Harry Potter and the Guild of the Night

Chapter 31

Harry and Snape stood in the middle of the small room and stared at each other as Dumbledore set things up for their attempt.

"I trust this will do," the Headmaster said and the two of them turned to find two large comfortable chairs set up next to each other. Three smaller chairs were arranged in front of them.

Snape nodded and gestured for Harry to be seated. He sat in the other chair and turned to look at Harry.

"Relax and clear your mind," he snapped and leaned back into the chair.

Harry snorted but obeyed and very shortly he could feel Snape's mind probing at the outside of his shields. He carefully let them down.

*Sir? Is that you* he thought carefully

*Yes, Potter. Who did you think it would be?* came Snape's irritated thought.

Harry squashed down his amusement. *What do we do now?*

He heard a mental sigh. *Let your shields down completely, Potter, and reach for my mind.*

Instructions flashed across Harry's mind and he gingerly lowered his shields and reached. He gasped as Snape's mind seized his and they....meshed.

Dumbledore, Remus and Sirius watched with concern as both Severus and Harry gasped and shuddered and closed their eyes. Dumbledore half-rose but then settled back down as they calmed.

*This is very odd* thought Harry/Severus *I'm me and yet us at the same time. Is this the way it's supposed to happen?*

*Yes* replied Severus/Harry *It is a meshing of minds, not a melding. A cooperation between two or more people.*

*Oh, okay. Now what?* Harry/Severus asked.

*We need to become more comfortable with this before we move on* Severus/Harry thought *If we need to move fast we have to be able to trust the other. If I am protecting you, you must trust me if I move us without warning.*

*Oh* Harry/Severus thought nervously. *So what do we do?*

*Open your mind and I shall open mine* Severus/Harry replied in an odd tone.

Harry shivered nervously and slowly, cautiously, opened his mind. He felt Snape almost seem to sink into his mind and was startled to find himself doing the same in his teacher's mind. In front of him flashed images, thoughts, feelings; the complex mind of a complex man. He saw Snape's childhood, his time at school, his Mastery, his time as a Death Eater, his time as a teacher at Hogwarts. He knew that the man was seeing his life at the Dursleys and at school and everything he felt and thought about that. After an indeterminate period of time they drifted upwards out of each other's minds and settled back how they had been. They were both silent for a time, caught up in what they had seen and felt. Neither felt the need to speak, in truth they did not need to, what they wanted to say was instantly transmitted to the other. For the first time since Harry set foot in Hogwarts, they both felt comfortable with each other. Severus would never lose his dislike for James Potter ! but now Harry understood and could accept the other's point of view. Severus now knew that Harry was not like his father, that it was not in him to bully others, to revel in his own magnificence and more importantly, he now knew why that was the truth.

*Do you think that we could be friends?* Harry/Severus asked.

*Why would you want that?* Severus/Harry asked, startled.

*Because I'm a Gryffindor and I have a deep-seated need to have oodles and oodles of friends all gathering around me* Harry/Severus said dryly and somewhat sarcastically.

Severus/Harry smirked. *Bravo* he said equally dryly.

*I learnt from the best* Harry/Severus replied *Well? You're evading my question.*

*I am a Slytherin* Severus/Harry replied then sighed. *Perhaps...Harry, perhaps, in time.*

*I'm patient.* Harry/Severus said cheerfully and received a snort in reply.

*Two dreamers in one? How curious.* came a hissing voice.

*O...Orinda?* Harry/Severus asked incredulously.

*Ahhh, Sightless One, our Harry. You see well.* Orinda hissed. *Who has joined with you?*

*Er, Professor Snape* Harry/Severus replied.

*Yesss, Black Snape* Orinda hissed with pleasure. *And where do you go, Sightless One.*

*Potter* Severus/Harry thought sharply *What...is...this?*

*It...it's Orinda* Harry/Severus replied wonderingly *My Runespoor.* He turned his attention back to Orinda's presence. *How are you doing this?* he asked incredulously.

