Interlude
It all started... at some point. The Death Eaters community had always a lot of influence and especially had a lot of influencial people on their side. Even though there were no sides, yet. The Ministry that stated itself as neutral somehow felt the need to put up with D.E. initiatives that were restricting already minimal rights of non human magical beings and non magical humans. There were many times when some were saying that the Slitherin Orb of Houses was pulling the strings and that it was at least unfair. The D.E. organized the system of "clubs" in which were admitted only the select people, called "Houses". Dedicated departments were implemented into the educational structure, with some help from the Parliament. Well, after a while it was so ubiquitous that people just called it tradition, and left it at that. At this age precisely, the D.E. society felt like their armor tarnished, and people just took for granted something that used to be their brand. They lost grip, lost grandeur and they needed to regain it and to push back, otherwise the other currents will override them, destroy their culture, the culture. So, playing with this sentiment, a certain wisard rose and fell. Well, disappeared. But he rose first! Yes. When a conciderable number of truly horrifying laws had been passed, some people thought it was time to get rid of the Minister with her crew. And the institution responded with the change of its members. It worked in a sense that to pass a D.E. law now, one needed to prove that it wasn't one and that it was on the contrary helping to thwart Voldemort. The Ministry, claiming the need to protect and save (or something) their citizens, could compromise with him. And it worked ...for a while ...untill the Final Ultimatum. By this time the D.E.s were so powerfull (the law had no restriction on magical research whatsoever) that they felt pretty comfortable dictating their terms. It didn't go well. The Merpeople rebelled. Then, Voldemort vanished at the middle of a conflict (there were now magical contests happening all over the place, and if no one was killed, usually, most participants were forced to switch sides and change their lives to conform to the results). It was about almost five years ago.
- You can tell me what you're doing, you know.
- I'm not doing anything. Sir.
- Really? It is currently.. (the clock spell briefly appeared on the palm of their hand).. One o'clock in the morning. We're standing in the middle of the Castle grounds. I might be wrong, but it looks like something's going on.
- I don't see that. Sir.
- Don't call me "Sir". - Snape said calmly and quickly. - Answer: what are you doing here?
- I nedeed some fresh air.
- The fresh air is available on the galleries, leaving the Castle is forbidden during certain hours, and for a good reason.
Harry didn't reply. Snape was the last person he wanted to confront. He needed to solve this mystery and he would do it alone, people had already suffered from his slowness: Ron ended up in the hospital wing.
- Potter.- Snape's cold voice summoned Harry back from his thoughts. - I'm waiting.
- For what?
- Very well. I'm sending you straight to the Headmaster. But I am afraid, you won't be able to take it up with them untill morning... - there was malice in Snape's voice.
- You don't have the right to send me anywhere, Sir, not at night. I'm going back to sleep.
- Detention, Saturday night, six o'clock. My office.
_____
- ...
Harry shrugged:
- Who is he, anyways?
- Dunno... A bit of a fishy block. It's this year appointment, none of my siblings were taught by them.
- They are from the Council, Ron. But it is a bit odd: they are not a Qualified Master or anything. Came out of nowhere.
- Maybe, a scientist converted to teaching? - asked Ron tentatively.
- Yeah, maybe. - Hermione looked around - Harry, aren't you going upstairs too?
- I... Heard something.
The two others looked at him in perplexity.
- It's a magical Castle, Harry, there's always something.
- No, Hermione, I heard my name.
- You sure? - Ron sounded a bit nervous.
- Positive. There it is again! Follow me!
Ron ran down the stairs after Harry, but Hermione remained behind.
- I'm not going to be late this time!
When Harry and Ron turned into a deserted unlit wing, Harry heard it again. Calling him in strange whispers:
- Harry Potter! You don't know who you are! Come! Come to your fate, to your glory! Take it! Take it!
- Do you hear it?
- No! - Ron was shiftily looking around.
- Come! Or else......
Harry made another couple of steps before he realized that everything went silent, the strange voice and... something else. He didn't hear Ron's footsteps!
Harry span around. The corridor was empty. He rushed back, panic building up, he turned a corner, and another one, and another one. Suddenly he stopped before a wall satirically illuminated from below, a message drawn on it ran as follows:
The Chamber is open again.
Red paint or whatever it was let runny marks on the stone, Harry's gaze followed it. Below in the shadow lay_
- Ron! - Harry yelled. He flung himself on his knees and shook Ron by the shoulder, a sensation of dizziness spreading as if from his own fingers. Harry heard echoing footsteps approach at a run.
- Luminae!- the light spread across the place.
- Hermione!
A minute after, a croud formed around the scene.
- I asked professor Altimus to come with me.
