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<div class="chap-title">
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24. Chapter 24
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 24</strong></p>
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<p>"Harry," Snape started, "If it makes you uncomfortable, you honestly needn't
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concern yourself with it."</p>
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<p>Harry said nothing for a while. He just kept staring at the envelope in his hand.
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The writing was neat and sort of loopy. He recognised the distinct way in which
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Dudley crossed his t's in an upward curvature rather than a horizontal slash. A habit
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he apparently never broke.</p>
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<p>"Shouldn't I have brought it?" Alex asked, "I can always take it back. Pretend it
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never got delivered."</p>
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<p>Dudley's own address was written in a smaller print underneath his own name. The
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words 'Privet Drive' seemed so unreal to Harry at that point. His eyes lingered on
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the curly S that started off the word 'Surrey' wondering just how life was at that
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house of horrors now that he wasn't around anymore.</p>
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<p>"Harry," Snape urged again. His hand swooped down on the envelope in Harry's hand
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with the intention to take it from him but Harry clamped down harder, his gaze
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lifting to look at Snape.</p>
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<p>"It's alright," Harry said, forcing himself to smile somewhat. "It's just a
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letter. What harm could it do?"</p>
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<p>"To the-boy-who-lived?" Alex chimed in, "Not very much, I'd wager." It was clear
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that he was trying to be funny, but the words left his mouth in an unsure fashion.
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Harry's attention was back on the envelope so he wasn't even aware of the glare Snape
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shot Alex.</p>
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<p>"Thank you for stopping by, Alexander," Snape said. To Harry, it sounded distant.
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"Would you mind terribly if I asked you to leave, for now?"</p>
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<p>"Of course, Severus," Alex agreed, "I'll come back some other time, okay?"</p>
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<p>Snape nodded and Alex walked out the door, stopping only for a second to look back
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at Harry. He wisely didn't say anything more and left, closing the door as softly as
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he could.</p>
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<p>With much trepidation and an unsteady hand, Harry opened the envelope, tearing it
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slightly since it was glued shut. Harry wasn't really used to the muggle way of
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sending letters anymore. Finally, he took out the two pieces of paper which were
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folded neatly in half and opened them.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Dear Harry,</em></p>
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<p>Harry couldn't help but snort at the way he was addressed. Not only the fact that
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Dudley used his first name felt off, but the '<em>dear'</em> in front of it felt as
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if it belonged in a different universe entirely.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I know that I'm probably one of the last people you would ever want
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to hear from, especially when it is so close to Christmas but I felt like there are
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many things that need to be said and I couldn't hold off anymore.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Basically, I want to apologise.</em></p>
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<p>Harry swallowed thickly. He realized that it had been a few years since he had
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even seen Dudley but he could never have guessed that his cousin would have grown
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enough to apologise for anything, let alone for the things he had put Harry through.
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It seemed unreal. Half expecting this to turn into a cruel joke, he continued
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reading.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I know there are no excuses for having done what I have done to you
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and I realize now that I've been unnecessarily cruel and unjust towards you. Over the
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years, I have realized that the way my parents have been treating you was beyond
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abusive. You have no idea what it took for me to just write that. But it's true.
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They've both been horribly abusive to you and I honestly can't even fathom how you're
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still alive. Perhaps it was your magic that kept you alive. Perhaps you're just made
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of strong stuff.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>When my parents went to Cokeworth and were stopped by your teacher,
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I was out of it. I was later told that I had been attacked by some sort of magical
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creature and was sent to a magical hospital to get better. Harry, those people helped
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me so much. And they did wonderful things with their magic. They made potions that
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helped with the nightmares and there were people that talked with me to clear things
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up. I understand that you've suffered greatly in your life but you must understand
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that for a long while, I thought I could never be happy again.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>While there, I heard your name a lot. How you were supposed to be
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the saviour of the wizarding world. How people were suffering and dying every day and
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how they hoped that you would destroy you-know-who soon. I was never aware of the
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tremendous pressure you were under. I never knew just how much people depended on
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you. I know you've mentioned it once or twice but you must understand that it all
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seemed very unreal.</em></p>
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<p>Harry snorted in slight amusement. He understood very well how unreal it all would
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seem. Hell, even Harry himself had found it ridiculous at times. Especially when he
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hadn't even heard the prophecy yet. Not believing that particular claim was not
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something Harry could fault Dudley for.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>What I'm trying to say is that I admire you. You were bullied for
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most of your life and at the same time, some dark wizard was after your life and
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apparently came close to killing you practically every year! I was even made aware of
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the fact that you managed to fight off those horrible creatures that attacked me, all
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by yourself. You fought so bravely, even when I and many others tried knocking you
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down every step of the way.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I have broken all contact with my parents after I asked mum what
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the address was of your teacher. I don't know if you still live there, but if you
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don't, I'm sure he can get this letter to you. I honestly don't understand how
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they're not in jail. I know that by now you are loved and very respected. People
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would die for you, even if they never even met you. Surely, if you would wish to
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bring my parents to justice, you could do so easily. Why haven't you?</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I would like to tell you that if you should still want to do so,
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I'm willing to help you. Yes, I would bring to light my own horrible actions towards
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you, but it's the least I can do. And I want to do whatever I can for you. I know it
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won't make right what I did. I don't think anything ever will, to tell you the truth.
