* * * * *
When Snape rounded the corner leading to the short corridor outside the potions classroom, he came upon a very unusual sight. And unusual sound. He stopped abruptly, observing the situation. Normally, as students waited for him to arrive, there was a ton of chatter. With the Slytherin/Gryffindor combination, particularly this group, they were often engaged in some type of argument or another. But now, the hallway was almost silent and the students were standing in line, waiting quietly.
They all looked to Snape when they heard him round the corner, then looked back to the duo sitting on the floor near the doorway.
Harry was leaning up against the wall with his head sideways, his cheek resting atop Draco’s head. Draco was curled up comfortably in Harry’s lap and Harry’s arms were wrapped protectively around Draco, his hands interlocked behind Draco to keep him in place. They were both sound asleep.
Snape closed his eyes for a few moments and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t sure how he wanted to handle this situation. Opening his eyes again, he began to walk forward towards the classroom. “Leave them be,” he commanded quietly as he unlocked the door, allowing the students to enter.
The students all quietly took their places and waited for further instruction. Snape waved his wand and tapped the board. “Notes are on the board. Start copying them and when you’re finished you may begin brewing the potion,” Snape commanded, and students began shuffling for parchment, quills, and ink.
“Mr. Weasley, come with me,” Snape commanded, as he stalked back up to the door and out of the classroom. An ashen faced Ron followed. Ron knew why he was likely being called out of the room, but it didn’t make him any more comfortable talking to the man.
Once in the hallway, Snape cast a silencing bubble around them, which didn’t ease Ron’s fears at having to talk to the man. Hermione had done most of the talking in his office the day before and that had been fine with Ron.
“Mr. Weasley, can you enlighten me as to why those two are extra tired today?” Snape asked, gesturing to where Harry and Draco were still asleep on the floor.
Ron swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
“Well then, enlighten me,” Snape sneered impatiently.
Taking a deep breath, Ron explained about the nightmares the night before. With Snape asking specific questions, Ron ended up telling him all of it that he could remember. That included the details of both nightmares, their discussion with Draco, what Harry had told the little boy, and what Harry had told Ron about Voldemort cutting into his nightmares.
Ron described how both had been screaming, but while Draco had woken quickly, it had taken them several minutes to wake Harry. When asked, Ron admitted that he had no idea how long it had taken Harry to fall asleep after each incident, but that Harry had been able to ease Draco’s fears and the boy had fallen asleep again fairly quickly each time. Eventually, Snape seemed to be satisfied that he knew everything.
“Attempt to wake Potter without waking Draco,” Snape told Ron, dropping the silencing bubble. Ron raised his eyebrows but moved to do as he was told.
“Harry,” Ron called softly near Harry’s ear. “Wake up, Harry.” Ron tapped his friend on his cheek, trying to get his attention and wake him up.
Harry blinked blearily and slowly lifted his head. He looked at Ron, and then noticed Snape. Glancing around the corridor he realized that class must have already started and his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, sir,” Harry said quietly.
“Mr. Weasley, you may return to class,” Snape said dismissively. Ron shot Harry a sympathetic glance and went back into the classroom.
“Mr. Potter, this afternoon we will be discussing when to begin your Occlumency lessons again,” Snape said decisively, in a tone that brooked no argument.
“Thank you, sir,” Harry said, surprising Snape. Harry hung his head. “I wanted to talk to you about that as well. I just can’t afford not to learn it. I’ve already failed once and I have even more reason to learn it now,” Harry said quietly, stroking Draco’s hair in a tender gesture.
Harry felt at a distinct disadvantage sitting on the floor with Snape towering over him, but he looked up anyways. “I apologize for going into your pensieve before. I will not invade your privacy again. It was horribly wrong of me and I have no real excuse. I can only apologize and say that I haven’t said anything to anyone.”
Harry paused and Snape remained silent, staring down at him contemplatively, eyes narrowed. “I trust you, sir, and whether you believe me or not, I respect you. Unfortunately, it took a lot of soul searching and some growing up the last few months for me to figure that out and I paid a huge price for not trusting and believing in you last year.” Harry’s arms visibly tightened around Draco. “I won’t make the same mistake again. If you’re willing to teach me, then I’ll do my best to learn it. I can’t afford not to,” Harry repeated softly.
Snape was quiet for several moments. “Very well, Potter. For now, it is time you went to class. You may copy the notes from Ms. Granger on your own time.”
“Yes, sir,” Harry answered quietly. As Snape watched, Harry shifted Draco and shrugged out of his robes. Throwing their bags and his robes over one shoulder, he cautiously rose with Draco still asleep in his arms.
He paused inside the door and realized that Hermione and Ron were working together and Pansy was working with Millicent, but Blaise was at a back table by himself and was waving him over. Harry threw his robes out on the floor against the wall behind them and Blaise got the idea. Blaise spread them out and cast a Cushioning charm on them before Harry laid Draco down, then folded the robes around the sleeping boy.
Finally sitting down at the desk, Harry realized that the room was unusually quiet as everyone was watching him. Harry just shrugged off the attention and began following Blaise’s whispered instructions for their potion.
It was a completely different class than it had been two days before. The sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins had a new working relationship, if not new friendships. They were getting along for the sake of their two leaders, Harry and Draco.
Admittedly, it wouldn’t have been the same if Harry had been the one de-aged, but with Harry so adamantly speaking on Draco’s behalf and his gentle care of the little Slytherin, he bridged the gap between the two sixth year houses.
