Glacies Nexium
Chapter 4: The Prince - Part I
by hpotter225
* * *
The dungeon ceiling seemed lower than Harry had remembered. He ducked under an archway that led down a wide hall to his old Potions classroom. When Hermione had suggested they search in the dungeons for any possible clues, Harry had objected adamantly. However, as he considered the source of the suggestion his mind quickly changed and they began their search. It did, after all, give Harry an excuse not to get chewed out by the Order for running off-not that he minded, of course.
So far everything had been boring and useless. It was all the same-stones, chains and the occasional smashed cauldron. There wasn't even a portrait to be seen, which Harry found quite disturbing. The lack thereof had the odd effect of making him feel like he was being watched. He took a cautious glance over his shoulder.
"Will you stop that?" bellowed Ron. "You're freaking me out."
Harry huffed. "Sorry. I guess I am getting a bit paranoid."
"Just like Mad-eye, mate. You'd better get that checked out," said Ron jokingly.
"I'd give anything right now to have his mad eye," laughed Harry. Suddenly his chest hit something hard and his breath was knocked out of him. It was Hermione's head.
"As attractive as his swiveling eyeball is, I like your eyes just the way they are," said Hermione. "So why don't you two start looking and stop gabbing?"
Ron jutted his lower lip out and narrowed his eyes as Hermione strutted down the hall ahead of him and Harry. "She really is something," he said with admiration, smiling. "I feel like the luckiest man alive."
Harry nodded as he watched Hermione turn around twenty feet down the hall and put her hands on her hips expectantly. His mind told him to say, "You would be if I wasn't with Ginny," but instead he said, "You sure are, Ron."
As Hermione rounded the corner, Ron walked faster to catch up, leaving Harry lagging behind at his slow pace. Soon Harry was walking alone in the hall, though he knew his friends were only just around the next bend. Then he stopped and listened as the footsteps receded into the distance.
"Hurry up Harry," Ron's voice bellowed. "We're going to Snape's old office."
Snape, thought Harry bitterly. He had nothing but loathing for that despicable man. For six years he had sat through Snape's classes and complained to anyone who would listen that the man was untrustworthy. No one had listened; they had all disagreed. It was little consolation that they were all wrong.
With every second Harry dwelled on Snape his anger grew rapidly. He felt the shock and rage when Snape had killed Dumbledore come back full force. He felt the humility and disgrace when Snape had bested him in a dual without uttering a word. He hated the man, and the more he dwelled on it the more he felt a new plan forming in his mind.
Without another thought Harry spun around and bolted down the hall.
Moments later the sound of bickering could be heard approaching from down the hall. Hermione and Ron came around the corner, Ron rolling his eyes at something Hermione said, and then stopped, staring stupidly at the spot where Harry had been.
"Harry?" said Ron quizzically.
"Oh no," said Hermione, eyebrows narrowed with worry. "He didn't…"
* * *
Headmistress McGonagall's office was surprisingly open. Harry raced up the steps and knocked hurriedly on the door.
"Come in," came the terse response.
Harry pushed open the door and approached McGonagall's desk with as much composure as he could muster. "Hello Headmistress," he said respectfully.
McGonagall visually deflated. "Please, Harry, call me Minerva. You're practically an adult now and Merlin knows you reached the maturity level a while ago. Anyways, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Harry, "I was wondering where Snape lived."
The stare Harry received was long and concentrated. "You don't intend to pursue Severus, I presume?" she asked carefully.
"Not exactly," said Harry cautiously. "I'm looking for something at his house. Well, I mean, there might be something of importance there." He stumbled gracefully over his words.
"Indeed," said McGonagall, once again piercing Harry with her stare. "I cannot withhold this information from you, but might I implore you to allow a member of the Order to accompany you? Remus, perhaps."
"No," Harry said quickly, almost spitefully.
His response elicited a brief look of shock. "Miss Granger and Mister Weasley will go with you, I presume?"
Harry said nothing.
"Mister Potter," said McGonagall firmly. "I will give you the information you request, but I cannot allow you to go alone. It is far too dangerous for you to be wandering around alone."
"I have to," Harry said quietly.
A long silence and another glare followed. Finally, McGonagall shook her head in defeat. "I do not agree, but I cannot stop you." She pulled a length of parchment from her desk and gave Harry one last disappointed look before dipping a quill and scrawling on the parchment. "Here," she said, holding the letter out. "I expect to see you back for breakfast."
"Thanks," said Harry, grinning widely. "I'll do my best."