*Runespoors dream, Sightless One, our Harry* Orinda replied. *And we can reach this level with our bonded ones if we wish. Where is it that you go?*

*To find the mind of...of our enemy* Harry/Severus said. He could feel Professor Snape's awareness watching and listening with interest.

*Ahh, dangerous, this is, Sightless One. It is well you take Black Snape with you.* Orinda hissed *He will guide and protect. Clever, he is. Thinks like us, he does. We will wait here for you, Sightless One. Go and return soon.*

*Th...thank you* Harry/Severus said, startled. He turned and located the link and began following it.

*Does he always speak to you like that?* asked Severus/Harry.

*No, not really* Harry said absently, concentrating on following the link *That sounded more like a combination of all three personalities than just one.* He paused and considered the idea that Runespoors lived more in their minds than out of them. Perhaps that was why Orinda considered himself one entity, because in here, he was. He felt Snape following his train of thought.

*Very clever, Potter* Severus/Harry thought. *Perhaps you do have a brain worth teaching after all.*

Harry sighed. *I don't suppose you could call me Harry, could you?* he asked. *At least while we're in here.*

He could feel Professor Snape's surprise. *Very well...Harry* Severus/Harry said carefully.

*Thank you, sir* Harry/Severus said with relief.

He touched the link briefly again and continued following it. When he reached Voldemort's shields, he searched around again for a weak spot.

*Over there.* Severus/Harry said and drew their meshed minds towards the area he had sensed.

*Yeah.* Harry/Severus breathed and he began working away at the weakened area in the shield. After a few moments of watching, he felt the Snape part of their entity join in. Between the two of them they quickly worked a small hole in the shields and they entered Voldemort's mind.

*You've done this before. You take the lead.* Severus/Harry said shortly. *I'll watch and protect us.*

Harry indicted his agreement and traced his journey from last time and settled in to see what Voldemort was seeing. It took him a moment to work out what was happening but when he did he swore.

He suddenly felt a sense of sardonic amusement and the image of Snape raising an eyebrow flitted across his mind. *Language, Mr Potter. I believe Professor McGonagall takes points for that.*

Harry sighed and fed what he was seeing to the Snape part of their entity. He waited for Snape to recognise what he was seeing. He knew he had when his Potions Professor swore quite severely.

*Tsk, tsk, Professor* Harry/Severus said with a grin. *Language.*

There was silence from Snape for a moment. *Continue looking, Harry. It is best I just keep watch.*

Harry sent his assent and turned back to watching out of Voldemort's eyes. The Dark Lord was pouring over a map of Hogwarts and its surrounds. It was nowhere near as detailed as the map Sirius had described to him and a quick check with Snape confirmed this. It did however show all the detail someone who was planning an attack might need. Next to the map was lying a list of students and their Houses.

*Not really much here that we didn't already know or suspect* thought Harry/Severus. *Should we stay?*

He felt hesitation from Snape. *How much can we actually find out while we're here?" Severus/Harry asked.

*A fair bit, I think, if we're careful.* Harry/Severus replied.

*Look around for what he knows about the crystal magic he used then, Po...Harry,* Severus/Harry suggested. *Whatever it is, is powerful and he's likely to use it when he attacks.*

*Okay* Harry/Severus said and he moved away from where he was and delicately searched Voldemort's mind. When he found what he was looking for he gently immersed their entity into the knowledge. Harry was startled when the information poured into them and as soon as the flood stopped he pulled them both out.

*Whoa* he said. *That was weird.*

*You've never done that before?* Severus/Harry asked sharply.

*Er, no* Harry/Severus replied. *I just thought it would work.*

There was silence from the Snape part of their entity and then alarm. Before Harry could ask what the problem was they were out of Voldemort's mind and drifting. Snape had pulled them out so hard they had drifted away from the link.

*Damn!* Severus/Harry said sharply.

*Reach for us, Sightless One. We have you, we anchor you.* came the hissing sound of Orinda's voice. Harry reached and caught the mental grip that Orinda was extending and their entity was pulled back into Harry's mind.

*Be calm. You are safe* Orinda said calmly. *All is well.* Then the Runespoor's presence disappeared.