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But I can at least try.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Finally, I want to tell you that I know now that you are not a
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freak. You are my cousin. You have a wonderful gift that I am envious of. I'm glad
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for it, though, since it got you away from my folks. You are an amazingly strong
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person that has been able to overcome every hurdle in his life. You've done things I
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could never do in a million years and I admire you for it.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I regret everything I have done to you and if I could turn back
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time and be nicer to you, I would.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I will understand if you never want to hear from me again. I will
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not contact you on my own after sending this letter. But should you wish to send me
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one, I will send a reply. I just hope that one day, I will be able to introduce you
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to my children. They will not know their grandparents, so I hope they will at least
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know you.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Thank you for putting up with me all those years without horribly
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maiming me with magic. I've seen many things in that hospital and I know now what you
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could have done.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I will not ask for your forgiveness because I know that I don't
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deserve it.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Your cousin,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Dudley Dursley.</em></p>
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<p>Harry stared at the signature for a while, not really understanding why he felt
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tears brimming in his eyes. Snape apparently understood that Harry's eyes weren't
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darting across the words anymore and gently shook his shoulder.</p>
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<p>"Harry," he said, "Are you alright?"</p>
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<p>"I think so," Harry said quietly, his voice trembling. Why was he being so
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emotional about this?</p>
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<p>Snape seemingly felt alarmed. He hurriedly sat down in the chair next to Harry,
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grabbed his chin and made him look at him. "What did he say?" Snape growled, "If he
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hurt you in any way, I'll –'</p>
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<p>"He didn't say anything bad," Harry interrupted before he had to listen to Snape's
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fantasy about disembowelling his cousin. "He just said – well, why don't you just
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read it? It's too much to explain."</p>
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<p>Harry handed over the letter to Snape and sat there staring at his cold toast as
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Snape's eyes scanned the pages. Eventually, the man put down the letter gently and
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sighed.</p>
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<p>"Do you want to talk about it?" Snape asked.</p>
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<p>"I wish I knew if he was telling the truth," Harry said, "What if this is all a
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big joke?"</p>
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<p>"I could always slip him some veritaserum, if you wish," Snape replied easily.
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Harry would have laughed but Snape sounded dead serious.</p>
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<p>"No," he replied instead, "You'll probably be sent to Azkaban if the ministry
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finds out."</p>
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<p>"You don't need to send a reply," Snape said, "You don't owe him anything. He even
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says so himself."</p>
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<p>"But what if he means it?" Harry asked, "I can't just <em>not</em> reply."</p>
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<p>"I think you'll find that you can," Snape responded, "You are fully capable of
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tossing that letter in the bin and moving on with your life. If you wish, you could
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toss it in the fireplace."</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "That's a nice thought but I don't think I could do that," he
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said, "If Dudley is sincere, it took a lot of courage for him to write all those
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things. I honestly never even thought he would be able to write this much in one go."
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Harry chuckled. "But it's <em>his</em> handwriting."</p>
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<p>"How do you wish to proceed?" Snape asked.</p>
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<p>"I don't know yet," Harry said, "I think I'll take a few days to think about
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it."</p>
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<p>"That is always a wise course of action," Snape said, sipping his tea. "Were you
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still hungry? I could heat your food for you if you wish."</p>
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<p>"No, thank you," Harry said, "I don't think I could eat anything else right now.