So now, in a classroom which was normally filled with taunts, insults, and sabotaged cauldrons, the students were quiet in deference to the sleeping child. Students were working diligently so that hopefully no accidents would occur.
With eyebrows raised in surprise, Snape walked the classroom and realized that the potions were coming out correctly. Snape had thought that the unusual start to class would be a huge disruption. Rather the opposite appeared to be the case. Harry himself was diligently working with Blaise rather than simply allowing Blaise to do all of the work.
While they worked, Harry quietly told Blaise basically what had happened the night before. He didn’t tell Blaise about having Voldemort show up in his mind and he didn’t explain how he’d never gone back to sleep after his own nightmares, but he did tell him that he’d had trouble getting back to sleep after Draco’s nightmare. Blaise looked worried, but just commented that their night shouldn’t be that surprising considering all the revelations the day before.
With forty-five minutes left in class, Draco finally woke up. Harry handed over the stirring to Blaise and gathered up the little boy, sitting back down on the stool with Draco on his lap.
“Feel better after your nap?” Harry asked smiling gently.
Draco nodded and gave Harry a sweet smile. Blaise handed the stirring spoon back over to Harry and Draco watched in fascination as Harry stirred the aqua colored potion. Blaise rummaged in his bag, popped back up holding an apple and offered it to Draco with a grin.
“Thank you,” Draco said with a shy smile, taking the apple from Blaise.
“I’m sure you’re hungry since you fell asleep during lunch,” Harry said. “Eat your apple for now and I’ll get you more to eat after class.”
Harry moved an extra stool over to the end of the table and let Draco sit there. Draco happily crunched on his apple and watched quietly while Harry and Blaise finished their potion.
Shortly before he dismissed class, Snape came by their table and informed Harry that he was to wait after class and they would walk to Dumbledore’s office together. With Harry’s protest that he needed to get Draco some food first, Snape simply said that he was sure Dumbledore would take care of that.
Chapter 10: Shifting Roles
A short time later, Draco and Harry were hungrily munching on sandwiches and crisps in Dumbledore’s office. While they ate, Snape drew Dumbledore aside and, from the snippets of conversation that Harry could hear, Snape was informing Dumbledore of what had happened the night before. Harry realized that must have been why Ron was in the hallway during Potions earlier.
As Dumbledore and Snape took their seats again, Dumbledore cleared his throat, getting Harry’s attention. “It would appear that Occlumency lessons are still required,” Dumbledore said gravely.
Harry set the remains of his sandwich back on his plate. “Yes, sir. We all know that I made a huge mistake not taking Professor Snape’s lessons seriously enough last year. It’s not a mistake I intend to make twice. With Professor Snape’s permission,” Harry said with a nod to Snape, “I will be taking lessons again and I will be giving it my all to learn it this time.”
Dumbledore looked at Harry in concern. “Harry, you do realize that what happened to Sirius was not your fault?” Dumbledore said, voicing it as a question.
Harry glared back at Dumbledore, his anger ignited, even though when he spoke his tone was even. “What I know is that if you want to get technical, it was Bellatrix’s fault. She cast the curse that sent him through the veil, and she will pay for that,” Harry said darkly.
Harry’s expression grew hard as he continued to glare at the Headmaster. “Ultimately, however, the events of that night rest on my head. While many factors contributed to the events, including many different people being involved, I’m the reason that everything happened. It all comes down to me and Voldemort. I know it, you know it and he knows it.”
Harry took a deep breath, trying to keep his equilibrium. “Everyone told me how important it was for me to learn Occlumency. I allowed my resentments and personal grudges to interfere with something that I knew I needed to learn, even if I didn’t understand fully why I needed to learn it. I acted the part of a resentful teenager, and so perhaps you were right to treat me like a child. I know your wish to give me a childhood,” Harry snorted at that idea, but continued on. “But that time is over. I don’t like it, but at this point I accept the responsibility that’s mine to bear.”
Harry’s gaze didn’t waver as he looked to the two men staring at him intently, even as a little boy climbed into his lap. Harry just hugged the little boy and continued. “It is my responsibility but I also recognize that I need your help. I need to learn Occlumency, if for no other reason than I’m tired of being tortured on a regular basis. Voldemort has been quite enjoying taunting me over the last few months. I know for a fact that his activities have been relatively quiet, but he’s had a wonderful time showing me past events.” Harry closed his eyes and rested his head atop Draco’s.
“How can you tell that his activities have been quiet?” Dumbledore asked gravely.
“Ironically, I can tell now when he’s planting information in my head and when I’m the one slipping past into his mind. Don’t ask me how, because I’m really not sure. It’s just happened so often that I can feel the difference. I’m also fairly certain that he doesn’t often recognize when I’m there. I’ve witnessed several Death Eater meetings and I know that he’s deliberately staying low for the time being, now that the wizarding community knows he’s back. He’s hoping to lull everyone into thinking that it’s not really true while he works on plans that will announce his return with a bang. Snape’s already heard any of the plans I’ve heard, so I’m sure you’re already working to counter them,” Harry said wearily.
“Exactly how much have you witnessed?” Snape asked harshly.
Harry slowly lifted his head to gaze at Snape. “I’ve witnessed enough,” Harry said bluntly, causing Snape to wince slightly. “Honestly, as much as I’d like to learn Occlumency so I could block the bastard out of my head, I’m not sure it’s entirely wise at this point.”