*Very useful* Severus/Harry said dryly. *My apologies, Harry. I did not realise that would happen when I pulled us out.*

*Did he find us?* Harry/Severus asked.

*No but he was aware something was wrong.* Severus/Harry replied. *I thought it best to get us out of there. We had sufficient information for now. We can confirm that the Dark Lord plans to attack and I would like some time to examine the details of this crystal magic.*

*Oh, okay* Harry/Severus said. *So what do we do now?*

*We dissolve the meshing.* Severus/Harry said and the details of how to do that flashed into Harry's mind. They both followed the procedure and their minds unmeshed and they were alone again. Harry slowly opened his eyes and found both Sirius and Remus watching him anxiously.

"Alright there, Harry?" Sirius asked gently.

Harry nodded and turned to look at Snape. "Sir?" he asked.

Snape's eyes opened and he turned his head until he was looking at Harry. "Yes, Harry?"

This question drew sharp glances from the three watchers.

"You okay?" Harry asked tiredly.

"Yes," Snape said shortly, sounding as tired as Harry.

"So this tiredness is normal?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Snape replied again then levered himself upright and winced. "We managed to confirm the plans to attack Hogwarts, Headmaster. And we also found the Dark Lord's knowledge of the crystal magic he used in the Department of Mysteries but I will need to sort it out in my mind first."

The Headmaster helped his Potions Master to his feet. "Certainly, Severus. Let me know when you have news for me."

Snape nodded and walked quickly from the room.

"Shouldn't he have checked on Harry first?" Sirius said angrily.

"Doesn't need to," Harry said with a yawn. "He knows I'm okay."

"How?" Sirius demanded.

Harry smiled at him and tapped the side of his forehead. "Because he was in here, Sirius. Believe me; he knows that I'm okay. He wouldn't have left if I wasn't."

"Oh, okay," Sirius said, mollified.

Harry frowned for a moment and then shook his head slightly. He knew there was probably no point in telling Sirius that Snape wasn't as bad as he thought. Sirius would just have to figure it out for himself, Harry thought as he yawned again.

Dumbledore smiled gently at him. "I think you need to get some sleep, Harry. Do you think you can make it back to the Tower on your own?"

Harry nodded then hesitated. "Can I stay in the suite tonight?" he asked.

"Of course," Sirius said and Harry nodded again.

Sirius offered a hand to help Harry to his feet and the young Gryffindor stumbled out of the room, waving to Tonks and the twins as he picked his way through Dumbledore's now crowded office. He had a brief thought about staying and finding out what was happening but another jaw-dropping yawn caught him as he thought that and he quickly dismissed the idea. Sirius and Remus would tell him. He stumbled through the corridors down to the suite and collapsed on his bed, not even bothering to pull his shoes off before he fell asleep.

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

When he woke he found himself tucked under the blankets, barefoot, and his cane was resting against the bedside table. He smiled sleepily; he really enjoyed this part about having Sirius and Remus looking after him. They really did look after him; they cared. He sighed and reached out lazily to press the button on his clock. He had left it in his room here in the suite as he didn't need it in the dorm. The sound of everyone else getting up usually woke him and, if it didn't, Ron would. 'Ten thirty eight', the clock said in Moody's voice and Harry shot bolt upright. He was meant to be at a Potions lesson right now! He was about to scrabble out of bed when the door to his room opened and Sirius stuck his head in.

"Morning, Harry!" he said cheerfully.

"I'm late!" Harry yelped as he pushed the blankets back.

"No, you're not," Sirius replied. "Snape sent a note this morning, cancelling your lesson."

Harry stopped in surprise. "What? Really? He's never done that before."

"He said he'll be in with Dumbledore all morning; something about crystal magic," Sirius informed him.

"Oh, he must have sorted through everything we found then," Harry said as he climbed out of bed leisurely.

"Apparently," Sirius said as Harry approached the door. "Hungry?"

"Yeah," Harry said emphatically.

Sirius laughed and flung an arm around Harry's shoulders, drawing him out into the living room where covered tray lay on the table.

