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<div class="chap-title">
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18. Chapter 18
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 18</strong></p>
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<p>On the way to defence class, the golden trio was joined by Draco.</p>
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<p>"Hi Draco," Harry greeted, "How's life?"</p>
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<p>"Much better without a certain insanity-driven family member in it," Draco
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replied.</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled, "I can imagine. Ready to get the snot beaten out of you?"</p>
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<p>"Me?" Draco replied, "Please, I'm a god when it comes to defence. If anyone's in
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trouble, it's Weasley."</p>
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<p>"Hey!" Ron said, "I could've done the same thing you did in that forest. I just
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wasn't invited."</p>
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<p>"Neither was I," Draco replied easily, grinning crookedly, "I simply didn't take
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no for an answer."</p>
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<p>"Boys, boys," Hermione interjected, "You're both pretty. Now can we move along
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before we run late?"</p>
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<p>"Hey, that's odd," Harry suddenly said, stopping at a sign they came across. "This
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wasn't here before."</p>
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<p>The sign read 'The Potions Laboratory'. Draco laughed out loud when he saw it.
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"Well that's entirely wrong," he chuckled.</p>
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<p>"Some poor first years are going to get lost," Hermione said in exasperation. She
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took out her wand and waved it at the sign but nothing happened to it. She blinked in
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confusion and tried again but to no avail. "It won't change."</p>
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<p>"Leave it," Draco said, "Even the first years have been here for a few months
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already. If they don't know their way yet, it's their own fault."</p>
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<p>"Don't be so heartless," Hermione huffed but she put away her wand anyway. "Now
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come on or Professor Snape will probably give us all detention."</p>
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<p>Harry laughed, "We can always tell him the sign confused us."</p>
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<p>The foursome sprinted – since they were really running late now – towards the
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classroom and made it just in time. Snape was already sitting there, eyeing them
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amusedly when they barged inside. Everyone else was already present.</p>
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<p>"How kind of you to grace us with your presence," Snape said evenly, "Perhaps you
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should refrain from taking a second helping next time, Mr Weasley."</p>
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<p>Ron flushed and Draco snorted. Anticipating a lecture of some sort, they stood
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waiting until Snape waved them off with his hand. "Take your seats before I decide to
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take points."</p>
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<p>They all did, somewhere near the back of the class.</p>
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<p>"We have spent a large part of last year as well as these first few months on
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individual prowess and improvement," Snape drawled, "And yet, you will find yourself
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in numerous situations where you are expected to work together. Some of you wish to
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pursue the career of an Auror. If so, you will be assigned a partner and expected to
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work together for the length of your careers. The same goes for many other tangents
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in the path of this line of work.</p>
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<p>"You need to be able to protect each other as well as count on your partner,
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wherever they came from." He eyed his students carefully. "Even a Slytherin has to be
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able to work with a Gryffindor. Try not to lose yourself in each other's weaknesses
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but build on each other's strengths."</p>
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<p>Snape grinned. "I'm sure you all know where I'm going with this. You will be
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pairing up with someone from another house. Choose wisely because you will be
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training alongside each other for a considerable amount of time. You're allowed ten
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minutes for your selection. No more. Begin!"</p>
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<p>"I choose Draco!" Ron and Harry said in unison.</p>
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<p>"Hey!" Hermione pouted, "That's not fair. Why can't I duel with Draco for a
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change?"</p>
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<p>"Wouldn't you feel more comfortable with another girl, though?" Ron said.</p>
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<p>Hermione huffed, "Not necessarily. I just want to get good grades."</p>
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<p>"While I am flattered to be so desirable," Draco interjected, "I think I choose
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Harry."</p>
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<p>"Out of the question," Snape suddenly said. Harry whirled around to see the man
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looming over them.</p>
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<p>"What?" He objected, "Why not?"</p>
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<p>"The teams will be facing off against one another as you've no doubt gathered,"
