Harry Potter and the Crystalline Darkness

Chapter 19

Pansy walked beside Professor McGonagall with an expression of bored petulance on her face. She rather suspected this was going to be yet another session where the Headmaster tried to convince her to betray Draco. The last one had been almost laughable; as if the Headmaster could offer the temptations that Draco could. It seemed the old man just couldn't grasp the idea that she wanted the power that was within her grasp and that she wasn't being manipulated by Draco at all. She sighed as the gargoyle stepped aside for them and plastered a pleasant expression on her face; just what she needed a potentially lovely day destroyed by this tiresome business.

She was a little surprised to find the Headmaster wearing such a grim and severe expression when she walked into his office. Usually he looked kindly and nice, like a friendly grandfather. But not today; today he looked more like the powerful wizard that he actually was.

"Sit down, Miss Parkinson," he said sternly.

Pansy gave him a winsome little smile and sat down in the chair in front of the desk in a very prim, ladylike manner as Professor McGonagall stood behind her. That was when she was what was sitting on the Headmaster's desk. A small bottle of ink. Her breath caught slightly and her eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second but it was enough for the Headmaster.

"I see that you recognise what has come into my possession, Miss Parkinson," he said.

Pansy considered her position for a moment then dropped all pretences. "Of course I do," she said scornfully. "It belongs to me. I borrowed it from my father."

"And used it, I see," Professor Dumbledore observed.

Pansy smiled maliciously. "Is the traitor dead then?"

The atmosphere is the room became decidedly cool and disapproving.

"No, Professor Snape is not dead," Professor McGonagall said stiffly. "Nor is he likely to die. There is, after all, an antidote."

Pansy smirked. "Ah, but who other than the traitor has the skill to brew it," she sneered.

"You might be surprised, Miss Parkinson," the Headmaster said calmly.

Pansy considered that for a moment then dismissed it. "So, how many points is it and how long am I in detention?" she said with studied weariness.

Both Albus and Minerva stared at her with disbelief. They couldn't believe that after attempting to murder her own Head of House she expected to get away with nothing more than loss of points and a detention.

"I don't think you quite grasp the seriousness of your situation, Miss Parkinson," Dumbledore said leaning forward and looking at the girl sitting in front of him sternly. "There will be no loss of House points nor will you sit through a detention. You have admitted to attempting to murder a teacher. I have no choice but to expel you and I am afraid that I must also call in the Aurors."

Pansy looked at him with disbelief. "But you can't do that to me, my father won't allow it."

"I am afraid your father has little voice in this matter now," Dumbledore said in a steely voice. He looked past Pansy. "Will you please summon Auror Shacklebolt, Minerva?"

"Certainly, Headmaster," Minerva replied in a frosty voice. She stepped away from the chair and quickly floo-called to Auror Headquarters at the Ministry. He was waiting, having been contacted earlier by the Headmaster and told that his presence may be requested and the reason. The experienced Auror had been genuinely shocked to hear what had happened. He had little liking for the sarcastic Potions Master and former spy but the sheer maliciousness of the Slytherin girl's act was beyond him. At Minerva's call, he stepped into the green flames and emerged in the Headmaster's office.

"Ah, Auror Shacklebolt," Professor Dumbledore said with a small smile. "Thank you for coming so promptly. I'm afraid we've had a rather nasty incident occur which lies more in your purview than mine."

"Indeed," Kingsley said with well-manufactured surprise. "What might that be?"

The Headmaster picked up the small bottle of ink. "It appears this ink is actually a rather insidious poison that this student, Miss Pansy Parkinson, has used to unfortunate effect on one of Hogwart's teachers."

"Is this teacher dead?" Kingsley asked gravely.

"No," Dumbledore said with relief. "But he is in for a bad time until the antidote can be brewed."

"I see," Kingsley replied. "Well, this is indeed a serious matter. I am afraid that you will have to accompany me to the Ministry, Miss Parkinson. If you could please contact her parents, Headmaster, and have them meet us there."

"Certainly," Albus replied.

Kingsley stepped forward and gestured for Pansy to stand. He then took her arm and led her over to the fireplace before flooing both of them back to the Auror Headquarters. Dumbledore looked over at Minerva.