"Dobby brought this up for you about half an hour ago," Sirius said with a grin.

Harry grinned back and flopped down on the couch. He reached forwards and uncovered the tray to reveal a very hearty breakfast which he quickly tucked into. When he had finished, he settled back into the couch and looked up at Sirius. His godfather was sitting at the other end of the couch, reading some papers, a serious expression on his face.

"So what happened after I left last night?" Harry asked.

"Not much," Sirius said, laying aside the papers. "We made a few plans regarding the defences of Hogwarts and most of us will be spending a bit of time in the next few months putting up new wards and strengthening the old ones. I think Dumbledore wanted to ask you and Snape whether you would be willing to try that whole sneaking into Voldemort's mind thing again in a couple of months when he'll probably have a few more plans settled." Sirius paused. "But only if you feel comfortable doing it."

"It's okay, Sirius," Harry said. "I was fine and I...I think maybe Professor Snape and I are...okay now. Part of what we had to do last night was make sure we trusted each other."

"How?" Sirius asked sceptically.

"By really looking into each other's mind," Harry said bluntly. "We haven't really done that. We've sort of tried to ignore things that we see in each others mind. But we couldn't afford to do that last night. I had to be able to trust him so that if he moved us suddenly I wouldn't fight it and possibly destroy the mesh and he had to be able to trust that I knew what I was doing in there."

Sirius shifted uncomfortably; he wasn't sure he liked where this was going. "And?" he asked hesitantly.

"And we...well, understand each other a bit better now," Harry said. "I understand why he hated my Dad and why he doesn't like you that much." Harry paused and looked a little uncomfortable. "He...he's kind of got a point there, Sirius. You and my Dad didn't really treat him that well. He...he's got a right not to like you very much."

Harry swallowed and watched Sirius, unsure how that particularly statement was going to be received.

Sirius scowled. "He gave as good as he got, you know," he demanded.

"Yes, I know," Harry said patiently. "But you humiliated him in public, Sirius." He sighed and then his face hardened. "I...I just wish the two of you would stop acting like you're still fifteen. I...I love you, Sirius. You're the closest thing to father I've ever had; you and Remus. But I...I think I respect Professor Snape."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I...I'll try," he said reluctantly. "But I hope your not expecting us to become friends."

Harry rolled his eyes. "No but a lack of nastiness and hexing would be appreciated."

"I suppose I can manage that," Sirius said with a small smile. "As long as Snape does as well."

"Yes!" Harry said. "I'm sure he got that impression from me last night." He frowned as he realised something. "Where's Remus?"

Sirius was happy to accept the change of subject. "Asleep, I hope."

Harry looked surprised. Remus wasn't by and large a late sleeper, even on weekends.

"He was up pretty late last night reinforcing some of the wards with Mad-Eye," Sirius explained with exasperation. "Damn fool that he is. You think after all this time he'd have learnt not to stress himself the night before the full moon."

Harry started a little. He'd forgotten tonight was the full moon. He grinned. He'd been running with Moony and Padfoot since the first full moon after he learnt how to become an animagus. The first night had been exciting to say the least. He and Moony had circled each other for a few minutes before a full-on dominance brawl had started. Padfoot had had the good sense to stay out of it. It had been a close run thing but Moony had finally come out on top and retained his alpha male status. Blaze, the name which both Sirius and Remus insisted on calling his dire wolf, had accepted this with reasonably good grace but since then there had been one more dominance scuffle between the two of them. Harry's friends had a bit of difficulty understanding how they could have these scuffles and yet not worry in the slightest about them. Harry had tried to explain that it was just a wolf thing but they still hadn't quite got it.

"Is he alright?" Harry asked with concern.

"Yeah," Sirius said smiling. "He just needs to rest. He'll be fine tonight."

Harry sighed with relief.

"Come on, get dressed," Sirius said standing up and offering his hand to his godson. "Ron and Hermione were here earlier. The DA want to work on their animagus transformations today. Since you don't have a lesson, you can come along and help and show off."

