𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄

Chapter 2

"Now," Snape snapped. "What is all this about, Mr. Potter? Trying to get attention again, are we? Are you going to accuse poor, ill Mr. Mal-"

"Severus, please." Dumbledore sat down on the table in front of Professor Snape. As usual it was cold and damp in the dungeons, and Harry could faintly smell leeches and made a face. Argh. I want to go lie down. Why is he here? I haven't done anything. And it's cold in here. Harry watched Malfoy shiver, sneer slightly, and then cough rather wetly.

"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore began. What? Why does he start with me? Why is it always ME? "I realize you're unwell, but that is partly why we need to talk with you."

"Is id agaidst the rules to be sig around here?" Malfoy scowled.

"No no, you haven't done anything wrong. In this instance. Mr. Malfoy, what was the medicine you were carrying that spilled on to Mr. Potter this morning?"

"Wad?"

"When you...ran into each other, earlier today," Dumbledore said meaningfully. Oh great. Now I'm in trouble for dueling. Fabulous. Potter is such a tattle tale.

"Malfoy, you're not in trouble for dueling, for God's sake, would you just answer the question!" Harry shouted, exasperated. Malfoy just narrowed his eyes.

Snape cleared his throat. "I have been providing Mr. Malfoy with a variety of medicaments recently to help stem the course of his illness, Headmaster. I assure you there was nothing illegal or dangerous about any of them." He is such a good liar. I would really like a piece of pie right now. Blueberry. With whipped cream. Mmmm whipped cream. "What is all this about?"

"Well," Dumbledore said slowly. "It appears that some of Mr. Malfoy's medicine got into Mr. Potter's ear. And...as a result..."

"Yes?" Snape asked, looking confused. There was an awkward silence. Is Potter going to die, or something? Why is Dumbledore so serious? What's going on? He looks fine to me. Snape was looking hard at Harry. "He seems fine to me."

"Oh, Mr. Potter is fine," Dumbledore continued. "It's just that, Severus, whatever it was that was in that potion of yours," Mmmmm apple pie maybe. With ice cream. Yeah. Not that I could taste it, but I'd really like some. In bed. With a blanket and a fireplace. Why is it so freaking cold down here? So what's wrong with Potter? "It's allowed Mr. Potter to hear whatever Mr. Malfoy is thinking."

.....WHAT?! "WHAT?!"

Harry nodded at Malfoy. "Sorry. True."

Malfoys eyes grew large. His mouth dropped open. And then he sneezed. You've got to be kidding me. Oh my sinuses are killing me.

"I'm not kidding you."

This has got to be the single most embarrassing moment of my life. Except for that time when Pansy got hold of that picture of me with the shampoo horns.

"This is probably worse."

I was wearing a tu-tu.

"Oh. Perhaps not."

"Mr. Potter! Twenty points from Gryffindor for responding to Mr. Malfoy's thoughts!" Snape stormed toward the back of the class and began flinging roots and grasses and vials. "It's simply impossible, Albus, impossible! How could a combination of camphor, mint, hornet wings and royal jelly possibly turn into...Oh. Oh dear."

"Yes, Severus. That's what I feared."

What are they talking about? "Wad are you talkig about?" Draco crossed his arms in front of his chest.