"Thank you for your help, Minerva. Could you please go down to the Slytherin dormitory and organise for Miss Parkinson's belongings to be gathered while I speak with her father. I would also like you to bring Miss Tracey Davies, Mr Theodore Nott, Mr Gregory Goyle and Mr Vincent Crabbe to my office when you are finished with Miss Parkinson's belongings."

"Certainly, Albus," Minerva said then she left the room.

*****************************************************************

Harry was pacing the Guild classroom. He was the only one there at the moment, Ron and Hermione both had classes this morning and Master Nhean, Jun'ko and Tien were clearly running late. His thoughts were swirling around his mind and he couldn't seem to get them to clear. Finally he growled and dropped to the mats on the floor to sit cross-legged. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, concentrating on clearing his mind. At first he was less than successful but then finally his mind began to obey him and he slowly slipped into a mild meditative state. He was still there, breathing calmly, when the door opened. He quickly brought himself back to full awareness and turned around to see who had entered.

"Hello, Master, Jun'ko, Tien," he said with a small smile. "You're late."

Nhean chuckled. "Ah but we're late for a good reason. The Headmaster thought you might like to know the outcome of his interview with Miss Parkinson but, for obvious reasons, he did not want you to be conspicuously missing classes when Hermione is already doing the same."

"So what was the outcome?" Harry asked urgently.

"She has been expelled," Nhean replied. "But that was a given really, considering the nature of her offense. Albus has also called in the Aurors." He paused for a moment. "Albus allowed me to view his memory of the interview. I must confess I found it quite chilling. She was so completely unconcerned about what she did and was expecting to be merely slapped on the wrist."

"What?" Harry yelped. "She tried to kill Professor Snape! She's condemned him to a living hell for the next three weeks!"

Nhean hesitated for a long moment, frowning. "I...hesitate to say this on such a short viewing of the girl but I would call her behaviour almost psychopathic."

Harry gaped at his Master for a moment then he slowly shook his head. "She's a perfect match for Draco then," he said.

Jun'ko gave a wry snort. "I'll take your word for it. Now, get up, lazy boy!" She gave a laugh. "Your Master has decided it would be a wonderful idea for you to learn my style of fighting."

Harry groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. "Lovely! I'm sure that you're going to become my Battle Guard's favourite person."

The three Guild members laughed.

"I might leave you to your torture," Tien said amiably. "I'm going to see how good my memory of the castle is. Send out a search party if I'm not back in a couple of hours, will you?"

Harry laughed. "Siri has a map that will help with finding you if you get lost. We'll send him after you if you're not back by dinner."

"Ah, thank you," Tien replied dryly as he headed towards the door. "But lunch would be the meal of preference if you don't mind."

"Okay," Harry said with amusement as Tien left the room. He then turned to face his soon-to-be torturer. "Now what?"

"Warm up and get ready," Jun'ko said wickedly. "And prepare to have your arse handed to you repeatedly."

Harry slowly began his warm-up exercises. "You've been talking to Moody, haven't you?" he said is a wry tone. "He was always worried about my buttocks getting blown off."

Both Nhean and Jun'ko stared at Harry for a second then roared with laughter.

"I've never met the man though I do remember Tonks mentioning something about that sort of thing once," Jun'ko said between giggles as she too warmed up. "Why was he worried about your buttocks?" She paused then continued in that same wicked tone as before. "Not that you don't have very nice buttocks, from what little I can see of them."

Harry blushed and spluttered for a moment then he laughed. "I'll thank you to keep your eyes off my buttocks or would you like me to tell Ginny you've been eyeing them?"

"Oh no! Don't do that!" Jun'ko said in a mock-horrified tone, clearly caught on the edge of laughter.

Harry grinned at the other Warrior, unsure as to whether she would be able to see it. "I take it you get along well with Tonks then?"

"Ah! Nymphadora Tonks!" Jun'ko said fondly. "I can't tell you how wonderful it is to find a witch after my own heart." Her voice suddenly turned quite arch. "However I note that you did fail to mention her inherent clumsiness when you spoke to the Council during the summer."

"I figured it would be more fun for you to find out for yourself," Harry said with amusement. "Besides she's a good Auror despite that."

"Hmph!" Jun'ko said. "Well, I suppose she has been improving. Those twins are a bloody menace though!"

"Hey, Gred and Forge are very good friends of mine," Harry protested lazily; he could only imagine the mischief those two had been getting up to in their training.

"I'm not saying they're not good," Jun'ko replied. "But I've learnt not to take anything from them."