Harry grinned and allowed Sirius to pull him up.

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

Half an hour later they were in the Room of Requirement with about a dozen members of the DA. These were the ones who were really serious about becoming animagi. The group consisted of Harry's five friends, Cho Chang, Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones. Sirius quickly set them to work. Ron, who was still the only one to manage the visualisation spell properly, was sent to work with Harry to try the actual transformation. Sirius took the others.

"Mate, you can do it," Harry said bracingly. "If you can manage the visualisation spell then you can do the transformation. Just relax, concentrate on your animagus form and let yourself flow into the form. Your magic will take care of the rest. Don't try and change."

Ron sighed and nodded. He settled himself down again, closed his eyes and concentrated on the red setter his visualisation had shown. He was then startled when he suddenly flowed into the shape. He yelped in surprise and Harry laughed.

"There you are, mate," Harry crowed. "Look at yourself."

A mirror had surreptitiously appeared in the corner of the room and Ron padded over to look at himself. Yep, there he was, a genuine Irish Red Setter. He doggy-grinned and wagged his tail then changed back into himself.

"Wow!" he breathed in delight and gasped when an excited Hermione threw herself into his arms. He hugged her back and blushed when she kissed him firmly.

"Oh, Ron, you did it!" she squealed.

Ron grinned with pride and a little embarrassment. Hermione kissed him again and headed back to the cushion she had been sitting on, a look of utter determination on her face. Harry slapped his oldest friend on the back and abruptly shifted into the big Dire Wolf. Ron grinned and shifted into the dog. The two of them then proceeded to bound around the room until Sirius grinned and yelled at them to stop. They changed back and Ron grinned.

"Do you think I could run with you guys at the full moon?" he asked excitedly.

Harry blinked and looked at Sirius.

Sirius hesitated. "Well, I suppose so. Just don't tell your mother. That woman scares me and I'd hate to think about her reaction if she knew I was letting you run around with a werewolf, even if it is Remus."

Ron grinned. "You must think I'm barmy, Sirius. I'm not stupid enough to do that!"

"Good," Sirius said. "Oh, and go and see Remus at some point. He's got the registration form you need to fill out."

Ron sighed and nodded. Just then Hermione crowed with delight and they looked over. Hovering in front of her was the image of a large eagle.

"Whoa," Ron said, impressed. "That's a bloody big bird."

"It's a Golden Eagle," Hermione said, almost dazed. "Their wing spans can reach up to 2 meters." She seemed stunned at her animagus form.

Sirius shook his head in admiration. "You can try the change in here but I wouldn't try flying..." he trailed off. Suddenly the Room of Requirement was about the size of the Great Hall. "Okay," Sirius continued, "perhaps you can try flying in here. Try the transformation."

Hermione took a deep breath and ended the visualisation spell. She then closed her eyes and concentrated. After a few minutes she opened her eyes again.

"I feel like I should be able to do it," she said, frowning, "but I can't seem to get there."

"You've got to believe you can do it," Sirius said gently. "You've got to believe you can be that eagle or it won't work. Look, you're still surprised by it. Take a couple of minutes to take it all in and try again."

Hermione swallowed and nodded. She got up and walked over to the bookshelves.

Ron grinned. "Typical Hermione," he said quietly and with affection. "Got a problem, try a book."

Harry chuckled softly and continued to watch Hermione as she calmed herself down with her reading. After a few minutes, she put the book down and went back to her cushion. Harry waved to Sirius and gestured towards Hermione. Sirius wandered over just as Hermione closed her eyes again. The three of them watched with anticipation. Ron had voiced the opinion just after they got back from their Christmas holidays that Hermione would managed the transformation as soon as she managed the visualisation and the three of them were now hoping he was right.