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Can we just do some brewing or something?"</p>
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<p>"As you wish," Snape said, standing up from his seat. "Would you like to continue
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on your potion?"</p>
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<p>"Not that one," Harry said, "I'd rather keep the tests for it contained to
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Hogwarts."</p>
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<p>"Why?"</p>
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<p>"Well, think about it," Harry said, "The last test had as a side-effect that all
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of the ghosts in Hogwarts were drawn to me. If I had done that test in here, it
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would've seemed as if nothing had happened at all."</p>
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<p>"That's a valid point," Snape agreed, "So what would you like to do instead?"</p>
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<p>"Well, do you have any foxgloves stored in here?"</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>For the next couple of days, Harry practically locked himself in the potions lab –
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which Snape had created in the basement of the house – coming out only to eat and
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sleep.</p>
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<p>Snape would often find himself brewing right next to the boy, keeping a wary eye
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out as Harry tried to create the potion he wanted to make for Alex. He knew that
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Harry was trying to process Dudley's letter and was doing so by burying himself in
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potions work but Snape didn't mind. At least the behaviour was not as
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self-destructive as some of Harry's had been in the past.</p>
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<p>On the third day of brewing, Harry had just added the flax seeds and orange zest
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for his second attempt when he sat down heavily into his chair.</p>
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<p>Hedwig – who they had not been able to keep from the basement – sat proudly on a
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thick perch that Snape had fastened to the wall. She hooted softly in response to
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Harry's sudden arrest.</p>
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<p>"Harry?" Snape asked, "What's wrong?"</p>
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<p>"I'm going to send a reply," Harry responded, "It's only right."</p>
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<p>Snape sighed heavily. "If that is what you wish," he said.</p>
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<p>Harry remained silent as Snape walked over to his cauldron and peered inside of
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it. "Ten times clockwise should do, I'd wager?" he asked. Harry nodded before leaning
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back and closing his eyes.</p>
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<p>"I thought I was rid of all this, you know," he said while Snape stirred his
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potion for him. "I haven't even so much as thought about the Dursleys in over a year.
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Besides during the Occlumency lessons, of course."</p>
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<p>"The past is never where you think you left it," Snape said easily, "But sooner or
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later, we all have to let go of it."</p>
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<p>Harry looked at him strangely as Snape let go of the ladle and turned to look at
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him.</p>
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<p>"How do you come up with these things?" Harry asked in bewilderment.</p>
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<p>"I read a lot," Snape replied, smirking, "Now, are you going to toss in the next
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of your ingredients or will you deem this batch a failure as well?"</p>
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<p>Harry huffed. "You know as well as I do that the creation of a new potion does not
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happen overnight."</p>
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<p>"It doesn't," Snape agreed, "But I believe that this potion will prove to be a lot
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easier than the one you're already attempting."</p>
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<p>"I agree," Harry said as he emptied a small container of dirt on his station and
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imbued it with his magic. "But I still don't think I've got it entirely."</p>
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<p>"At least you're getting practice in the technique I showed you," Snape pointed
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out, "That should help greatly with the – What are you planning on calling that
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potion anyway?"</p>
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<p>"Umbral Locum," Harry informed him rather proudly.</p>
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<p>"Fitting," Snape said, "And yes. These techniques will work great for that."</p>
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<p>Harry buried the flobberworms in the sand, watching as they started writhing. When
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they stopped moving again, Harry cut them up and tossed them in the cauldron.</p>
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<p>"I suspect it will," he said. He stirred twenty times counter-clockwise, making
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sure to scrape the bottom of the cauldron sufficiently as to not allow any of the
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residue to stick to the bottom. "Do you think Alex will want to be my test subject
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again?"</p>
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<p>"He didn't seem averse to it last time," Snape pointed out, "I think he really
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wants to fly that broom. Which reminds me. We've been invited for dinner on boxing
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day."</p>
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<p>"Wow, really?" Harry asked, "Emma wants to put up with you again?"</p>
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<p>Snape smirked. "I'm quite sure that she's rather fond of you," he said, "but it
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wouldn't be proper of her to invite only you."</p>
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<p>"She might try to set you up with someone again," Harry chuckled.</p>
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<p>"Or she might have found someone for <em>you</em> this time," Snape pointed
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out.</p>
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<p>Harry removed the cauldron from the fire and allowed the liquid to cool down. "I'm