- Let me through, please! - Dumbledore squeezed through the crowd, followed closely by the medical Masters, professor Altimus and Snape.
Harry looked wagely over the heads of the gathered people, his anxious gaze fell on Snape who for some reason looked unsettled and, was it possible, a little scared. Their eyes peered into Harry's, making him feel somehow even worse, but then Snape broke the eye contact, and stared at the Headmaster instead.
When everyone was gone only Dumbledore remained perusing the wall, and Snape standing in the distance, plainly neither dismissed nor let in on the matter.
After what felt like a solid ten minutes, the Headmaster sighed and turned to them:
- Severus... I believe I asked you to check this wing...
- I did check it, Dumbledore. It was clean, absolutely clean, no traces of Dark Magic.
- I see.
- I couldn't make a mistake, you told me to give the matter my utmost attention.
- I do not think you made a mistake, Severus. - somehow Dumbledore didn't sound patronizing - This is a far more complicated case that we're used to be dealing with. Deep waters, indeed.
- What makes you say that?
- I didn't see anything either. Even now. But the student...
- Potter felt it?
- Yes.
- Maybe it's just his prank? No, please, listen to me. I caught Potter, several times, out of bounds. Neither of us sees anything there, the scripture is ordinary beyond _
- No, Severus. Did you see the other student? It's a very particular Dark Magic, the one that doesn't leave traces.
- Magic that doesn't leave traces is a non-magic, an action of writing tuff on the walls.
- We don't know everything about this realm of Arts. Let's explore this lead rather than point a finger of blame on a second year student.
- Let's just rule out the impossible, and concentrate on the improbable that remains. Because if we assume that_
- Yes. I think it is awfully like Voldemort's style. I'm not saying he's back, but he might be on his way.
Snape unbuttoned their long tight sleeve and showed them their left forearm:
- I would know, wouldn't I?
- I know my line of thought is not encouraging, even frightening... - said Dumbledore gently.
Snape let out a hiss of protest.
- But there's no use to try hiding from our demons.
Dumbledore started walking, gesturing to Snape to follow:
- There's a legend... And I know well enough that this is a fairly tale, but about it later. A legend about the Heir of Slitherin. - Dumbledore now had Snape's undivided attention. - A person granted with extraordinary amounts of Dark Power and a prowess sufficient to open the Chamber. Obviously, the extent of magical abilities is not hereditary. So, it's nothing but a legend then. But there's enough evidence that the Death Eater circle had been passing chunks of magic onto people in order to *create* the Heir of Slitherin. The last one to date being_
- The Dark Lord.
- Exactly.
- As the latter had gone missing, we can safely suppose that they've passed the magic on.
- To whom?
- That is what we need to unravel.
- We? You don't intend to warn the public?
- If the Death Eaters realize that their plans had been discovered, they will "Claim the Heir" under their custody, you can only imagine what the consequences of that might be.
- I understand.
- Ah, yes, and I also would like you not to mention anything from what we've just discussed. - Dumbledore added lightly as an afterthought.
- Yes, of course. Do you want me to swear to it? - Snape's wand was at the ready to make a vow.
- No-no. - said Dumbledore simply and sped up, leaving the other behind.
____
The moonlight flooded through the wide-open windows of the Potions classroom. Snape left their desk, made a few steps and bolted the shutters, then they picked up their cloak and proceeded to the door between rows of wooden desks painted in black. They put an enchantment on the entrance and proceeded down a dark unlit corridor.
Several hours into the night, Snape passed their corridor again and to their surprise found the door imperfectly closed.
Harry held the whispering book from the restricted section tightly underneath his unvisibility cloak. He felt exhilarated: finally, the clue to the strange voice in his head was right in his hands. All he wanted now was to get to his room and discover what Slitherins were plotting, and what exactly happened to Ron. Suddenly his foot missed a step, he snatched at the rail on the wall getting as far as possible from the outer part of the stairs that let into an abyss and had no banister. He checked on the book: it was safely pressed against his side, but the paper! The paper with the coordinates of the book in the library was missing. "Hermione will find out I took it from her in an instant! Maybe I'll persuade her not to try to return it to whatever Slitherin who lost it? Fat chance!" Harry looked into the spiraling depth of the shaft of the stairs, the paper might've fallen anywhere, he scanned the steps on the landing below, it wasn't illuminated, he could barely make out the outline of the stairs,"At least nobody will decifer the code, not everyone is as invested in it as Hermione, unless it will fall in the hands of a teacher..." Suddenly Harry heard something... A rustle. And a gentle precise footfall of someone who doesn't want to be heard but dropped the composure for an instant." Someone might be climbing up." Harry froze. There was no escape: he was at the middle of a long stretch of stairs and he wasn't at all as expert in muffling his steps. Plastered to the wall, he could hear nothing but his own heart beating. The time seemed to stretch and just as Harry started to doubt that anyone had actually been here, he felt some movement like a draft but... Suddenly the light below flashed on and Harry saw with a stab of horror the figure of Snape materialize out of thin air, or more exactly out of the darkest and solidest shadow he'd ever seen, no more than five steps away from him.
