Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Hermione sat in a chair, staring out in space while Ron and Harry were playing wizard chess as Ginny and Crookshanks watched them. Harry would glance back towards her to see if she was doing alright. However, her blank face made it hard for Hermione to read her mind. Out of the blue, Molly walked into the room. 

"Harry, dear, could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you." She suddenly said to them before she left the room. Harry's head hopped up, confused as to why Snape would want to talk with him. 

"You haven't done anything, have you?" Ron asked. 

"No!" Harry told them as he stood up from his seat and began to make his way down the stairs towards the kitchen. As he entered he saw Snape sitting at one end of the table while Sirius sat on the other side of it, clearly not wanting to be anywhere near each other. 

"Sit down, Potter." Snape suddenly ordered him. 

"You now, I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see." Sirius told him. Snape shot a glare over at Sirius while Harry made his way near Sirius and sat beside him. 

"I was supposed to see you alone Potter. But Black---" 

"I'm his godfather." Sirius cut in. 

"I am here on Dumbledore's orders, but by all means stay, Black. I know you like to feel... involved." 

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius growled at him. 

"Merely that I am sure you must feel... frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order." Snape shot at him. Harry could hear Sirius growling as his teeth grind against each other. 

"The headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term." Snape told him. 

"What?" Harry asked. 

"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one." 

"Why do I hae to study Occlu--thing?" he asked. 

"Becauset he headmaster thinks it is a good idea." Snape said, "You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?" 

"Yes." he said, "Who's going to be teaching me?" 

"I am." Snape stated. Harry's stomach dropped; his heart beating within his ears. 

"Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?" Sirius asked, suddenly, "Why you?" 

"I supposed because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks. I assure you I did not beg for the job." Snape told them while he got to his feet, "I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking Remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them." 

He turned to leave when--

"Wait a moment!" Sirius called out as he stood up and walked over towards him. 

"I am in rather a hurry, Black... unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.." 

"I'll get to the point, then." He said, "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to." 

"How touching," Snape sneered, "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his Father?"  

"Of course, I have." Sirius stated, proudly. 

"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him." Snape said. Without warning, Sirius jumped on top of Snape, causing the both of them to the floor where they tumbled violently around and beating the tar out of each other. 

"Sirius! Snape!" Harry shouted at them as he tried to keep his distance between them. 

"I've warned you, Snivellus! I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better--" 

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so? Or are you afraid he might not take the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six mouths very seriously?" 

"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts isn't he?" 

"Speaking of dogs, did you know that Lucius recognized you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform... gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?" 

"Guys! Enough! Stop this!" Harry shouted, however it landed on deaf ears. He was sure they would murder each other if he didn't do anything. He turned to try and find Molly, only to find Hermione walking down the corridor. He noticed she seemed a bit distracted. 

"Hermione?" Harry called out. She didn't answer and continued walking until she reached the front door. She opened it then walked out without so much as closing the door behind her. 

"Hermione!" Harry called out. He turned to look to see if he should tell them, but Snape and Sirius were busy beating the shit out of each other. Harry decided he would go check out Hermione himself. Without another word, he rushed out of the house and after Hermione. 

*Small time skip* 

Mr. Weasley came waltzing along with his family towards the kitchen, cheering happily about being completely cured. 

"Cured! Completely--" Arthur cheered until he say Snape and Sirius tumbling across the ground tearing at each other's hair and punching each other. 

"Snape! Sirius! What is the meaning of this?" Molly screamed as she and Arthur rushed up to them and helped pull the two away from each other. Sirius had a busted lip while Snape had a bruise forming on his cheek. 

"He started it!" Sirius blurted out. 

"Of course! Never taking any responsibilities!" Snape hissed at him. 

"Enough of that!" Molly ordered them, "Now I want you to walk away. Where's Hermione? And Harry?" 

Snape and Sirius shot their head up in surprise. 

"I'm not sure where Hermione is, but Harry was just here." Sirius said. 

"Well-- I'm not surprise. You two are busying fighting and not watching over these kids. Come on, lets search the house. They must be here somewhere." Molly said while she and the others headed throughout the house, calling out for  Hermione and Harry. It was less than half an hour when everyone came back into the kitchen without either Harry or Hermione. 

"Where are those kids? Surely they would be here somewhere." Molly asked. 

"I'm not sure." Snape admitted. 

"You don't think they've left the house?" Molly gasped. 

"Well-- the door was opened when I arrive, but I thought it might be because someone had taken out the trash." Arthur suggested. 

"Oh! Merlin's sake! It's freezing cold out there! They could freeze to death out there!" Molly shrieked, "Kids! Stay here! Just in case they come back. Everyone lets go and find them." 

Everyone rushed out of the house, hoping nothing bad happened to those kids.