Harry stifled a laugh. "What did they get you with?" he asked merrily.

"They called it a Canary Cream," Jun'ko said with sour amusement.

"Ah, there's nothing like a classic," Harry replied, laughing. "Don't worry; they still get Neville on a regular basis. He never remembers not to accept things from them." He hesitated for a moment, almost afraid to ask this next question. "What about Siri?"

Jun'ko rolled her eyes. "Sirius! Well, apart from me having to eat my words, everything's going well with him!"

Harry blinked. "It is?"

"Yes," Nhean said firmly. "Your godfather is coming along very well. He's the best of the lot, you know." He paused and eyed his apprentice for a second. "I believe he uses you as his motivation for improvement."

"Oh," Harry said, rather touched about this.

"So," Jun'ko said in an effort not to allow the mood to dim, "what was this about Moody being worried about your buttocks?"

Harry snorted with laughter. "Oh, he didn't like me putting my wand in my back pocket. Said it was the best way to blow your own buttocks off."

"Really?" Jun'ko replied with amused curiosity. "Now that would be something worth seeing; someone blowing their own buttocks off."

"Yeah, that's what I've always thought," Harry said.

"Well, as interesting as that thought is, I think it's time to get down to work," Nhean said with quiet amusement.

The experienced Night Master directed Harry and Jun'ko in their training until Harry was exhausted and dripping with sweat. It wasn't any easier than the sparring bout that he had done that morning and when Nhean finally called things to a halt he was rather relieved. He headed back up to the Tower to have a shower and change then headed downstairs to his first class of the day.

*********************************************************

Severus Snape sat hunched in his chair in his rooms, wracked with pain. He knew he should be taking the pain-relieving potions that Poppy had suggested but he found that they clouded his mind more than he really liked. The pain was already doing a good job of that and he really didn't want to add to it. The Headmaster had informed him that Pansy Parkinson had been expelled and would likely be in a great deal of trouble with the Aurors for her actions. Severus dismissed any thought that she would see the interior of Azkaban; her father was simply too wealthy and too influential for that to happen. The Headmaster had questioned her cohorts and Theodore Nott and Tracey Davis had also been expelled for their actions and were being questioned by the Aurors. Crabbe and Goyle had escaped with detentions and loss of points; they had not used the ink nor were they really that aware of what had been going on. Severus rolled his eyes irritably; how those two had passed enough classes to continue on to NEWTs was beyond him.

His Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Year Slytherins, led by Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bulstrode, had approached him throughout the day to let him know that they would help him in any way they could, starting with making sure there were no problems in the dorms. He had accepted that; he knew that he was in no condition to deal with adolescent traumas at the moment. He would be more likely to add to the problems than solve them.

He twitched as another lance of pain flashed through his body then twitched again as a knock came on his door. As he debated whether or not to answer it, a voice came floating through the door.

"Professor Snape? It's Harry."

Severus sighed. "Come in," he said, allowing the door to unlock.

"I...I'm sorry to disturb you, sir," Harry said hesitantly as he came in. "I came down with Hermione and I just...wanted to check how you were and to see if you needed anything."

"Silence and an absence of pain would be preferable," Snape snarled. "Though an absence of you will suffice."

Harry froze for a moment, looking a little hurt. "Oh," he said quietly. "I...I'll go then."

He turned and headed towards the door, his shoulders slumped, and Severus snarled silently.

"Mr Potter," he said irritably. "I...apologise. I...am in...considerable pain."

Harry turned and gave a small smile. "I realise that, sir, and I've kind of gotten used to the sarcasm and snide comments." He paused for a long moment then his words tumbled out hurriedly. "If you want me to go, just tell me. You don't need to be cruel."

Severus sighed again. "You might as well stay, Mr Potter. You are already here and perhaps your irritating self might be a sufficient distraction from what I am currently forced to endure."

Harry's lips twitched in a small grin and he wandered over and sat down in the chair opposite the Potions Master. "Maybe I could ask you the questions I was coming down to ask last night."

"You could," Snape replied, wincing as he shifted slightly. "But I cannot guarantee the usefulness of the answers I might give."

"Or I could tell you how my day went," Harry suggested with a growing smile.

"By all means, bore me to tears with the mindless minutiae of your insignificant life," Snape replied irritably.

"Master Nhean told me what happened to Pansy and her friends," Harry offered.

