Partially Understood. Finally.
Chapter 9: Partially Understood. Finally.
Snape was frustrated that his so called bondmates didn’t leave him any notice on where they were. He was hoping that Draco at least would leave behind a note or something but looking around their rooms he found nothing at all.
He took a moment to calm himself and looked deep into his connection with the boys to see if he can feel where they might be at. But all he felt was Harry in pain and Draco feeling peaceful wherever they were. His Alpha feelings did not like what this could mean, but he knew that if Harry was hurting that Draco wouldn’t have anything to do with it so they must be separated in some way.
'If they don’t show up in the next hour I’ll have to go looking for them. At least so far the pain seems like something Potter is capable to manage on his own, but I still wish I knew where they were! Those boys are going to get a good talking to when I see them next…'
Back at Umbridge’s office, Harry has been carving into his hand for the last 45 minutes. He knew that Umbridge enjoyed his pain so he tried very hard not to show just how much it hurts. For the last 15 minutes she has been doing nothing but staring right at him, making him feel more awkward than anything.
“Well… I suppose this has been enough time. No point in making Mr. Malfoy wait for you all night. Now, instead of every night we will do this weekly so every Monday from now on you are to be at my door by 7pm. Hopefully soon you’ll learn your lesson.”
She got up and opened the door waiting for Harry to get himself ready to face the world once more. He slowly got out of his chair and nodded to her as he left the room.
“Oh. Already done? That wasn’t bad, was it? I was expecting it to last longer.”
Poor Draco had no idea what Harry has just gone through. But not wanting to make him panic Harry just gave him a small smile and led the way back to their rooms. He tried to keep his hand hidden by keeping it in his pocket but he was scared his pocket would infect the wound. He just figured he’d have to wash it well once he got to their quarters.
Once they arrived they found the professor standing at the door looking very disappointed in them. Draco and Harry looked at each other then back at the professor unsure of what they did to cause that look.
“You left our rooms without notifying me where you were going, you didn’t leave me a note or anything. Then when I felt Mr. Potter in pain I couldn’t find him. Draco, what were you two doing that caused you to feel at peace while Harry here was hurting?”
Draco first looked guilty when he realized that he forgot to let the professor know where they were going but then he looked shocked. He had no idea what the professor was talking about when he said Harry was hurting…
“Harry? What is he talking about? All we did was go to Umbridge for Harry’s detention…”
Snape sneered at Harry. He should have known he was getting into trouble already, but to get a detention so soon after being hospitalized must have been some sort of record.
“Detention already Potter? Are you trying to beat a record of some sort? Now, why were you in pain? Obviously you must have done something to yourself since you were under the supervision of a teacher.”
Harry winced and looked down. He didn’t know what to do. He’s pretty sure that he isn’t supposed to tell anyone what Umbridge is doing to them. He slowly looked up and saw that the professor seemed pretty angry with him and it made him unsure who he feared more, Umbrigde or Snape…
'Well I have to actually live with Snape, Umbridge I now get to see in class and once a week for detention so being honest with my bondmates is more important. I suppose they’ll probably find out anyways, it’s not like I can hide my hand like I can with my Dursley scars…'
“I’m sorry we forgot to leave a note for you professor, I was running late and sort of rushed Draco to get to detention on time. This detention has been going on since the first class with Umbridge. She didn’t like that I didn’t agree with her about how I’ve been lying about Voldemort being back. So she gave me detention to keep going until she decides I learned my lesson. Although she did change it to once a week now that you or Draco have to come with me.”
Harry spoke quietly, hoping that they believe him and that they don’t think he’s in detention for any real reasons.
“Do not say his name. There is a reason we call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. All that explains is why you have detention and how Umbridge is taking advantage of her position in giving you so much detention… Why didn’t you tell another teacher about her detentions? But you still didn’t explain why you were in pain.”
“I tried to tell Professor McGonagall but she wouldn’t let me tell her the whole story and just told me to keep my head down and not to antagonize Umbridge. As for the pain, well, Umbridge has us doing something odd in detention… I don’t know if I’m allowed to speak of it sir.”
Harry looked back down at this point. He knew the professor wouldn’t like or believe his answers but he had no choice but be honest with him. He knew things would be much worse if he told any lies and it was found out later on.
“That still hasn’t explained the pain I felt through our bond. Not stop avoiding the question and answer me.”
Instead of answering directly he took his hand out of his pocket and just let them see the wound on his own. He figured this way they can’t deny he’s telling the truth and hopefully they can help with the pain and scaring that he gets.
Snape and Malfoy were at first surprised when he just showed his hand. And then they both growled when they saw the blood, both grabbing his hand and trying to see what exactly is happening for him to be bleeding.
“Potter… What is this? What has been going on in that detention?”
“Harry… Why didn’t you tell me she was hurting you? I wouldn’t have let you go to detention if I knew!”
“No one ever believes me, and since it was all healed by the time I was set to go back to detention I had nothing to prove that I was telling the truth. I had to have proof or none of you would believe me, even with proof you don’t always believe me…”
Snape and Draco both looked down at his hand and thought about what he said. Snape especially was feeling a little guilty.