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Snape said easily, "I hardly think it fair to allow the two of you to team up against
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any other pair. I would rather not have any casualties in my class."</p>
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<p>"We wouldn't kill anyone," Draco snorted, "We can control ourselves."</p>
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<p>"Even so," Snape said, "You wouldn't learn a thing from drawing on each other's
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strengths. You know each other very well already, having been in battle
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together."</p>
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<p>Harry groaned and Snape rolled his eyes in response. "Don't be childish. Just find
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someone else. I am sure you will have a myriad of partners to choose from."</p>
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<p>Harry smiled when he realized that Snape was acting like his normal self. Maybe he
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shouldn't have worried as much as he had about the man. "Alright, Professor," he
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finally replied. "Sorry, Draco."</p>
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<p>But the blonde waved him off and turned towards Ron and Hermione. "Alright, which
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one of you wants to be in my magnificent presence for the next couple of months?"</p>
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<p>Harry allowed his eyes to roam the others who seemed to be wandering aimlessly
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through the classroom when he was addressed by someone.</p>
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<p>"Would you like to pair up with me?"</p>
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<p>Harry recognised the boy as Michael Corner. He had been one of the original
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members of the D.A. and Harry knew that he was actually very capable. He had straight
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black hair and brown eyes that looked at Harry expectantly. Harry knew Ron didn't
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like him very much but thought that had more to do with him dating his sister way
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back when than anything else.</p>
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<p>"Michael, was it?" Harry replied, "Fine by me if you think you can keep up with
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me."</p>
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<p>Michael flashed Harry a crooked smile, an eager glint in his eyes. "I might
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surprise you still," he said smoothly, extending his hand. Harry shook it, sealing
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their new partnership.</p>
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<p>"Time's up," Snape announced and the classroom fell silent. "Has everyone paired
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up? Good. The first thing we will be practising is blocking for each other. Find
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another team and wait for further instructions.</p>
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<p>Ron rushed over to Harry, frowning slightly when he saw Michael. He was flanked by
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Blaise Zabini who – for now – followed easily.</p>
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<p>"Want to face off against us?" Ron asked.</p>
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<p>"If you think you can handle us," Harry teased.</p>
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<p>Zabini huffed. "I'm sure that being dragged down by dead weight like that –" he
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inclined his head towards Michael "- will have you at a disadvantage."</p>
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<p>"Oh?" Harry replied, "If I recall correctly, Michael made it into the advanced
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defence lessons last year. And where were you again Zabini? Oh right, you were almost
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not even good enough to stay."</p>
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<p>"That's quite enough," Snape sneered but it wasn't directed at Harry's group per
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se. Bickering had broken out nearly everywhere but stopped as soon as Snape had
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raised his voice.</p>
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<p>"For now, you will all be blocking stunning curses," he said, "This is not your
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first year and I expect you all to know what you're doing at least. You will do this
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all nonverbally. Points will be deducted for each word you say. You will not be
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taking turns either. Treat this exercise as a real battle. If you get stunned, you
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are out. If your partner gets stunned, you are out. When you are victorious, you
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await the next party to be at the ready and start over. Begin."</p>
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<p>Immediately, Harry and Michael backed away from Ron and Zabini. For a moment, no
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spells were thrown, all four of them waiting for the others to begin. Eventually, it
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was Zabini who fired the first stunning spell. Harry flicked his wand and thought of
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his own version of the shield charm. Immediately, a pair of shields formed in front
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of him and Michael.</p>
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<p>Harry looked at Michael briefly, grinning as he did. The Ravenclaw seemed to
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understand his intent and smirked. He fired off a stunning hex at Zabini but it was
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blocked. Ron tried to reciprocate with his own spell but the shields were firmly held
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in place by Harry and Michael cast his own spell at Ron who was unable to defend as
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he had already fired off his attack. Zabini should've been able to block for him but
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either didn't or couldn't. Ron was taken out of the battle but Zabini didn't seem to
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care. He kept throwing his curses at the pair in front of him.</p>