"The little bint deserves everything she gets," Snape snarled, gasping as the rush of anger caused the pain to spike. "Though I doubt she will get everything she deserves. Draco is welcome to her."

"Mmm," Harry murmured in agreement. "Then Master Nhean had Jun'ko kick my arse several times."

"I'm sure you earned that," Snape said nastily, though Harry could pick up in the undertone that the man didn't truly mean it...at least not completely.

"I'm sure my Battle Guard will agree with you," Harry said benignly then continued in a musing tone. "Though Jun'ko did seem inordinately concerned about my buttocks."

Snape stared at him with utter disbelief for a moment and it was all Harry could do to maintain a straight face. When he didn't elaborate, Snape scowled at him.

"And why, pray tell, would Miss Watanabe be interested in your buttocks?" asked Snape in a decidedly acid tone.

"Because Moody was always worried I might blow them off," Harry replied innocently, working hard to stop his lips from twitching into a smile.

Snape blinked and Harry took some pity on the man. "Because I tend to stick my wand in my back pocket all the time," he said cheerfully. "Apparently Moody thinks that my wand could go off accidentally and, boom, there go my buttocks. Tonks always found that amusing and I think she might have told Jun'ko."

Finally Harry's amusement got the better of his control and he started laughing. "I...I'm sor...sorry, sir," he gasped out between laughs. "I just couldn't resist. If you think that was weird to listen to, imagine how it felt for me at the time." He paused and laughed again. "Normally my buttocks are nobody's business except mine and perhaps Ginny's but apparently I was wrong."

Snape gave him a flat look though Harry definitely saw the man's lips twitch slightly. "Indeed," Snape replied dryly. "Well perhaps you would be so good as to keep your buttocks to yourself. I personally have no desire to know any more about them."

Harry grinned. "But, sir, everyone tells me they're such nice buttocks."

Snape gave Harry a glacial look though Harry could see in the ghostly overlay a glimmer of amusement in the man's face. "I should not be able to tell you one way or another," Snape said icily.

Harry gave a small huff of laughter. "Anyway," he said with a smile, "at least the rest of my classes weren't as weird."

"I should hope not," Snape replied as he shifted painfully and uncomfortably in his chair.

"Hermione seems to be quite pleased with the progress of the antidote," Harry observed. "Though I suppose it's a little too early to tell at the moment."

"Indeed it is," came the arch reply. "Though she does have some skill," Snape conceded.

"Yes, she does," Harry replied with a note of pride in his voice.

They fell into silence for a moment then Harry sighed. "I suppose I might as well ask you one of the questions I had," he said. "If the answer doesn't make any sense I can always ask again after this is over."

"By all means, ask away," Snape replied sarcastically.

"I was looking through that parchment you gave me with the rules of doing a Tyro on it," Harry said slowly. "It says I have to have a...mentor. Now if I read everything correctly then Remy won't be able to do that because he's also my guardian. Master Nhean's out because he's not an official member of the Hogwarts staff. So if I do the subjects I want to do that leaves...well...you."

"Was that a question, Mr Potter, or a rambling summation of events?" Snape said snippily.

Harry sighed. "Well, I guess it was a rambling summation of events if you want to be pedantic about it," he said patiently. "Professor Snape, if I decide to undertake a Tyro would you be willing to be my mentor?"

"Yes," Snape said bluntly.

"Oh," Harry said a little surprised. He had thought he would have to talk the Potions Master into it a bit more. "Thank you, sir."

Snape inclined his head carefully. "You have not yet decided on the Tyro?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure I want to do it," Harry said thoughtfully. "I...guess I'm just waiting until we find out what Draco's planning."

"Well, after your accuracy in predicting Miss Parkinson's intentions, I shall not argue with you regarding Draco," Snape said sourly.

Harry wisely chose not to comment on the fact that he had warned both Snape and the Headmaster repeatedly. "Do you think the Headmaster was right when he said we could expect something from Draco after the New Year?"

"I've no doubts he is," Snape replied in a disgruntled tone that rapidly turned into a gasp of pain. Harry shifted forward slightly in his chair then relaxed back when the Potions Master continued with a sharp glare in his direction. "Though I think it will be later rather than sooner if your last unfortunate encounter with the Dark Lord is anything to go by."