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going to write my letter now," he said, "If I don't do it now, I fear that I never
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will."</p>
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<p>"Dumbledore has always said that you're far too quick to forgive," Snape said
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gruffly, "And by Merlin, he is right."</p>
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<p>"I don't think you understand," Harry said, smiling gently. "But I will forgive
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him not for his sake, but for my own. It's what I need to do if I want to move on
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from this."</p>
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<p>"When did you get so smart?" Snape groaned.</p>
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<p>Harry grinned. "I read a lot."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><em>Dudley,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I would never have expected to hear from you again but here we
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are.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I must admit that I wasn't too eager to read your letter and
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afterwards, I had to think it over for days before deciding that I would write back
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to you.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>You are right to say that your actions – as well as those of your
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parents – have hurt me more than words can say. Seeing that on paper makes it sound a
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little awkward, but it's true.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Your parents are monsters and I will never see them in any other
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light. But you were a child that was taught by his parents to hurt the freak as much
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as he could. That doesn't mean I approve of your actions but it means that I
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understand.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I appreciate the offer of taking action against your parents but I
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would rather not. I'm already in the wizarding paper enough as it is, I don't want
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anyone to know about what my home life has been like. I would rather forget all of
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this has ever happened and move on.</em></p>
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|
<p class='c1'><em>That said, I think I could manage to allow for at least you to
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remain in my life, though I don't think I want to see you just yet. Writing this
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letter already takes a lot out of me.</em></p>
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|
<p class='c1'><em>When you have children of your own, I will make a conscious effort
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to meet them, of course. As long as they're not taught the same values you were, I
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might even be willing to be part of their lives. But those are things for the far
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future and will remain to be seen.</em></p>
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|
<p class='c1'><em>In any case, I appreciate that you broke ties with your parents for
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what they've done to me. And it means a lot for you to acknowledge your mistakes and
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tell me you're sorry. I know that must've taken a lot of courage.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>You can write me back if you want. I'll tell Hedwig to wait for
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your reply if you want to give her one. Just tie it to her foot. She'll enjoy a strip
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of bacon, should you have it.</em></p>
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|
<p class='c1'><em>Harry.</em></p>
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<p>Harry reread the letter a couple of times before deciding that it would do, sealed
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it and tied it to Hedwig's foot. "Bring this to my cousin, Dudley," he said.</p>
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|
<p>Hedwig fluffed her feathers in dismay and Harry chuckled. "I know," he said, "I'm
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|
apprehensive too but I think I should give him one more chance. Don't you?"</p>
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|
<p>Hedwig looked away haughtily and Harry stroked her feathers. "I don't have a whole
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lot of family left, Hedwig," he told her, "I know the chances of me making up with
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Dudley are slim at best, but I owe it to myself to try."</p>
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<p>Hedwig regarded him carefully for a while, then nipped his ear and flew away.
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|
Harry swallowed nervously when he saw her leave. There she went. Only time would tell
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if he made the right decision.</p>
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|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry sat reading in the sitting room with Snape on the day before Christmas. Alex
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had willingly tried his second batch of the potion but it had still been ineffective.
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Well, not entirely perhaps. It had made his hair rise and float towards either Snape
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or Harry. Whoever had been closest. So Harry had been able to make the potion react
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to magic – since that seemed to be what Alex' hair had been doing – but not in the
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way he had wished it to.</p>
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<p>"<em>Catalogue it nonetheless</em>," Snape had said, <em>"It may not seem useful
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right now but maybe someday, someone will know exactly what to do with it</em>."</p>
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<p>Harry sighed as he flipped the page in his Herbology book as he was looking for an
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ingredient that could replace the orange zest. Suddenly, his focus was broken when
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the floo flared green and a certain blonde stepped through the fire.</p>
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<p>Harry was supremely jealous of the poise and grace with which Draco managed to
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step out of the hearth. Harry had been able to stay on his feet last time, but that
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was really all that could be said of him.</p>
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<p>"Happy Christmas!" Draco exclaimed happily. In his arms, he carried several gifts.
