Escaping Darkness [Book 1 of Through Darkness and Light]

Chapter 20: Inimae

It was safe to say that both Draco and Harry were nervous. It was 10:30 at night, one hour before Draco turned seventeen. They were heading down the corridors, to meet with Professor Snape, who had gotten a message to Draco. Apparently, Draco would be staying the night with his godfather, who would make sure nothing went wrong.

The man was not aware that Harry was coming along too.

“What are you doing here?” Snape spat in surprise and disgust. Harry gave him a narrow-eyed glare.

“I’m here for Draco,” he said defiantly, lifting his chin higher and crossing his arms. Snape’s mouth was nothing more than a thin line that opened as he spoke.

“That will not be necessary, Mr. Potter.”

“I want him here,” Draco interrupted, startling the two. Snape turned to look at him.

“Whatever for?”

Draco looked up at his godfather. “I just…I need him here,” he said lamely, unsure of what to say.

Snape stared at him for a moment, mouth parted in shock. “You want Potter…to stay?”

“Yes, Severus, I’m pretty sure that’s what I said.” Draco looked irritated now, and Harry smirked.

“But…he…you…why?”

Oh, Harry could get used to a speechless Snape. Priceless.

Draco glanced at Harry, then stepped closer to Snape, and whispered something in his ear. Snape’s gaze snapped around to fix on Harry, who shifted uneasily. “Him?!” Snape roared, disbelieving.

“No, McGonagall,” Draco said sarcastically.

“Inima?”

“No, a leprechaun.”

“You?"

“No, my mother.”

Harry sniggered slightly. Snape was, for once, at a loss for words. Draco’s sarcastic replies weren’t helping.

Silence settled for a moment, then Snape said, in a dazed tone, “You might as well come in then…”

Harry slipped in behind Draco, as the door swung shut behind them. He glanced around, taking in the surprisingly well-decorated room.

They were in a small replica of a common room, with a fireplace at one wall, a couch and a few chairs surrounding it. On another wall was a small bookshelf, with various books on Potion making, Occlumency and Legilimency, and other small topics. The third wall, decorated with portraits and a mirror, had a few doors leading to other rooms. All in all, the room was surprisingly cozy, especially for Snape.

A small smile tugged at his lips, as Harry pictured Snape in bunny slippers and a fuzzy white bathrobe, sipping hot chocolate as he read the newspaper. Definitely not the Snape he knew.

“Care to enlighten us as to the source of your amusement, Mr. Potter?”

Snape had recovered from the shock, then. “No, sir,” Harry said with a smirk. Snape refused to rise to the bait, his decision aided by a glare from Draco.

“Sit,” Snape ordered, taking a large armchair by the fire. Draco sat on the couch, Harry next to him. “Now, I wanted to prepare you for what tonight may bring. When you come of age, you receive your full magic potential, which means your magic core will essentially erupt as it grows. This is usually painful, although I have a potion to help make it less so. Also, should you have the potential as an Animagus, or if you have any creature blood within you, that too will show, and it is also a painful process.”