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<p>Harry shook his head at the ridiculous Slytherin. He noticed that Zabini was now
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focusing all of his attacks on Harry as if he would be able to break through his
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shield. Harry looked at Michael again and nodded, hoping that the Ravenclaw would get
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his intent. When he noticed a second shield charm form in front of him, he knew that
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he had. He dropped his own shields and waited until Zabini fired another spell. At
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exactly the same moment, Harry cast his own stunning hex, effectively hitting Zabini
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square in the chest. The Slytherin actually flew backwards for a few feet before
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landing in a crumpled heap.</p>
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<p>"Wicked," Michael said, high fiving Harry for their victory. Harry grinned and
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went to wake up Ron. The redhead groaned as he got up from the floor.</p>
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<p>"We never stood a chance," he whined.</p>
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<p>"Next time," Michael said, "Once you learn to work together, you'll manage."</p>
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<p>Ron snorted but didn't respond. He walked over to the side-lines, not even
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bothering with waking up his teammate and sat down.</p>
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<p>It was only to be expected that Harry and Michael won from every team they went up
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against. And if Harry was honest, that was not even entirely because of him. Did his
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own experience help him? Well, of course! But Michael was not bad himself. He seemed
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to have a clear understanding of how a battle worked and was able to move with the
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finesse of a Quidditch player. They had steered clear of Draco and Hermione, knowing
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full well that they would probably be the team to beat and when the lesson had nearly
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come to its conclusion it was indeed them they were faced off against.</p>
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<p>Everyone else was watching them. Snape was leaning against the wall, his arms
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crossed and a smirk on his face.</p>
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<p>"A very expected turn of things," he drawled, "Why don't you show your fellow
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classmates what it takes to be on a team. Use whatever spells you deem necessary
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except for ones that may kill or maim permanently. Is that understood?"</p>
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<p>Harry locked gazes with Michael once more and was satisfied to see that the boy
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was absolutely ready for it. He seemed eager to show what he was capable off with a
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burning passion. This was probably one of the students that aspired to become an
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Auror.</p>
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<p>"Begin," Snape said.</p>
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<p>Both teams backed up, leaving a large amount of space between them. They stared
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each other down but none of them was making the first move. Harry tightened his grip
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on his wand as he shifted his weight to his back leg, regarding his adversaries
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carefully.</p>
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<p>The classroom was completely silent as the onlookers waited with bated breath.
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Snape still acted aloof and relaxed but Harry knew that he too as waiting
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intently.</p>
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<p>Then, Harry and Draco both stepped forward at the same time, firing off their
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spells. A blue beam met a red one in mid-air and an explosion followed. Harry ducked
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to the right – away from Michael – and tried to make use of the smoke that had formed
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to bypass Draco.</p>
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<p>Trying to sneak past a Slytherin was a mistake though and he soon saw the
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tell-tale red streak of a hex rushing his way. He raised his wand to attempt a
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defensive shield when the spell already broke off against one a few feet in front of
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him. '<em>Thanks Michael'</em>, he thought and rushed towards the middle of the
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'battlefield'.</p>
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<p>The smoke was gone now and Harry met up with Michael in the middle. They turned so
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they stood with their backs towards one another. Hermione and Draco were both on
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opposite ends of the room. They both fired a hex at the same time but Harry
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recognised them for the elemental attacks they were and knew that a simper
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'<em>Protego'</em> would not work. Michael hadn't noticed and his useless shield was
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already up.</p>
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<p>In a split second, Harry decided to shield Michael from Draco's attack that would
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be decidedly worse than Hermione's.</p>
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<p>"Stantibus Clypeum," he shouted as he grabbed Michael's arm. He was not able to
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cast this one nonverbally yet but he heard no groans of protest from the Gryffindors.
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Michael's skin turned into an earthy brown as it seemed to harden and sheen.
