Invenio Veritas

Chapter 5: Full of Surprises

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'This is stupid . . . This is stupid . . . This is stupid . . ..'

Thwap!

Harry was suddenly awakened from his temporary coma of boredom by the sound of Ron smacking his head on the table. The rest of the Divination class turned around suddenly to see what had made the sudden noise. After a few chuckles and a death glare from Lavender and Parvati, the class returned to professor Trelawny's discussion on exercising the inner eye.

Ron groaned as he looked up at Harry.

"Nope, still conscious," said Ron as he rubbed the spot on his head that had come in contact with the table.

"It was worth a shot," said Harry. Usually, the pure boredom of the class would be hilarious in itself but the class today was boredom beyond laughter.

Professor Trelawny had started off the class with the usual predictions, of course ending with Harry's tragic death. The class had finally moved from crystal ball gazing to tarot cards, which, in Harry's eyes were just as boring and pointless.

"Now class," said Trelawny as she stood up from her armchair. "Pair up and take turns reading the cards for your partners. I will be coming around if any of you need help with your readings. Two inner eyes are better than one."

Ron groaned at the sheer unfunnyness of the joke.

"Ron, do you have your wand?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, why?"

"Will you just kill me now? Might as well fulfill her prediction."

"At least for once she'd be right."

"Ah, you see class," said Harry, mocking Professor Trelawny's misty voice. "I was unfortunately right in my prediction. I was hoping that my inner eye was mistaken when I saw young Harry's death, but . . .oh! It's sooooo terrible. Terrible!"

Ron was practically falling out of his at the sight of Harry imitation Professor Trelawny's mannerisms. Harry himself couldn't continue and both boys were getting quite a few stares from their classmates. Finally gaining some control, Harry and Ron tried to entertain themselves. They decided to make up some kind of card game with the tarot cards. The game ended up becoming a sort of rummy/poker game. Harry was about to beat Ron at their current hand when their teacher interrupted them.

"Any why, may I ask, are you two not reading each others cards?" Trelawny took on a rather uncharacteristic mood of sternness when addressing the two boys.

"Um . . . well, you see Professor," started Harry, as he looked quickly at Ron. "Ron here read my cards . . . and, well . . .. It was so horrible Professor."

"Yeah, Professor," added Ron. "Harry was just so upset and I tried to lighten the mood a bit. You know, take his mind off the inevitable for now."

Professor Trelawny's expression changed from sternness to sadness.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley. It is so kind of you to do that for dear Harry, but remember. We can't change what the future holds for us. Don't try and sugarcoat it for him too much." With that, she turned her attention to another table.

"Nice one, Harry," said Ron, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "Good thing you remembered the old Divination back up."

"And she makes it so easy, too," said Harry as he watched Professor Trelawny glide about the room.

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The end of the day had finally come and Harry remembered the deal he made with Lupin the previous day. Walking toward Lupin's office, Harry wondered what they would be discussing. Lupin wanted to talk to him, but why? Knocking on the door to his Professor's office, Harry heard a "come in" and opened the door.

"Ah, Harry, I see that you are still here. Severus didn't expel you, I take it?" Lupin smiled as he busied himself with getting some tea. "Have a seat and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you, Professor," said Harry as he took a seat in front of Lupin's desk.

"So how was your detention yesterday?" asked Lupin, turning back to Harry with a cup of tea.

"Well, I sort of made him really angry."

"Snape angry? No!" Lupin said with extreme sarcasms. "What did you do to him?"

"I asked him a question, and honestly, I really wanted to know the answer to it," said Harry, taking a sip of tea.

"What did you ask him?" asked Lupin with a slight smile.

"I asked him why he never said anything about my mum. I hear about my father from him all the time, but he has never said anything about my mum."

Lupin didn't respond right away. His face saddened a little and he took a sip of his tea before speaking again.