- Pyjama party, is it? - barked Moody from below.
Harry saw Snape turn to face the other, Harry's piece of paper in their hand. There was a pause as if Snape wandered if the other was speaking to them.
- I have as much right to prowl this school as you do.
- I'm thinkin'... what you, SNAPE, could be doing around somebody's office this late at night. Huh?
Harry didn't understand at first what was it about, but then remembered that there, somewhere in the wall, was the hidden entry into caretaker's rooms, maybe right behind him!
- It's none of your business. Besides, I remember finding you once sniffing around my office.
- Force's privilege, Snape, Dumbledore told me to keep an eye_
- Dumbledore happens to trust me. - Snape's already cold voice dropped a few degrees and sounded positively poisonous now.
- Of course they trust you, they are a trusting person, bless their brains, but I say: "toadstool's don't shed their spots", do they? Do you know what I meen?
Harry noticed Sape make an almost imperceptible clenching movement with their left hand, then, pulling themself together, slip a piece of paper in their right pocket and take their wand out of the right sleeve. They turned and tapped on the wall. Harry could now see their profile. Their face remained unmoved, but, it seemed to Harry, more as a result of an effort rather than of the natural calm.
He heard Moody climb up the stairs. At this moment a square hole in the wall appeared and a figure of a caretaker in his long night-shirt emerged out of it. His face expressed the last degree of annoyance, as it always did, and his voice echoed it tenfold:
- What is it? I was in bed.
- Plainly! - smirked Moody measuring the young man from head to foot.
- I intended to talk to Mr. Finn without your interference. - Snape remarked curtly.
- In your dreams. - replied the other with a broad smile.
- Will anyone tell me what's the matter, because otherwise I'll go back to sleep! - Finn looked from one professor to the other.
- Yes, of course. - said Snape ironically, looking at Moody still, and slowly turning to glare at the caretaker only at the beginning of the next phrase. - I'd like you to come and help me to look for the intruder, Finn.
- It's night!
- It's in your contract. If you please. - Snape stepped aside to allow the other to pass.
Harry's heart jumped as the Potions Tutor almost bumped into his invisible foot.
- One minute. - Finn shot grumpily and, wrapping himself in a cloak, stepped outside.
Harry could hear still the sound of Finn's slippers and the thumping of Moody's boots while the three of them descended the stairs. When it died away, he took a deep breath and resumed his ascend. And then an overwhelming idea flashed in his mind: what if he could get the paper back from Snape?! But how? If he gets a chance he might lay hands on it while Snape is at large. How many times people took something out of their pocket and dropped a paper or a coin, that should be no different. Plus professor probably has already forgotten all about it. There's no way, of course, he will pickpocket (mostly because that would most certainly cost him his life). Harry tightend his grip on the cloak and, trying to make as little noise as possible, creeped down the stairs.
Luckily he heard voices in the corridor leading to the Potions classroom and the trio just came to a halt to examine the door.
- A poor imitation of my own spell, as you can see.
- Yees... - said Finn with an air of an expert, scratching the side of his nose, his head a little tilted on one side.
- For goodness sake! You left in haste, didn't properly close the door, happens to everyone! - said Moody with an impatient and sympathetic laugh.
Snape snapped their fingers and entered without a word.
Everybody including Harry followed.
- Take the imprint of the spell and fix this damn thing. - ordered Snape in a "can't be bothered" tone while coming all the way up to their desk.
Everybody was goggling at the door that, once the wrong spell was lifted, hang crookedly on one hinge. Finn with an open mouth, scratching his head and his hip at the same time, Moody - with an air of an unpleasantly surprised person.
But Harry, though impressed by the state of the door as well, couldn't keep his eyes off Snape's desk, where the Potions Master left the very piece of paper he was after. Just there, on the left side under a paperweight. Harry didn't expect they would remember...care enough to, first thing, secure it on the top spot of their desk. Maybe they needed a blank flipside, who knows...
When the three others were gathered around the entrance. Harry quickly stole the paper that indeed was with its blank side up, turned it... Nothing. It was just a piece of paper, blank!