'He had to put himself in pain to be sure that I would believe him. I was the cause of this, it’s my fault he doesn’t trust me. I wouldn’t trust me with everything I’ve been saying about him either. What else has he been truthful about and that I ignored or just completely dismissed?'
Draco on the other hand finally came to the realization that Harry is not one to lie, he may hide the truth or change the subject, but he wasn’t a liar. Which means everything he has told him so far were fact, his so called adventures and that letter!
'There is so much we don’t know about each other, but that letter… we really need to get to the bottom of that, there is no way I’m letting him hiding the truth about his family at this time.'
“Harry, I apologize for making you feel you cannot trust me. I understand why you feel this way and I will try harder to be a better Alpha to both of you. Now, as for this, how was this accomplished? She obviously didn’t use a knife or something did she?”
Harry was shocked. Snape apologized. To him! Maybe things will be better between them all now.
“She has this quill that uses our blood when we write lines. She has been doing this to a few of us Gryffindors and a couple of Ravenclaws as well that we noticed so far. Umbridge has only targeted people who have no guardians in the wizarding world. When I was first stuck doing this Hermione came up with the idea of Murtlap Essence to use to help diminish the pain and the scarring. Now I suppose I’ll just get used to it, it’s not as bad as I’m used to anyways.”
Harry mumbled the end of his thoughts not really thinking that his bondmates would care much in what he was saying. Snape and Draco on the other hand were very angry. They couldn’t believe this was happening in Hogwarts.
“Aren’t there wards to stop dark artifacts like blood quills from being used in Hogwarts? How in the world did she get around that, and to use it against students! Severus, I really think I should contact my father. I haven’t even told him about the bond and everything else going on. He should be aware of what is happening to us, especially with everything else that may come about with Harry.”
Harry shook his head and just looked petrified. Snape on the other hand was nodding along with Draco.
“Good idea Draco, Lucius will have a better idea of what Umbridge is doing and what she is officially allowed to do in the High Inquisitor position that she placed herself in. Lucius would also be able to help us in any other legality problems that might come up.
As for your hand Mr. Potter, I have healing ointment that will work much better than Murtlap Essence. Come along.”
Snape walked towards his potions lab leaving Harry and Draco to follow him.
“Draco. Your dad was there when Vol; I mean He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, tortured me after the tournament last year. Why would he help me now? Won’t he just take this chance to bring me to the Dark Lord to gain respect or whatever from Him?”
Draco looked over at Harry and saw just how petrified he was about meeting his father. He gave Harry a gentle smile to try to calm him down a little.
“Harry. Family means everything to us Malfoys and now that we are bound together that makes us a type of family. He may discuss things with our Lord and keep him updated but he wouldn’t do anything that would hurt you. Not only because you’re now family but also because hurting you would hurt me and Severus. You have nothing to fear at this time. Now let’s go see Severus before he gets angry we didn’t follow him.”
They both walked quickly to the laboratory and saw that Severus was waiting for them with a jar of some sort of cream in his hands.
“This is a healing paste of my own making. It will sting a little when you put it on but just for a few seconds, then it should numb your hand and hopefully heal it nicely after a few days of using it. Now, as for Lucius, he is a close friend of mine and he knows that I would stop him from kidnapping you for the Dark Lord. As for his status as a Death Eater, keep that to yourself as he is doing important work with this position. Draco, go ahead and start that letter for your father, I’ll make sure it gets sent tomorrow morning with my owl.
As for you Mr. Potter, put this cream on your hand and get some rest. You will have a busy day tomorrow following Draco around with your new schedule.”
Snape slowly sent them out of the lab and into their room, giving Harry the paste for his hand and nodding to Draco he left them to settle for bed and went back to his lab.
Harry applied the salve and cringed a little at the sting it first caused.
‘I guess I was warned... Just didn’t expect it to sting so strongly…’
He slowly got himself ready for bed, making sure that his glamours are still up and Draco couldn’t see the scars he has from his own so called family. After that he settled in bed and rolled away from Draco and tried to get himself calm enough to sleep.
Draco on the other hand went straight to his desk and started his letter for his father. He knew he would get in a little trouble for being so late with an update on what was going on. But he hoped that his father would understand that things have been a little hectic on his end and this was the first chance he really had to write to him.
Once he finished his letter he put away his quill and ink and placed the letter in an envelope and set it aside to give to Snape the next day. He got up and went to his trunk to get ready for bed, saw that Harry was asleep so he decided to bring it all to the washroom outside their room to get ready.
‘At least Harry was able to fall asleep this time, hopefully no nightmares tonight. I really wonder what dad will do. Will he send a letter? A howler?? Or will he just show up to discuss everything with all of us? I guess it doesn’t matter as long as it’s soon, Harry really needs some support seeing as how everyone else seems to have abandoned him to deal with it all alone.’
With everything for that day done and a busy day tomorrow Draco was quick to slip into bed. Now to explain everything to his friends and acquaintances tomorrow and hope they treat Harry decently.
If only he knew what was already told to the school regarding their status and what rumors have also been going around…