And he backed out into the hall.
* * *
Hermione and Ron quickly deduced that Harry was nowhere to be found in the dungeons and expanded their search to the upper section of the castle. They split off, Hermione heading to the Headmistress's office and Ron to the Gryffindor common room, with a plan to meet in the Great Hall twenty minutes later.
Familiar feelings of dread washed over Hermione. In the back of her mind she had expected Harry to run off, but she had convinced herself countless times that he wouldn't. Now, she was cursing herself for being so trusting.
A swarm of thoughts buzzed around her head that she barely noticed where she was walking. The warm body she collided with did much to bring her back to reality.
"Sorry," said Hermione in shock. She blinked a few times and stepped back.
"Are you drunk?" responded a familiar voice.
Hermione blinked again forcefully. "Of course not," she said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well you should watch where you're walking, then."
"Harry!" shrieked Hermione, her eyes snapping wide open. She leaped forward and entangled her arms around him, grabbing the back of his robes tightly with her hands and pulling him close to her.
"I… umm… am glad to see you, too, Hermione," said Harry confusedly. "What's wrong?"
She pulled back and stared into his eyes for a moment. "We thought you had left."
"Without telling you and Ron? Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"Of course not," said Hermione. "You know you'd be dead without us."
"Yeah," said Harry quietly. "Dead."
After a short silence, Hermione placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head expectantly. "Well?" she inquired. "What did you do?"
Confused, Harry raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Why did you run off?"
"Because I wanted to find Snape's house," said Harry dryly. He held up the letter in his hand. "And I did."
For a moment, Hermione stared at the paper. At first her look was blank, but then it quickly became uneasy and questioning; Harry could tell by the way she subtly bit her lower lip and brought her eyebrows together.
"Are you sure…" she began.
"Yes," said Harry simply, cutting her off, "I want to find You-Know-What's, and one of them might be there."
The light from a high stained glass window cast a myriad of colors about the hall where Harry and Hermione were walking. Harry looked down and marveled that he couldn't find a pattern amidst the reflections. It looked like he was walking through a sea of broken glass.
"Wait," said Harry. "Stop."
Hermione stopped and raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"Look," Harry said, raising his arms to his sides and pointing at both ends of the hall. "Have you ever thought it was odd that this is the only hall in Hogwarts without any decorations? There are no paintings or gargoyles-just these stained glass windows."
Hermione looked her and up at the ceiling. "You're right," she said. "I haven't noticed that. There's probably a reason. Headmistress McGonagall might know."
"Maybe, but it's not important. We should find Ron," said Harry.
Hermione smiled. "He's in the Great Hall. Come on," she held out her hand. "Let's go."
"Sure." Harry smiled back and grabbed Hermione's hand.
They walked briskly back to the Great Hall.
* * *
"There you are," said Ron as Hermione entered the room. "And you've found the old sod as well. Great job, mate."
Harry grinned. "From `bloody prat' to `old sod,'" he said with interest. "What have I done to deserve such an honor?"
"Stow it," Ron growled jokingly. "You have some explaining to do."
"Explain myself for visiting the Headmistress?" asked Harry innocently. "Well, since you asked so nicely, I was getting Snape's home address."
The look on Ron's face elicited a laugh from Harry. "Well you can't expect me to kill the old sod without his home address, can you?"
It was now Hermione's turn to be shocked. "Harry!" she protested. "You said…"
"That, too," he said pointedly. "But don't think I won't kill him if he's there."
Hermione's face was nearly unreadable, but Harry could see a tinge of fear in it. Then he realized that he had just openly admitted his intent to murder Snape. And he had done it confidently, without thinking. She had good reason to be frightened.
"In a very nice and pleasant way, of course," he added, smiling.
"Ha ha," said Hermione dryly. "Very funny. How do you expect to kill him if he can throw off your spells without speaking a word?"
Logic was not Harry's forte. That was why he was so glad to have Hermione around to beat it into his head. Together, they filled each other's weaknesses. That is, if Hermione had any weaknesses.
"I was thinking we could bring my mum along," suggest Ron. "Even Snape couldn't handle a fiery Weasley mother!"
Harry looked pointedly at Hermione. "He does have a point."
"Yes, I'm sure that would work wonderfully. But let's really think about this first. He can throw off your spells because he can use Legilimency on you to predict them."
"That doesn't make sense," said Harry. "Legilimency doesn't read minds."
Hermione scrunched her eyebrows together. "You're right. I never thought of that." She was quite surprised at this. "How was he doing it, then?"