Impossible. Maybe Snape picked up another one, not his note? No, there's the folded corner. Maybe they hid the content so that no one could read it? It's absurd! It's just a library code. Anyway he had to leave it now, or its absence would draw attention. He restored everything as it was before and waited for the others to sneak out with them.
Once safely in his room, Harry hid the cloak and settled with the book behind his table. It was an old copy with it's cover titleless and worn out. Harry listened: nothing. He took a deep breath and opened the volume. Letters on the pages were moving, forming and reforming words, never standing still enough for him to actually read one of them. But it also made a weird hissing noise... That somehow started to make sense.
Snape stood flanking the column beside the main entrance into Headmaster's study, the whole weight of the lack of sleep crushing upon them, which was a distinctive side-effect of the Waking Solution that prevented from going to sleep for a couple of hours and kept the drinker in shape only to reveal the reality of exhaustion once the effect had worn off.
They righted themself at the sound of their name, pronounced with the care of a person unwilling to interrupt someone's dream. Dumbledore showed them inside.
- Headmaster, I've found this on the auxiliary staircase. I was sure something had been written on it but as soon as I got hold of it the text disappeared. You understand it is unusual, the concealing spell makes content appear only in the hands of the reader, this thing worked in a completely different way.
Dumbledore was twisting the piece of paper in their hands, listening carefully.
- Yes, and again it appears perfectly clean... Thank you, Severus, I'll keep that, if you don't mind.
______
Snape and Dumbledore proceed down the corridor at a conversational speed, the rambling around kept their words away from other's ears.
-... I strongly suspect that Potter is their Heir. He is always around when something fishy happens.
- Is it your only evidence?
- No. His biography is surprisingly alike the Dark Lord's. Orphans... Non-magical parent... I think he has the share. He was writing on the walls, cursing people around, and without leaving traces, because the magic was running through him and not he was performing it, all marks will be in this kid somehow, I don't know how... And all that because of the secret language that no one can hear but the Heir who has been granted the ability to speak it.
- I confess it did cross my mind, but given that he has no connection to the Slitherin House... That appears to be the main point. The Heir was never chosen out of any house but Slitherin.
- Maybe this whole house-sorting is...
- I don't think highly about it myself, but it appeared that the Death Eaters did...
They turned the corner and passed down an emptier corridor.
- As much as I'd like to call it a day, I have to admit: It doesn't quite fit, Severus. And we can't afford to get sidetracked. The key is to find who made the transaction possible, who helped the Death Eaters to get to the prospective heir. Otherwise we're going to lose them. There's a quest that every heir must go through. We don't know how soon it'll be over, but we'd better never let it get there. Seize them now is impossible.
- I can question Harry.
- No. If it's him they'll know we're on the right track, and will Claim him. But the heir is not supposed to speak up, so the D.E.s will have an advantage.
They passed a couple of girls kissing by the window.
- We can't afford making a mistake: if it isn't him... - concluded Dumbledore.
- If it is, they will Claim the Heir, anyway, you know that.
- Okay. If everything goes astray, may I count on you to help to deal with the consequences?
- Dealing with the consequences is my full-time occupation anyway. - they said resentfully. Being stung by the "Oh, yes. And it's not exactly my fault, is it?" look, they added - _ Yes, I am at your service.
- Thank you, Severus. Would you be kind enough to find Harry now and invite him to my office.
- Why me? He'll refuse to do anything I ask him to.
- Because you already threatened him to do it before, if I'm not mistaken. You told me yourself that you caught him at some wrongdoing, use it as a pretext.
- Yes, Headmaster.
Dumbledore closed the door behind them.
- Taki, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting.
- It's alright. I have found the records of the last month ministry assignments.
- Thank you. Oh, will you stay for a quarter of an hour?
- What is it?
- I'll try to interrogate the prospective Heir.
- Wow, of course!
- But I'll have to ask you to hide in the Circular room.
- Well, there's always a price to pay. - she smiled.
They heard a knock at the door.
- Please... - Dumbledore said quietly ushering Taki in the adjacent room. Then, opened the main door.
Harry entered the Headmaster's office for the first time in his life. Honestly, he was surprised Snape didn't managed to send him here before. How his last nighttime stroll was different from the suspicion of cursing another student, and why he was cleared off last time and ended up being summoned now was a mystery to him. He didn't ecpect to find the contrast between the ornate red wood furniture of the study and the simple white and light blue costume of the Headmaster as obvious. Most of the pompous shelves were empty, only those around the desk had some magical objects on them, a few well-kept books and a set of curious silver instruments. Probably, the renovations weren't allowed. Harry was daunted in the face of upcoming interaction. He sat gingerly in the chair facing the desk. The Headmaster sat across him and began speaking simply and calmly, taking time to get a large folder out of the way and rearrange some files and papers, only once briefly looking up at him, which alleviated some of the pressure he felt.