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Meanwhile, Harry tried to duck out of the way of Hermione's blast and barely managed.
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His arm was grazed by the spell and stung painfully but he ignored it for now as he
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charged at Hermione.</p>
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<p>If the other team had wanted to split up, that was on them. Hermione took a step
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back and fired off some new curses and hexes that Harry simply dodged and blocked. He
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heard the sounds of a second battle behind him but focused on the witch in front of
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him.</p>
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<p>With another flick of his wand, he managed to disarm Hermione. He caught her wand
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as it flew in his hand and smiled at her victoriously, his wand now trained on her
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neck.</p>
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<p>"Well," Snape suddenly drawled, "It would appear we have a draw."</p>
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<p>Harry blinked and turned around to see Michael on the floor, completely
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incapacitated by a stunning hex. Draco was looking at him rather smugly.</p>
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<p>"It would appear that you all still have a lot to learn about working together,"
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Snape continued, "Nonetheless, it was very well done."</p>
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<p>"Potter cast one of his spells verbally though," Zabini sneered.</p>
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<p>"Did he?" Snape sneered, "I must not have heard that over the obvious jealousy
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that came exuding from you. Come complain to me once <em>you're</em> able to cast
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that particular spell nonverbally. Or at all, now that I think of it."</p>
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<p>Zabini flushed but kept his mouth shut after that.</p>
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<p>"Class dismissed," Snape said and walked over to his desk, straightening out some
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papers as he stared at them dumbfoundedly.</p>
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<p>"Is something wrong?" Harry asked as he approached the Professor.</p>
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<p>"No," Snape said, now moving his inkwell a few inches to the right, "Just the
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feeling that – never mind." He shook his head and placed the papers on the edge of
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his desk. "Something I can help you with, Harry?"</p>
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<p>"I was wondering if you still wanted to continue those Occlumency lessons," Harry
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said bravely.</p>
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<p>"Naturally," Snape replied, "It would be a shame to quit now. You've come so close
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after all."</p>
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<p>"Do you mean it?" Harry asked, "I just thought… well,"</p>
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<p>Snape sighed. "It wasn't your fault," he said, "And you may not have realized but
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I am an Occlumens. I am capable of controlling and reigning in my emotions. Which is
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exactly what you need to learn."</p>
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<p>"Right," Harry said, somewhat relieved. "For what it's worth, I think I get it
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now."</p>
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<p>Snape quirked a sardonic eyebrow. "Do you?"</p>
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<p>Harry nodded, "Absolutely."</p>
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<p>"We'll see," Snape said, "But for now, you'd best run along."</p>
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<p>"Oh shoot," Harry said when he noticed everyone else was gone. "You're right. See
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you later!"</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>As Harry and his friends manoeuvred through the corridors that day, they noticed a
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lot more of those signs along the way. Most of them pointed in the entirely wrong
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direction for what they were depicting but a small amount of them was correct.</p>
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<p>It wasn't until Harry sat in the History of Magic class, waiting for Professor
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Bell to arrive that he realized what must be happening. She didn't show up for
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fifteen minutes and Harry suspected that the signage had thrown her off
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completely.</p>
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<p>"Maybe we should look for her," Draco offered willingly. Hermione rolled her eyes
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at him.</p>
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<p>"Eager, aren't you?" she pointed out.</p>
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<p>"I bet she's somewhere near the transfiguration classroom," Harry offered, "There
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was a sign reading 'History of Magic,' pointed in that direction anyway.</p>
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<p>"I can't believe she still doesn't know her way around here," Ron chuckled.</p>
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<p>"Come on, I'll go with you," Harry told Draco, "These History lessons are too good
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to miss."</p>
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<p>"Try not to get attacked by death eaters on the way there," Ron jibed
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good-naturedly.</p>
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<p>"We'll do our very best," Draco replied dutifully before exiting the classroom