"If I knew," said Harry, "I'd have killed him a long time ago."
"Professor Lupin might know," Ron suggested.
Hermione and Harry turned to him.
"Then let's find him," said Harry, and he turned to the doors of the Great Hall.
* * *
After much searching, they finally found Lupin in Headmistress McGonagall's office. Both him and the Headmistress appeared distressed and were arguing heatedly.
"You let them go? Minerva, they are just kids!" said Lupin, obviously trying to stay calm but failing. "They could be killed. You must tell me where they are."
"Remus," said McGonagall sadly, "I cannot go against Harry's wishes. That was Dumbledore's only demand."
"Harry would want me to know," Lupin said.
"Except that he won't even tell his own friends where he's going," responded McGonagall tersely.
"He what?" asked Lupin after a slight pause.
McGonagall narrowed her eyes. "You heard me. He's not going with his friends."
Harry could only see the back of his head, but he was sure that Lupin's eyes were wide with shock.
"And you still will not tell me?" Lupin asked quietly.
Then Harry felt something poking into his ribs and he turned agitatedly to see Hermione elbowing him and staring at him expectantly. She pursed her lips.
Harry sighed. "Professor," he said, stepping into the Headmistress's office. "I am going to Snape's house. Ron and Hermione are coming with me."
The two adults looked like deer caught in headlights.
"How long?" inquired Lupin, nodding at the door.
"Just a minute," said Harry. "We came to ask you a question."
"Sure, anything to help," Lupin responded.
Harry lowered his eyes. "Can you teach me how to duel?"
At that moment, Ron and Hermione entered the room staring bewilderedly at Harry.
"I thought you were going to ask him about Snape?" said Hermione.
"You've gone mad," said Ron helpfully.
Harry smiled. "I haven't. Snape deflected all of my spells, but the spells I used were weak anyways. He could have escaped had they hit him. I need to learn how to duel - what spells to use, how to move, how to attack, how to defend, how to parry." He turned back to Lupin. "Can you help me?"
Lupin furrowed his brow. "Of course I will, but why not someone more qualified? An auror? Tonks, perhaps."
"Because I trust you," said Harry bluntly. He knew that he was excluding the entire Order of the Phoenix with his statement, but he thought it best to start off on a new foot, trusting no one. McGonagall pressed her lips firmly together.
"Do you really think it smart to trust so few people?" asked Lupin.
"I will not make the same mistake as my parents," said Harry firmly.
Lupin jerked back like he had been smacked in the face. He stumbled backwards into a wall and his eyes reflexively flicked down to the floor. A wave of emotion swept through Harry-he felt as if he was suddenly seeing through Lupin's eyes, feeling what Lupin was feeling, reminiscing what Lupin was reminiscing. His hurt, pain, agony, confusion, disbelief, everything coursed through Harry's body. It was so intense that Harry nearly buckled over and was forced to steady himself against McGonagall's desk.
"Professor, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Harry trailed off. "It's just that I can't risk anything. If I'm betrayed…"
If Lupin heard him or not, Harry didn't know. All he knew was that for the next few minutes no one said a word while Lupin's breathing slowed gradually to a normal rate. Ron and Hermione had receded to the back of the room, both with sad looks.
Finally Lupin looked up. "You're right," he said quietly. "I'll teach you to duel, and if you want I'll help you do anything else. Your parents would have wanted that."
Harry smiled and held out his hand. "Thanks, Professor."
Lupin forced a smile and shook Harry's hand. "Please, Harry, call me Remus. You look far too much like James to be calling me that."
"Sure," said Harry. He turned to McGonagall. "I'm sorry you had to see that. It wasn't right of me to say what I did, and I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and looked around the room. "Now, I think I'm going to get some rest. We all need it."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
* * *
A/N:
Yes, I know that was a weird chapter. Harry is being a jerk, but give him a break, he has just been through a lot. Consider his insensitivity a result of him being slowly desensitized over the years.
This chapter was mainly plot development. Next chapter will be more action, and we'll see the beginnings of the far too delayed H/Hr relationship.
Also, I also wanted to mention that I haven't updated for a while because I was in Maryland on a pseudo-vacation. It took me two days to write the chapter after I got back, which is why it took so long.
Please tell me what you think, be it good or bad. I'm open to suggestions, plot ideas, subplot ideas-anything, really. This story is for your enjoyment, so I'm trying to do my best to make it enjoyable. And if you have any long, complicated ideas, my AIM screenname is in my profile.
Thanks for reading.
Until next time…
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