SECRET ( Drarry fanfiction)

Chapter 24

Harry rubbed his temples absently. The tension was thick in the room. He had no idea how Remus had ended up at Grimmauld Place, but he was afraid to ask. Everyone was being extra quiet and cautious, and Harry wasn't sure if it was because of Snape or if it was because of him. He wasn't sure if he dared to bring up anything about the night before. Snape had obviously allowed the others access to Grimmauld Place, which was a good thing, but Harry had no idea how happy he was about it. With the exception of maybe Remus, everyone was tired and out of sorts.

"I would like some explanations, Potter," Snape said silkily, interrupting his musings. "No one appears to have a full understanding of what you have been up to."

Harry met his gaze steadily. "Honestly? No one will. Not until this is all over," he said. "I can't afford for everyone to know everything. There's too much at stake."

Snape nodded once in acknowledgement. "I understand that. However, I have a far better understanding of the Dark Lord's plans than I do yours. After the events of this last night, it has come to my attention that you have far more plans in action than I was aware of."

He eyed Harry calculatingly. "You, Mr. Potter, have been taking a far more active role than I had believed you capable of. You have been delegating tasks and intelligence, while taking on far more than you should be able to," he said.

"In other words, you thought I was just following your orders, and Dumbledore's orders, blindly," Harry said sarcastically.

"Yes," Snape said bluntly. "There have been a few things that have caused me to question your actions, but with all I've learned this last night, there is obviously far more going on than I've realized."

Harry realized Snape wasn't actually asking for specifics. At least, not in regards to the task Dumbledore had assigned him. He wanted to know Harry's general plans and what the hell Harry had been up to without him knowing about it. Harry thought he'd find that a whole lot easier to answer if he knew himself.

"I've had to shift a lot of my priorities," he began, speaking slowly. "When I left Hogwarts, my only real task was the one that Dumbledore gave me. I didn't plan to get involved with everything else, but then Draco showed up with Victoria and you showed up here."

He quietly explained how everything had changed. For the group that was there – Snape, Draco, Narcissa, and Remus – he finally explained all of it. Everything that he had been doing. Individually, they each knew bits and pieces, but not a one had known about everything. The only thing he left out was the task of finding and destroying the Horcruxes, but he even mentioned that indirectly.

"What now?" Draco asked.

"I keep doing what I've been doing," Harry answered quietly. "Any information Snape can bring back, I take it to the Order. I try to keep Scrimgeour and the public under control, providing hope," he said sarcastically. "I train with Snape and Remus – defence and offence – light and dark – anything that'll help me in battle. I help the Order in any way I possibly can, including providing more potions. I continue working to keep Voldemort from gaining too much control over the Wizarding world, while I work on the means to actually defeat him."

He paused thoughtfully. "I've got a home base here now, that'll make things a lot easier. I've got allies and developed resources, and I intend to use them."

"The means to defeat him?" Snape questioned, paraphrasing Harry's words.

"I haven't had much time to concentrate on that problem, with everything else that's been going on," Harry admitted. "But I've got some leads now that I didn't have before. Hopefully I'll be able to talk to Ginny later today."

"You also need to talk with Draco and Narcissa," Snape stated.

Harry nodded warily, knowing that was not going to be an easy discussion. And Snape seemed to have decided that he should talk to them now.