- I hope you had a nice day, Mr Potter. Can I call you by your first name?
- Yes, of course. It's Harry.
- Yes, thank you. To clear the air: you are not here for disciplinary conviction, Harry.
- I'm not? - Harry sounded thunderstruck.
- No, no. - Dumbledore smiled.
They finally quit rummaging in the heaps of files and produced a piece of blank paper before Harry's eyes. Harry looked from it at Dumbledore.
- I believe it's yours. - they said laying it on the table so that Harry could take it.
- What is it, Professor?
- It is a library code, from a restricted section that fell into your hands a couple of weeks ago.
- But how do you know???
- I need this book.
- What book?
- The one that is missing at the library. It is supposed to be "always available", which means that no one has the right to retain it. Please, Harry, if you'd like to give it to me.
- But you don't have the right to retain it either, Headmaster?
- Correct, but I can restore it to the right shelf, I'm not sure how about you...
- I...
- And... - Dumbledore conjured ink and paper, taking a silver quill out of one of the desk drawers. - You'll need to sign this book over to the school. It is due to the magic of the book: a person who takes it out of the library becomes its owner.
Harry felt acutely aware of the fact that his quest had left such a gross an obvious trace.
- I didn't mean to steal it, Professor!
Dumbledore looked at him with composure that suggested they were expecting to hear a more elaborate explanation.
- I thought I'll read it and... find something about Ron. About how he was cursed.
- What made you think this book would help you?
- Nothing.
Harry immediately realized that his answer was too quick and didn't make any sense.
- I just wanted... It appeard linked...
- Linked, how so? - Dumbledore sounded interested.
Harry wasn't sure whether to tell them or not. They inspired confidence, but he wasn't sure it really mattered to them. He remembered only too clearly how they personally examined the scene and then the whole investigation didn't budge an inch. Irritation took over, but Harry managed to sound calm.
- It's not important. I turned out to be wrong.
- I am greatly concerned about what happened. Student's safety matters to me, Harry.
Harry looked up at them, struck by the words that seemed to answer his own thoughts. His head seemed to float as a result of such a brusque movement when his eyes met Dumbledore's.
- What do you know? - they asked.
Strangely Harry's mind rushed to the Dueling Club when he unintentionally conjured a snake. Dumbledore blinked and looked away.
- I heard whispers when Ron was attacked and then when I opened this book. That's all. I couldn't understand anything.
- Why did you keep the book then?
- I... I don't know... I forgot to return it. - Harry admitted.
- Alright. Pick up a quill, we'll get it over with.
- Should I bring the book here, or..?
- Just sign it over and I'll be able to summon it. It'll be safer.
- Safer?
- I meant quicker. Ready?
- Ye... Yes. - Harry grasped the quill more firmly as it started to twitch in his hand.
- "I, Harry L. Potter, transfer the magical object DLcor197805 to the Library of the Castle and do not hold any rights on said object that ensue from ownership from this moment on."
Harry held out the quill and paper. But Dumbledore motioned him to leave it on the desk. In a fraction of a second they swooshed their wand and a book appeared in midair. Dumbledore thrust it in their desk drawer and stood up to see Harry out.
- No, it clearly has something in it! The contents has been read many times by other students and teachers and nothing had ever come up.
Taki, Dori, Snape and Dumbledore stood over the whispering book, trying different spells on it.
- Who read it? It's the Dark Langue textbook!- said Dori.
- We need Potter. Only he can hear what it says. - said Snape.
- He's not going to be able to tell us. - said Dumbledore, turning a page.
- Could you just move a bit, I need a clear view on the quill.
Snape pointed their wand at it and cried out almost immediately, everyone turned to them.
- *Merde*!
- What is it?
- The Mark. I didn't feel it since the Dark Lord has disappeared. I've felt it again just now.
- Yeah, let's bring Voldy back to life! He'll read the book for us.
- I don't find it funny, Soyong. - Snape replied.
- Fine, what do you propose?
- Wait, wait, please. I remember: Harry conjured a snake during one duel, summoned it somehow. Nobody heard anything, but the snake reacted. We need a snake, or a reptile!
Everybody stood amazed.
- Is it just me, or you positively stopped making sense? - said Taki.
Dumbledore looked around the room.
- Yes, I'm sorry, everyone. Let's give it a rest tonight. Goodnight!
Others moved to the way out.
When Snape was coming down the stairs towards the dungeons, they heard footsteps behind. A tip of a wand ignited in midair, it was the Headmaster.
- Headmaster ?
- It might work. Please.
- Don't you think you ask too much? That you take too much for granted?