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with Harry on his heels.</p>
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<p>"So, do you think Snape is behind this?" he asked.</p>
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<p>"Almost definitely," Harry chuckled. "But to be honest, she kind of had it
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coming."</p>
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<p>"I'll say," Draco said happily, "I'm still looking for a charm to make that card
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permanent. It's one of my most prized possessions."</p>
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<p>"Don't let Snape catch you doing that," Harry warned, "Or he <em>really</em> might
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lock you up in the dungeons."</p>
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<p>"He would never punish his darling godson," Draco said assuredly, "I am simply too
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endearing."</p>
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<p>Harry cuffed Draco playfully. "You're a prat."</p>
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<p>"And where are you two headed?" asked a familiar voice. Harry and Draco stopped in
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their tracks to meet a surprised looking McGonagall.</p>
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<p>"Hi Professor," Harry greeted sheepishly.</p>
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<p>"Don't hi me, Potter," McGonagall said, "Why aren't you in class?"</p>
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<p>"Professor Bell is missing," Harry explained, "We're expecting her to be somewhere
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around here. Have you seen her?"</p>
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<p>McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose as if she was fighting a headache. She
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mumbled something under her breath but Harry didn't quite catch it.</p>
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<p>"Point me Maya Bell," she said and started walking with Draco and Harry on her
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tail. She stopped in front of her own classroom – there was no transfiguration lesson
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planned this hour – and opened the door. Maya was sitting behind her desk.</p>
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<p>"Oh, Minerva!" she greeted, "Good to see you."</p>
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<p>"What are you doing here, Maya?" McGonagall asked, not quite able to hide her
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exasperation.</p>
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<p>Professor Bell flushed a bit. "I'm afraid I'm terribly lost," she admitted, "But
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the new signs pointed me in the direction of this classroom so I thought some changes
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had been made. But the students aren't coming."</p>
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<p>"I don't know who put those signs there," McGonagall said sternly, "But they are
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most decidedly wrong. And you are in the wrong classroom."</p>
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<p>Professor Bell sucked in the air between her teeth. "Yes, I thought as much."</p>
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<p>"Harry, Draco," McGonagall said, "Kindly escort Professor Bell to her own
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classroom if you will."</p>
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<p>"Of course, Professor," Harry said easily.</p>
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<p>"Your escort awaits," Draco said haughtily, offering his arm. Maya chuckled and
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took it as the three of them strolled out of the transfiguration classroom,
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McGonagall shaking her head in their wake.</p>
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<p>"I must admit that Severus really got me good with this one," Bell said
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cheerfully.</p>
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<p>"You think it was Snape?" Draco asked.</p>
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<p>"I might not have a sense of direction but I do have a brain, you know?" Bell
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said, "What other purpose could there possibly be?"</p>
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<p>"We thought so too," Harry admitted.</p>
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<p>"When do you think he'll have mercy on me?" Bell asked.</p>
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<p>"Mercy?" Harry chuckled, "Severus shows no mercy, Professor."</p>
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<p>Bell snorted. "Ah well, at least I'll get plenty of exercise roaming these
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hallways."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>After the severely shortened History lesson where every student had been given a
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character to play a role in the diplomacy feast of 1845, Harry lost track of
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Professor Bell again since they had Potions class next. Ron had had a free period
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which he undoubtedly spent playing Quidditch.</p>
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<p>All four of them met up in the great hall for dinner where a sufficiently
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smug-looking Snape sat, glancing at McGonagall in defiance.</p>
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<p>"Fred and George would be proud," Ron snorted, "Who knew Snape had it in him to be
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a prankster."</p>
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<p>"I did," Draco said easily.</p>
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<p>"Sure," Ron replied sardonically, "April fool's day must be a real hoot in the
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Slytherin common room. Tell me, does he replace your shampoo with befuddlement
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potions?"</p>
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<p>Draco rolled his eyes. "He's normally not like this at Hogwarts," he explained, "I