"Mmm," Harry murmured. "Yeah, Voldemort wasn't very happy about being stuck in Draco's mind." He snorted. "I'd be worried if it were anyone other than Draco Malfoy."

"I would be worried even though it is Draco," Snape said acidly. "For if the Dark Lord succeeds he will have what he wants; a new body. Unless you'd like to repeat the last few years again."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Good point." He opened his mouth to continue but again the Potions Master gasped and shuddered as his body was wracked with pain. Harry watched for a moment, feeling rather helpless but knowing that Snape would probably not welcome any expressions of sympathy. When the other man finally relaxed a bit, Harry picked up his cane. "I...I should go," he said hesitantly. "You've probably had enough of me prattling on." He paused and then decided to put his head into the lion's mouth, so to speak. "Do you need any help, Professor?"

Snape glared at him for a long moment then sagged back into his chair. "If...you would be so...kind as to help me into the other room," he said stiffly.

Harry nodded silently and stood, before walking over to the other chair. He carefully helped Snape to rise, wincing in sympathy as he listened to the Potions Master's pained breathing. Snape placed an arm around his shoulders and the two of them slowly made their way over to the door to Snape's bedroom. From his close proximity, Harry was aware of the stiffness of Snape's posture which all but shouted the amount of pain the man was suffering and from this distance he could also hear the occasional muttered oath. Once in the bedroom, he carefully lowered Snape until the man was sitting on his own bed.

"Do you need anything else, sir?" he asked in a neutral tone.

"No, thank you," Snape replied, his voice full of pain.

Harry gave him a small nod and made his way out of the bedroom. He had his hand on the door to the corridor when he heard the Potion Master's voice come from the bedroom.

"Your...prattling...was not entirely useless, Mr Potter," Snape said neutrally.

"Thank you, sir," Harry replied with a smile, hearing what was meant underneath those words. "I really think you should take those potions Madam Pomfrey gave you."

"Get out, idiot boy," came the grumbling reply.

Harry swallowed a laugh and hastened to obey. As he walked down the corridor, he became aware that Hermione was just leaving the Potions classroom and he quickened his pace to catch up with her.

"Hermione!" he called.

The bushy-haired girl spun around and looked at him with surprise. "Harry! What are you still doing down here?"

"I, er, went to speak with Professor Snape after I left you," Harry replied.

Hermione blinked. "Oh! Er, Harry? Why?"

Harry shrugged, not really remembering what took him those extra steps down the corridor to the Potions Master's private quarters. "I don't know. I...guess I was a little worried about him."

Hermione gave him a surprised look. "And how was he?"

"Cranky," Harry replied with a small laugh then he sobered. "In a hell of a lot of pain."

"What did you do?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Rambled on about nothing," Harry said with amusement. "I think sneering at me helped to take his mind off things for a little while at least."

"He wasn't being...unpleasant, was he?" Hermione asked with concern.

"No, not really," Harry said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "He didn't really mean what he was saying. Snarking at me means he feels compelled to think up clever, witty and intelligent insults. As I said, it helped take his mind off things for a while."

Hermione gave him a significant look. "You know there was a time when you would have flown off the handle at just about anything Professor Snape said."

"Yes, Hermione, there was a time I was a self-absorbed idiot too," Harry replied dryly. "He's in pain, Hermione. And if making snide comments about me gives him even the slightest bit of relief, far be it from me to deny him that. Besides, now that I'm not taking things so personally, I can appreciate that he's actually pretty funny at times."

Hermione smiled. "Don't let Ron hear you say that, he'll think you've gone stark, raving mad."

"What? You mean I'm not already?" Harry said humorously.

"Harry!" Hermione chided gently.

Harry laughed and switched the conversation to more mundane topics as they continued up to Gryffindor Tower. When they walked in, they found Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna sitting around one of the tables and staring at something.

"What's going on?" Harry asked as he and Hermione wandered over.

The four students at the table jumped nervously and exchanged glances.

"Erm, Harry," Ron started then he cleared his throat and looked over at his sister.

Ginny rolled her eyes and picked up the object on the table. It was an envelope. "Harry, Mum sent a letter this morning. She said she'd received this in the mail. The Muggle mail." She paused. "It's...addressed to you, care of our address at the Burrow."

"Who's it from?" Harry asked with a confused look.

The others exchanged glances again.

"Erm, the return address says Mrs Petunia Dursley," Ginny said as calmly as she could.