- Yes, it did cross my mind once or twice. - this time even though their voice remained untroubled, something about their gaze was murderous.
- No one can know. - said Snape resentfully, looking away slightly taken aback.
- And no one will. - through the lightness of their tone transpired so much assurance that the other grabbed the book, speechless, and hurried towards the corridor leading in the opposite direction.
Dumbledore sat on the topmost branch of a pine, they were miles away from the Castle. Clouds hang deep below and were lemon yellow in the twilight. Suddenly, a shadow in flight was cast over those. Dumbledore quickly took off and flew through the clouds. They landed beside a pond realizing only too late that another being was there: a magnificent black dragon, sleak, long, with bat-like wings and sizable sharp spikes all along their spine, on the tip of the tail and around the head. Instinctively the Phoenix jumped into the pond and transformed into a long scaly animal with wing-like fins and many flippers, around their head tentacles like snakes writhed and coiled. The Dragon looked in amazement at the cloud of vapor raising from the passage of the fiery bird through the water. They approached the pond and saw the other float peacefully in it. But the ray of sunlight gleamed mirroring off the surface, the Dragon slid their head underneath it and then slipped in completely. They made a long trail in sand once they reached the bottom, looking up, their spikes aloft. The Fish turned around and rushed a couple of meters over their head at a tremendous speed. And then doubled and slowly approached the Dragon up front letting their semi-transparent "wings" slow them down like sails. Seeing the Fish stop in front of them, dragon glided towards them. They had their eyes near the front of their flat snake-like head and the Dragon could stare straight into them which, of course, couldn't have been done to most of the fish. Their eyes were not at all fish's eyes, they appeared transparent with a lilac hue that reflected the water and, at certain angles, Dragon's own eyes that looked like dark orange stones with black, golden, and red shades in them cut vertically by a curvy slit. The Fish's mane of snakes calmed down and laid back, ondulating in the water, unmistakably emanating power, the Dragon slowly let their spikes lay flat and tight to their body. Both of them sped straight up twisting once or twice around each other before breaking out of the water and flying in different directions — one as the Dragon and the other as the Phoenix.
Dumbledore rubbed their eyelids and came back from their memory.
- Why?
- We need to access the Heir part of your mind. It can be done through Legilimency. But before we need to make sure the Death Eaters cannot notice that we're doing it, you need to learn how to close your mind to unwarranted intrusions.
- And who's going to be teaching me?
- I am.
Harry shifted inconfortably in his seat.
- Can anyone else do it?
- There's not much Dark Magic specialists on board. - Snape replied sarcastically.
- Right.
- If you'd rather become the next Dark Lord... I am afraid we will meet again, but on different sides this time.
Obviously, Harry thought, Snape was threatening to turn their abilities against him, if he ever had a fancy to become a crazy magical overlord. This perspective sent chill down his bones. Never to mention the Headmaster, and the Ministry, and the Council, eugh, how Voldemort even pulled it off?
It's not like he wanted to, that was out of the question, but the idea of private lessons with Snape... They always gave him the vibe of someone who was going to hex you on the spot if you did something wrong. Plus they didn't strike Harry as trustworthy, apparently everyone around him was wandering how they've even gain Dumbledore's esteem at the first place. It was the gloomiest person Harry had ever seen, and the head of Slitherin House... If anything, they were the closest thing to a Death Eater Harry could imagine...
- Sorry... - he said hesitantly - Who are you?
- I am a member of the Council and the Head of Slitherin House, in case it escaped your notice.
- Yes, I've noticed. Sir. But you are not a teacher, are you?
- It's not important. I have an order from Professor Dumbledore. I hope you know who they are.
- You need to focus on your vision. The Death Eaters are accessing your brain at night, when you are sleeping and processing all the information that came through your mind, that's when they add and delete certain things without you noticing anything, apart from incoherent dreams. Dreams that you "see" are easier to track. Sometimes people dream only in sounds or something else, but we'll start with that. If you notice some strange visual input it might be a sign that someone is breaking into your memories. Remember: pay attention to what you see. Then, resist. Do not think of anything that is not what you see right here and there, don't try to recall, block association. Concentrate on whatever is going on at the present moment. Now. Look at me only when you're ready.
This explanation was enough to pull the rug up Harry's feet. He stood in the dungeon study facing Snape with the desk between them. His mind was racing from one thing to another, anticipation tearing his attention to pieces. He'll never be ready. How was it even possible? How many minutes had he been standing there staring down and nervously clenching his fists? "When I am ready! We haven't got all day. I can't take too much time that would be embarrassing." Harry looked up.
Literally nothing has happened. Snape merely glanced at him and turned away.