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meant at home. He's my godfather after all."</p>
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<p>"Is he seriously not going to help Professor Bell out?" Hermione asked, "At this
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rate, she might end up starving. She didn't make it here for breakfast or lunch
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either."</p>
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<p>Harry met Snape's gaze who smirked at him and Harry narrowed his eyes, inclining
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his head towards the great hall entrance. Snape simply shrugged and took a bite from
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his food.</p>
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<p>'<em>Come on, be a gentleman,</em>' Harry wrote on his cuff.</p>
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<p>'<em>Chivalry is a Gryffindor trait,</em>' came the reply.</p>
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<p>'<em>Don't make me lace your food with your own limerick potion</em>,' Harry
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|
threatened.</p>
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<p>Snape stared at him coldly for a while before replying.</p>
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<p>'<em>Even you are smart enough to realize you can't get to me through
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potions.'</em></p>
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<p>'<em>Not yet, perhaps</em>,' Harry replied simply.</p>
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<p>Snape sighed theatrically and got up from his seat. He walked past Gryffindor
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table, cuffing Harry lightly on the head as he went. Harry laughed and watched him
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go.</p>
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<p>"I envy your powers of persuasion," Draco said in awe. "If you can get
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<em>Snape</em> to do something, you can influence everyone."</p>
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<p>"You're a Malfoy," Harry pointed out, "I'm sure you're fine."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Snape followed his own signage that led to the astronomy tower even though it read
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'Great Hall'. He climbed the stairs to find Maya at the end of them, looking through
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the large telescope that was used for astronomy classes.</p>
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<p>"Did you not realize that there are no winding staircases that lead to the Great
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hall?" Snape asked. Maya didn't even jump when he made his presence known.</p>
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<p>"Hi Severus," she said, still staring through the telescope, "Took you long
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enough."</p>
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<p>"Yes, well, you have my son to thank for my coming here at all," Snape replied
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evenly.</p>
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<p>This time, Maya looked away and met Snape's bored glance with a smile. "Tell him I
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said thanks," she said, "Because I'm simply starving."</p>
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<p>"Come on then," Snape said, descending the stairs again.</p>
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<p>"I love astronomy, you know," Maya suddenly said. Snape didn't reply. "Of course
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|
I'll tell you why that is," Maya replied to the unspoken question. "You see, by
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reading the stars you can find your way around, even if your sense of direction is as
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|
horrible as mine."</p>
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|
<p>Snape smirked. "I hope you learned your lesson."</p>
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<p>"And what would that be?" Maya asked sweetly.</p>
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<p>"Don't try and prank the master of cunning," Snape replied evenly.</p>
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<p>Maya laughed loudly. "Alright," she said, "I'll at least admit that I've met my
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|
match. But I'm not giving up yet!"</p>
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|
<p>They walked past a sign that incorrectly pointed to the Defence classroom and
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|
Snape waved his wand, changing it to correctly point towards the Great Hall.</p>
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<p>"I didn't expect you to," Snape said smiling slightly. "Just don't be surprised
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|
when you suddenly end up de-aged and transferred to Beauxbatons.</p>
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|
<p>"You would never!" Maya exclaimed, grabbing hold of Snape's elbow with both her
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hands entwined around it. "You would miss me way too much."</p>
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|
<p>Snape snorted but allowed the close proximity of the History teacher. "You
|
|
|
overestimate your value," he said.</p>
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<p>"Well, your son would miss me," Maya pointed out, "And I know your godson would as
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|
well. So face it, you're stuck with me."</p>
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|
<p>"As you say," Snape sighed in resignation as they arrived at the entrance of the
|
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|
great hall. "Now unhand me woman, or I'll never hear the end of it."</p>
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|
<p>Maya laughed and released him, skipping ahead of him to run into the great hall,
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|
the dark master following behind her. He looked up just in time to see that
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self-satisfied smirk on Harry's face.</p>
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<p>"Brat," he mouthed. Harry just laughed.</p>
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