looked at Harry from his bed. “ You know Harry, I reckon she likes you!” Ron stated.

“ Who? Cho?” Harry asked horrified. Ron chuckled at his tone of voice.

“ Well, her too, but I was talking about Hermione you idiot!” Harry scoffed at this idea. “ You didn't see her face when you turned Cho down Harry! She was practically glowing!” Harry just looked at Ron, not responding.

As Harry lay down though, he had a large smile on his face, and a bit of hope in his heart.