- You weren't prepared. - they stated coldly. - Look around the room, latch onto something.
Harry felt disconcerted. He tried again. He started repeating the words "black frame" over and over and looked up again. But he lost control almost immediately thinking how stupid the situation was.
- I see.
Harry jumped.
- Silence distracts you. - they said - We'll make it easier. When you talk to me don't try to remember anything that matters, anything you might not want me to know, you can say whatever nonsense you might come up with, but don't lie, lies are creative, they require the highest level of association. Stick to the stimuli and nothing else.
Harry swallowed and nodded.
- How did you get here?
- As... As usual.
- No. Do not refer to the past.
- Okay... I took the main staircase from the Refectory to get to the floor below.
Snape nodded.
- Then, I went down the corridor to the auxiliary shaft to get to the dungeons.
- Was your journey enjoyable?
- N-no...
Snape nodded again:
- Why?
- The steps on the auxiliary staircase were very slippery. And as there's no railings...- at this point Harry felt the image of the glistening stairs that he recalled blurr, it looked more like the other stairs that he took a week ago... No. He must think of something else! "This... This window frame is slightly chipped".
- Well, this wasn't as bad as the first time. You've got the gist. I will ask you to practice the *storytelling*. Maybe try out something else that would eventually take your mind off things.
- Please, have a seat.
Harry made a few more steps into the room, conscious of the fact that Professor Sprout didn't follow him in. There were some unfamiliar faces. Noticing his hesitation, the Headmaster added:
- Pleasure to introduce: Mistress of Spiers Taki, Mistress of Paramagical Interactions Wonow.
Harry nodded at the two new people standing beside Snape on Headmaster's left.
- How do you do. - Harry finally sat in the chair.
Dumbledore settled themself behind their desk and the other three retired deep into the study out of Harry's sight.
- It's okay to feel scared, Harry. We spoke about everything yesterday, do you still wish to proceed?
- Yes, of course! - Harry said. - What exactly are you gonna do?
- Read the Heir part of your mind.
- And what I should do for that?
- Close your mind to any external penetration. And talk to me.
- But if I close my mind, how would you be able to read anything?
- Don't worry about that.
Harry saw them look for a second somewhere behind him, but didn't think it was appropriate to turn around.
- The night you've got your hands on the book, you went into your room and... What happened then?
- Nothing. I opened it, but the lignes were moving, and I couldn't read anything, I abandoned it.
- Where?
- On my desk.
- How was your next day at school?
- It was... Chaotic.
- Did you get the opportunity to return in your room before nighttime?
- No.
- When did you see the book for the second time since abandoning it?
- It woke me up. It fell on the floor.
- You closed the book in the morning and went out. What happened this day?
- Nothing special.
- Didn't you participate in the Dueling Club?
- Ah, yes.
Dumbledore's features expressed mild shock.
- You conjured a snake?.. - they followed with a dissociated voice.
- I'm not sure it was me... It just sort of popped up there...
- How was the rest of your day?
- Fine, there wasn't anything in particular.
- Indeed. Well, thank you.
Harry looked at them bemused, somewhere behind him someone let out a sigh as if they held their breath for the whole examination and a floor board creaked with relief.
- That's all?! - he asked. - Did it work, Professor?
- Oh, yes. The quest is completed.
- It is impossible! Potter doesn't have the full extent of the Heir powers!
- He never was expected to have. I'm beginning to see it now. I think that Voldemort was trying to return through Harry, not to make him his own substitute.
- Are you saying that he's back?
- Not yet. But he will try to take over Harry's will.
_____
By the end of Harry's second year, though, the D.E. requested their heir to join the schooling in their ranks in a different institution.
- The Potter dilemma, you can solve this in an instant, right?
- How?
- By making a deal with the Dark Lord's side. They wanted the_
- Oh, I see! The Minister suggested that a fair amount of times, thank you...
- I'm not actually proposing this. Just making sure: you have the possibility to do it.
- What gave you that idea?
- You are the Headmaster! You have ruddy power!
- I am not here to rule the place, I execute the will of the Students and Qualified Mastership and do some paperwork.
- Come again?
- The decisions I "make" are in reality the decisions of the Council and Student's requests. The Ministry wants to uphold the Image of a Grand Good Headmaster, no doubt to promote the same system at the Ministry, so I am pretending, trying to make decisions of those who are withheld from participation listend to.
- So that's why they've been so damn pissed with you all along?.. Authentic voices, they could've stifled them a lot easier...
- I'm not going to pretend forever, nobody can stop me from campaigning against this system. The post itself is better be abolished or at least the authority should be lessened considerably without undermining the autonomy of the Castle. For now the fonctions of the Headmaster are basically a megalomaniac dream list.