"Well, as you know, Severus hated your father and James wasn't a big fan of Severus. But what you probably don't know is that Severus and your mother were quite close friends. They even dated for a while."

"Snape and my mum?" Harry could hardly believe it.

"Yes. They were friends in their first year. They dated from about the end of sixth year to about a year after we graduated. Severus broke up with her. I heard he dated some American girl afterwards, but anyway . . .."

"But I thought my mum and dad were always together, at school . . .."

"James was Lily's best friend," said Lupin, cutting off Harry. "And to be perfectly honest, they were never really more than that. After Severus called it off, Lily turned to James. A few months later, they got married and then you came that next July."

"Snape and my mum?"

"Yeah, hard to believe, huh? That was one of the reasons there was so much animosity between Sirius, James, and Severus. Especially between Sirius and Severus. I think Sirius and Lily fought about Severus everyday during seventh year. They argued a lot anyway, though."

"Sounds like Ron and Hermione," said Harry, laughing slightly.

"But anyway, that's probably why Snape got so upset when you asked him about Lily. Severus didn't ever like me much, and believe me, the feeling is mutual, but I know he cared for Lily. Its just a touchy subject with him."

"Now I kind of feel bad for bringing it up with him," said Harry, looking down at his empty teacup. "Maybe I should apologize." Harry said the words before he could fully comprehend their meaning. 'Apologize to Snape? What was I thinking?'

"Don't worry about it Harry," said Lupin with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure Severus will be fine."

He looked up and smiled slightly before retuning to his cup.

"Anyway, the reason I asked you to meet with me is that Sirius is getting worried," said Lupin as he stood up to get the teapot. He refilled Harry's empty cup and sat back down.

"Why would Sirius be worried about me?" asked Harry.

"He's your godfather. It's his job to worry," said Lupin, grinning at Harry over his teacup.

"I mean, nothing has happened since last term. I'm fine."

"Well, Sirius was convinced that you were leading us to believe that, and he was sure that something was wrong."

"Well, you can tell him I am perfectly okay. I mean, there were some things over the summer but I have those taken care of now," said Harry as he began sipping his tea.

"Well, whatever was wrong, I'm glad you took care of it. I'm also kind of happy you decided not to mention anything in your letters. I had a hard enough time keeping Sirius in the house. He wanted to go to Surrey to see you. I almost put a leash on him . . . literally."

Harry snorted into his tea. The thought of his godfather tied to a tree in Lupin's yard was funny.

"What did Sirius do all summer? I mean, he was pretty vague in his letters just in case they were intercepted, but I'm just curious."

Lupin smiled.

"Well, he contacted a few people about the situation after the tri-wizard tournament and then stayed with me the rest of the summer. Really, he didn't do much else. He deserved a nice break, to be honest," Lupin paused for a moment and then continued. "Did he tell you he got a new wand?"

"No. How'd he manage that?"

"Polyjuice potion," said Lupin.

"Really?" said Harry, looking at Lupin's amused face. "Who'd he turn into?"

"Mundungus Fletcher," said Lupin, setting down his teacup. "It was a clever idea on Sirius' part. Fletch has gone through more wands that anyone I know, so he was a good candidate for Sirius to transform into. Well, I suppose I should let you go, Harry. I have some work to grade so I will see you in class. Have you practiced you body shield?"

"Um, Ron, Hermione, and I are going to practice tonight," said Harry. In truth, he had totally forgotten about his DADA work.

"That's good to hear," said Lupin, standing to walk Harry to the door. "You, more than anyone else, should really practice."

"Don't remind me," said Harry as he stood up and walked to the door.

"Goodbye Professor."

"Goodbye Harry."

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"Wow Harry," said Hermione as she watched her friend repel another curse with his body shield. "I think you have it down. Lupin won't get anything past you."

"Hey Harry," said Ron, looking up from his Transfiguration essay. "What did you and Lupin talk about?"