Hermione concentrated on her eagle form and like Harry and Ron before her was startled when she suddenly flowed into the eagle. She hopped around in surprise for a moment and gave a small cry before settling down. She looked around and snapped her beak a couple of times before spreading her wings out and admiring them. She had beautiful dark brown plumage that shaded to a golden colour on her neck and head and a short, dark hooked beak with a yellow cere. She flapped her wings tentatively and let out a startled squawk when her feet left the ground momentarily. She settled back onto the ground with her wings still spread and gave her head a quick shake. She then flapped her wings more forcefully and, to the delight of all those watching, took off. She was a little shaky in the air at first but as she slowly flapped around the Room of Requirement her flight became more confident.

Sirius looked around and found what he wanted on a nearby table. He pulled on the long leather glove he had wanted.

"Hermione," he called.

The golden eagle lazily turned and glided back towards them. She eyed Sirius for a moment and they saw a hint of nervousness in her golden eyes. She flew closer and back-winged in for a landing on Sirius arm, taking great care as she closed her talons around his wrist that she didn't grip too hard. When she settled and folded her wings up, Sirius grinned and gently stroked her head.

"Well done, Hermione," he said before gently lowering her to the ground.

She changed back and stood for a moment with her eyes closed and a look of delight on her face. When she opened her eyes she looked straight at Harry.

"Now I know why you like flying so much," she said with a beatific smile. "It's wonderful!"

"Why don't you come with us tonight?" Harry suggested.

Hermione smile modulated into an exasperated look. "Harry," she said patiently, "eagles don't fly well at night and I really don't think smacking into every tree in the Forest would be that good for me."

"Oh," Harry said looking slightly abashed, "I didn't know that."

Hermione was about to answer when they heard a yell from behind them. The three friends turned around and saw Sirius crouching next to a delighted Neville. Floating in front of him was the image of a large bay-coloured horse with a white blaze and socks. Hermione frowned and looked around for the book she wanted. Seeing it on a nearby bookshelf, she picked it up and started flicking through the pages.

"Thought so," she muttered to herself and then she spoke in a louder voice. "It's a Clydesdale, Neville." She looked down at the page she had open. "They were developed in Scotland by farmers but have often been used for heavy haulage. They stand between 16 and 18 hands high but can reach over 19 hands and can weigh up to a tonne."

There were gasps from many of those watching and Neville looked at her with surprise.

"H...how tall is 16 hands?" he asked as he eyed the image in front of him, speculation in his eyes.

Hermione flipped through the book for a minute and then did some calculations. "16 hands would be just over one and a half meters and 19 hands would be almost two meters. That measurement is from the shoulder to the ground, by the way, not from the head to the ground."

"Thanks," Neville said absently as he looked intently at the Clydesdale in front of him. He dismissed the image and closed his eyes and concentrated. Those watching held their breath but nothing happened. Neville opened his eyes again and frowned before trying again. Again nothing happened and Sirius patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't try and rush it," he said with a grin. "It'll happen...eventually."

Neville looked over at him with a wry look and chuckled. Sirius stood up and clapped his hands.

"Okay everyone," he said loudly. "I think that's enough for today. Hermione, Ron, don't forget to get the registration forms from Remus. You can give them back to him when you've filled them in; he'll see that they get to the Ministry."

Everyone groaned but struggled to their feet and drifted out of the room. Neville stood looking down at his feet for a moment before looking up. He concentrated for a minute and then there was a large Clydesdale standing in front of them, pride shining in its eyes. Harry and Ron gave a whoop and grinned at their fellow Gryffindor and Hermione laughed with delight. Sirius grinned and walked over to the huge horse and slapped it on the shoulder.

"Well done, Neville," he said with a barking laugh. "You'd better go with Hermione and Ron to get those forms."

The horse transformed back into a smiling Neville. Hermione and Ron ran over and escorted him out of the room, laughing and congratulating him. Harry looked over at Sirius and smiled.

"Think all of this is going to help when the times comes?" he asked.

"Yes," said Sirius firmly. "Anything that convinces you and your friends that you can do anything you want will help." The smile fell from Sirius face and a worried, almost haunted look replaced it. "He'll be coming after you, Harry. Anything that your friends can do will help. Anything."

Harry closed his eyes and sighed. He walked over to Sirius and let himself be drawn into a hug.

"Yeah," he said with a heartfelt sigh.