Chapter 11
As Harry and Severus kept talking about the shop, making notes or giving ideas, they saw spells hitting enchantments so it looked like a huge dome.
‘Blimey, someone sure did strong enchantments,’ Harry stood staring down at all the spells, ‘That looks like what Hogwarts have.’
‘Yes it does and if they don’t get through they might step up their attacks. Go bring Draco Harry then check in with Minerva. If someone can do those types of enchantments then they might be able to get through Hogwarts charms.’
‘I used the elder wand, but I won’t risk Hogwarts being attacked. I won’t be long,’ Harry turned on the spot apparating away, he quickly banged on the door.
‘Potter, is Severus alright?’
‘Yes, but he wants you there, he can explain, we need to be quick.’
Draco didn’t hesitate, he grabbed Harry’s arm and felt him turn then he had some paper thrust into his hand.
‘That’s permission to get in, Sev is outside, keep him from doing anything, I have to go,’ Harry turned, disapparating from his home and landing in the headmistress office at Hogwarts.
‘Where did Potter go Severus?’ Draco asked the moment he stepped outside.
‘Look, the ministry is attacking, Harry told them where they are, but as you can see, someone has enchanted the place with strong charms.’
‘So if they can’t get through what do you think they will do?’
‘They might step up their attacks, I just don’t know though. The way they are acting is not like how death eaters used to be. It’s like they don’t care if they get seen. He has gone to warn Minerva.’
‘So he’s at Hogwarts, but not even Voldemort could get through those enchantments straight away, it took the combination of everyone to bring them down.’
‘Yes, I know, but Harry won’t risk the school. Since there is nothing we can do just yet, sit so I can explain something.’
‘Is this about your idea?’
‘Yes, Harry has agreed. I am going to open a potions shop, Parnel’s Perfect Potions. I will use the name Reginal Parnel to get a business license, I will do that next week, he was a relative and a potions master so the name works. I am going to change my appearance, I would like you to come with me also changing your appearance, Harry will look around for a shop. Now he has agreed to you being involved with only one condition.’
‘So I will work for you, what’s his condition?’
‘You will technically work for both of us, Harry is funding all this but he knows that it’s my experience that will be needed. He does know how good you are at potions so as long as I agreed to him helping he has agreed to you being part of it, also you cannot mouth off at him like you used to. No names, no smart arse remarks, no shit like the purity of blood. So will you agree to stop with all that then I believe the three of us can make a good life for ourselves without having to count on anyone?’’
‘Yes, even though part of it is just habit that makes me say all that to him because I have for years, I never meant any of it. I’m not sure I like the fact I’ll be working for him though, you yeah, Potter,’ Draco shook his head.
‘I realise that Draco but it’s Harry’s money that is funding this for me. I do not like the fact I have to accept his money mainly because it came from his father who I despised. It feels like I’m accepting a helping hand from James Potter.’
‘I get you there Severus.’
Harry stood with Minerva near the gates of Hogwarts, both were concealed, both wondering if anything would happen or not. Even though the ministry knew where the death eaters were, it didn’t mean it would stop them turning up here but they weren’t taking any choices.
‘Can you do me a favour Minerva?’
‘You know I will Harry.’
‘It might mean you have to lie.’
‘Explain what you want before I decide.’
‘If they turn up, I can take care of them but I don’t want the ministry to have any excuse to arrest me. I could change into one of my animagi, then capture them or…’ Harry shrugged.
‘I don’t feel comfortable with that Harry, but since I have to go back inside, I might not see anything, all I know is you dropped in to explain,’ Minerva saw Harry’s smile, something he hardly does anymore, she turned and walked back to the school.
Harry disappeared from Hogwarts, he appeared hidden on the other side of the gates, ready to make his move. He wasn’t sure how long it might take or if anything could happen, but he was going to stay as long as he can. He knew Severus would send his patronus if they got through the enchantments so it would be over there or here, one way or another.
Severus and Draco kept talking when they saw the black smoke of the death eaters apparating away, Severus quickly conjured his patronus sending it off with his message.
‘Damn, I hope he gets that before they turn up.’
‘Why aren’t you offering to help Potter if you love him?’
‘Harry’s power, he doesn’t require any help,’ Severus could see Draco was sceptical, ‘He’s more powerful than Dumbledore and Voldemort put together. You wouldn’t believe some of the things Harry can do, spells that are impossible, but not for Harry. Right after Voldemort died we tested his power, I was amazed, truly amazed.’
‘Then why didn’t he break you out of there?’
‘He wanted to give me a chance to work in potions if I could. Imagine now if he did break me out, I would always need to be disguised but so would Harry. That is part of what’s hurting Harry right now, he made the decision to leave me there in the hope I could have a future I wanted. He said there were times when he wasn’t sure he could live with that decision, but he did, for me.’
Back at Hogwarts Harry saw Severus’ doe, ‘They left, they might be heading there, be careful my love,’ the doe patronus disappeared right as the death eaters arrived and instantly started to fire spell after spell at the gates and Harry could see they would eventually fall. Harry changed into another animagi, one that no one has ever seen and one that no witch or wizard had ever become before. He hovered up and out of the trees, then above the death eaters, then as the sounds of more apparition caught his ears, Harry sent a jet of green fire, engulfing the death eaters. His chimera kept his flames aimed at the death eaters until there was only ash then he vanished but he did see shocked looks on the aurors faces. He arrived inside his home, then hurried through the house and outside, kissed Sev and sat down.
‘So are you going to explain what happened?’
‘A little creature called a chimera seemed to have taken care of the death eaters.’
‘Okay, what if they think it’s you?’
‘They saw my dragon Sev, most people know that you can only turn into one type of animagi, there was no dragon there,’ Harry smirked, ‘Minerva decided she needed to get back to her office so she missed the fun.’
‘Did you ask her to do that Harry, to lie for you?’
‘I gave her the choice, she chose to return to the castle. So now we can concentrate on this shop of yours. Did Severus invite you for dinner…Draco?’
‘Yes, he did and you used my name.’
‘We’re about to be spending a lot of time together, don’t you think it’s time to put all that bullshit to rest and start acting our age? Anyway, I’m going to start dinner,’ Harry sat on Severus lap, ‘I think everything is finally working out babe, what do you think?’
‘First you are sitting on my lap, that is just not done Potter,’ Severus wrapped his arms around Harry, ‘But I have to admit it feels nice, so make sure you do that tonight in bed, but naked my love.’
Harry smirked, ‘Yes…sir,’ Harry kissed Severus then almost skipping into the house with Draco’s mouth almost hitting the floor, Severus shaking his head at his young lover’s antics, but calling him sir has given Severus a very good idea that he just might have to show Harry tonight.