"Oh, he just told me how Sirius was doing. Of course, he's worried about me as usual,

and. . ." but Harry stopped. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Ron and Hermione about Snape and his mother.

"What Harry?" said Hermione as she took a seat next to Ron.

"Well, I asked about Snape and why he would get so angry over my mum," Harry took a seat across form Ron and Hermione. "Get this. My mum and Snape were friends when they want to school. They even dated."

Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry with equal expressions of shock.

"Your mum and Snape?" said Ron, still keeping his shocked gaze on Harry. "They dated?"

"Yeah, from the end of their sixth year to about a year afterwards," Harry paused briefly. "I always thought my mum and dad were together when they went here.

"That's so weird! Snape just being with another person in itself is weird, but with your mum?" Ron said.

"Yeah, its kind of creepy, and I really don't want to talk about it anymore," said Harry.

"Did you talk to Dumbledore about a family heirloom?" asked Hermione, thankfully changing the subject.

"No, but I'll ask him tomorrow," said Harry. "Come on Ron, its your turn to practice your shield."

Ron looked at Harry nervously as he stood up.

"Harry, nothing you learned last year. First year curses only!" said Ron as he took a few steps from Harry.

"I'll go easy on you," said Harry. Then, whispering to Hermione, he added, "At first."

Hermione laughed and suddenly getting an idea, jumped off the couch and walked over to Harry.

"Harry," she whispered, looking over at Ron, who was closing his eyes in concentration. "Scare him a little before you actually test him."

"How?"

Hermione whispered something in his war and Harry laughed.

"Yeah, I'll do that."

Harry pocketed his wand and took his place a few feet from Ron. Ron continued to close his eyes.

"Are you ready Ron?" asked Harry, desperately trying to conceal his laughter.

"Yes," said Ron, who did not open his eyes.

Harry raised his hand as if he had a wand in it, and took a deep breath to steady his voice. Making Ron think he was having a ton of curses sent his way was hard not to laugh at.

"Rictusempra! Furnunculus! Tarantallegra!"

Harry and Hermione started to laugh at Ron flinching as the imaginary curses were said. They stopped, however, when they heard Ron doubling up with laughter. His feet began to move around out of his control and he had sprouted tiny tentacles on his face.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other in shock. Hermione grabbed her wand and muttered the counter curses to stop Ron from laughing and dancing all over the place. Ron looked up at Harry, his face red with anger, though still covered in tentacles.

"What the hell did you do that for?" screamed Ron. "I've hardly practiced and you hit me with three curses at once!"

"Ron, stop!" shouted Hermione. "He didn't mean to!"

"Of course he meant to! He said them, didn't he?!"

Harry stared down at his hand in shock.

"Ron, it was a joke," said Harry as he raised his wandless hand. "I didn't even have my wand."

"What? Then how did you curse me?"

Hermione walked towards Harry and past him. She took Ron's transfiguration book and set it on the table they were working at.

"Harry, summon the book without your wand."

Harry looked at the book and, holding his hand out, said, "accio book."

The book sailed across the common room and landed in Harry's hands. He looked over to Ron and Hermione. They were staring at him in disbelief.

"Do something else," said Ron, forgetting about the argument he had just had with his best friend.

"Um . . . lumos," muttered Harry, stretching his hand out once more. At the end of each one of his fingers, a ball of light appeared, casting a glow around his hand. He stared at his hand for a while before muttering, "nox."

"Harry," said Hermione, walking over to him. "Did you have any idea you could do wandless magic?"

"No, not at all," said Harry, still looking at his hands. "Don't tell anyone, you guys. Okay?"

"Why Harry?" said Hermione. "This is a wonderful gift! You should really explore these powers and refine them."

"No Hermione," said Harry. "Remember the last time everyone here found out I had a 'rare gift.' They all thought I was a dark wizard! No, no one can know this. At least not right now."

Ron walked over to his friend, tentacles still wriggling.

"You are full of surprises my friend."

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