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"Where may I put these?" he asked politely.</p>
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<p>"Happy Christmas, Draco," Harry replied. He jumped up from his chair and went to
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greet his friend. "Glad you could make it. Just dump the presents under the tree, if
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you will."</p>
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<p>Draco snickered and did as he was suggested.</p>
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<p>"Got anything good for me?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"You?" Draco asked incredulously, "Don't be daft. These are all for Severus and
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for me, from my friends."</p>
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<p>"Oh, really?" Harry asked as he eyed a package with his initials on it. "And
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what's that?"</p>
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<p>"Harry," Snape chided, "It's not polite to snoop."</p>
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<p>"I'm just teasing," Harry said, rolling his eyes.</p>
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<p>"What were you reading?" Draco asked as he eyed the Herbology book Harry dropped.
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"That looks utterly boring."</p>
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<p>"I'm just looking for a substitute for my orange zest," Harry said, "I'm trying to
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create a potion that would allow muggles to use wizarding tools."</p>
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<p>Draco snorted. "And whatever would you want to do that for?"</p>
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<p>"Alex would like to try flying," Harry said, "And I'm sure that there are many
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more wizards out there with muggle friends that would like to give some aspects of
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our world a try."</p>
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<p>"I don't know," Draco said doubtfully, "I don't think I approve of muggles
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invading our world even more."</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged, "Well, that's what I'm trying to do, whether you like it or not,"
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he said.</p>
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<p>"It's time you got over those prejudices, Draco," Snape snarled from the couch. He
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was narrowing his eyes at the blonde but the boy didn't seem to be too perturbed. "I
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would think you would know better by now."</p>
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<p>"I do," Draco objected, "But I don't think it's a good idea to go and give them
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magical powers. They could blow everyone up!"</p>
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<p>"I'm not going to give anyone magical powers, Draco," Harry said in exasperation.
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"Frankly, I think that would be impossible. All I need is for the muggle energy to
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not clash with the magic of the item, like a broom so he's able to use it."</p>
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<p>"I know of more fun ways to spend my holiday," Draco said, "But you do you, I
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suppose. If I might make a suggestion, you should probably use ginger instead."</p>
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<p>"Ginger?" Harry frowned, "Why?"</p>
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<p>"Ginger cleanses the body of many things," Draco said, "It might even cleanse
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those less than desirable muggle energies."</p>
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<p>Harry wasn't sure if Draco was kidding or not, but his suggestion didn't sound too
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bad. "Okay," he said, "I'll give that a try next time." Snape chuckled in
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amusement.</p>
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<p>"And speaking of gingers, isn't Weasley coming as well?" Draco asked.</p>
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<p>Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the comment and shook his head. "No, he can't"
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he replied, "Mrs Weasley wants as much of her children at home as possible over the
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holidays. I can't say I blame here."</p>
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<p>"I would imagine she would have invited you over in that case," Draco pointed
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out.</p>
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<p>"She did," Harry admitted, "But - well - We had a previous engagement."</p>
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<p>"Meaning me," Draco said as he made himself comfortable in the chair next to
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Snape's.</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged. "It's not like I haven't had Christmas at Ron's place before," he
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said, "But I've never had one with you."</p>
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<p>Draco eyed the book Snape was reading curiously to which Snape raised a sardonic
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eyebrow.</p>
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<p>"What are you reading?" Draco asked, smiling innocently as he leaned over the
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armrest of his chair.</p>
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<p>"Not something that would interest you," Snape replied evenly.</p>
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<p>"If you really think so, why not just show me?" Draco said, leaning even closer.
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For a moment, Harry thought the chair might topple but Snape turned the book so Draco
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could read it. The blonde frowned in disgust at the cryptic text.</p>
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<p>"What's that?" he asked, "I can't understand a thing it says."</p>
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<p>"That's the point," Snape pointed out, "It's a code."</p>
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<p>"Oh," Draco replied, "And you're trying to crack it, I presume?"</p>
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<p>"You presume correctly," Snape replied.</p>
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<p>"Guys!" Harry exclaimed, "Christmas morning is tomorrow and you're both sitting
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here discussing some book?"</p>
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<p>The combined smirks of Snape and Draco were a little unsettling but Harry braved
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them by putting his hands on his hips.</p>
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<p>"I like a good read as much as the next guy but I forbid the reading of anything
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more intellectual than a greeting card or cracker joke."</p>
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<p>Snape sighed and gently closed the book, putting it back into its rightful place.
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He secured it with a complex charm and leant back into his chair, steepling his
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fingers. "Very well," he said, "What did you have in mind?"</p>
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<p>Harry grinned mischievously as he locked eyes with Draco.</p>
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