- And you are a magalomaniac. How lucky! So, you have the technical possibility to do it.
Moody followed with a grin the figure of Dumbledore frantically pacing up and down in front of him.
- Look, we PRETEND to get him off our hands and the case is closed, we'll rescue him afterwards. Maybe Voldy's crowd will stop once they've got their heir.
- No, they won't. There's no making compromises in this situation.
- You are the Mixster Parley, if I remember correctly.
- We've talked aboundantly. Giving away the heir of Slitherin, their ultimate weapon, isn't sensible. By the way, the heir is not very keen himself.
- Forget what the boy says, Dumbledore! It's the matter of societal importance!
- Exactly. And society should care about every individual and not about the peace of mind of the three wealthy bloody percent!
- Hey, I'm not talking about the elite, you know my mind. The majority of us will be sleeping safely if only_
- It's not going to happen. What majority? Tomorrow they'll ask for you, will you go?
- Well, it's not_
The door of the Headmaster's study opened and the shadow entered it, assuming human shape almost immediately but not quickly enough: Moody noticed it and his features became cold, closed and angry. The appearance in itself wasn't disruptive, on the contrary, Snape soundlessly stood by the door, waiting for the other two to finish. What made Moody look around his shoulder was the fact that Dumbledore suddenly stopped their relentless pacing, their face a bit more relaxed than during their conversation.
- Moody, I am sorry, I have an appointment.
- I see. - growled Moody. He made no attempt at concealing his disapproval, shooting Snape a heavy menacing glance passing them at the entrance.
Once Moody's footsteps died away the Headmaster spoke:
- Severus, sit down, please. I have a favor to ask you.
Half an hour later Dumbledore was calmly contemplating the expression of disbelief on Snape's usually unmoved face.
A few minutes ago:
- I am supposed to take up the post of the Potions Master to look after Harry Potter? - Snape asked leaving miningfull intervals between words, one eyebrow flying upwards.
- And I will need you to apply for the post, because otherwise it would be plane that I appointed you.
- I will need to apply for the post?
- Apply, yes.
- You actually turned me down three years ago and every year since when I was applying for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.
- Under the present circumstances, I would very much welcome you in our ranks.
- I am in your ranks already. Isn't the appointment of a new staff member the Council's task?
- Yes, and I am sure we'll make it through. I will vouch for you.
- Interesting.
- What is?
- How deep you are in it. To appeal to my help.
- You are being unfair. I was satisfied with your services, Severus. And as Voldemort's disappearance sent you on vacation...
- You don't want me to actually teach the Third years?
- I do, I'm afraid. It's for Potter's sake.
- Great! And my sake, Dumbledore ? Mine?
- You're right. - said Dumbledore concidering the expression of full scale hatred in other's features. - Only one or two of the groups, other teachers will continue with the rest. _ For student's safety. - they added with a nodge of something that sounded like either irony or criticism, and that slided off Snape anyway.
- And this Potter child? What my duties will be in his regard?
- Keeping an eye, that's all.
- Can't you do it yourself?
- I am frequently leaving the grounds, it would be inconvenient.
- Can't some other teacher do it?
- I'm looking for some specific qualities that you happen to possess given your line of work.
- Like what? an excellent sight? - they said sarcastically.
- Precisely. - chuckled Dumbledore.
- I'm already giving private Potions lessons for the advanced level. May I hope to be able to acquire the status of the resident teacher this time?
- Of course, if it is your wish. All the permanent staff members can lodge at the Castle for the time of their fonction and four months afterwards.
There was a long pause.
- I accept.
- Thank you. - said Dumbledore quietly as if with relief. - I am setting up a meeting at the Council, after that we will be able to sign a deal. I'll keep you informed.
Snape rose from their chair and left with a nod.
______
- You'll need to follow a course board for teachers to be updated on the Castle guidelines and educational methods, of course.
- I will.
- It is going to be scheduled in a way that won't interfere with your other occupations. Maybe you should consider tuning in to the Non-Magical World lessons with me at the Council right now, it might help to save time and skip this block in the course...
- I will.
- Good. The paperwork allowing you to stay in the Castle as a resident teacher will be ready after the board is over. Completion of the course is giving me the possibility to appoint you for the post of the Potions Master, and I am bound to do so by the vigor of this magical contract. Now, I trust you are familiar with its contents, if you like sealing it with your word showing your willingness to follow its terms...
- I will.
Dumbledore, standing upright behind their desk, pressed the seal into the hot cristal wax on the paper, and signed it. They lifted their head, holding out the deal:
- There you go.
- Thank you. - Snape nodded curtly and left.