Chapter XIV

"All right class, I hope you have your plants with you. Today's the day!" Professor Sprout's voice was as cheery as the expression on her face. "We'll transplant them and see what they have in store for us!"

Harry looked down his plant glumly. It was certainly alive and well, moving from side to side in a somewhat hypnotic sway. He'd fed it twice a day with Flobberworms. At first, it had looked like normal Venus Fly Trap. It was only when it darted forward one day and snatched the Flobberworm right from his fingers that he'd noticed it could move that fast, even move at all. Then he'd noticed the small teeth that ringed its petals, hidden by larger fleshy green ones. And it had flourished under such a steady diet; Venus Fly Traps loved Flobberworms. But why it could suddenly move was beyond him. Hopefully Sprout would explain it.

But it must have been the right thing, since everyone else's plants were swaying from side to side as well. He watched his plant move, wishing he had gotten more sleep last night. When he had slept, all he could see where shadows and shapes standing in a ring, jeering at him, with Hermione in the forefront and illuminated clearly, her face twisted in a mocking sneer. Snape had been there as well; stood far apart from them half in shadows, a sad expression on his face. Snape's scars had glowed with a sickly greenish light, brighter and brighter until Snape was simply splotch of light. And when the light suddenly outed itself, he was gone. That was when Harry had woken up. It had been around four in the morning, but he found himself far too disturbed to sleep. He'd spent three hours in the common room, stroking Crookshanks until the sun had risen.

"All right then," Sprout's bubbly voice roused Harry from his thoughts. "Who can tell me why you have been feeding these Venus Fly Traps Flobberworms for a month?"

Neville's hand shot into the air. "Because Flobberworm fed Venus Fly Traps secrete a gel that's really useful in enhancing potions. If the gel is used alone, it has a numbing effect on skin. And they're supposed to be lucky for gardens."

Professor Sprout nodded her head. "Yes, that's it. The gelatinous substance that the Venus Fly Traps secrete does enhance potions in general, as well as numb skin. But it's also very hard to collect, since eating the Flobberworms makes the plants immune to many simple spells. It needs to be scraped out with a silver spoon and deposited in a crystal vial; that ensures it stays fresher longer. And today you will be harvesting the gel, so I trust you all know how to fully stun something."

Harry sighed as he pulled his wand out. This was going to be a long Herbology class.

"Ruddy plant!" Harry swore as he stalked into the Great Hall for lunch. His hand was bandaged up firmly and he couldn't feel a single thing; not even the bandages.

Needless to say, Herbology wasn't fun in the slightest. It seemed that his plant was all too willing to move. But Harry could have sworn the bloody thing was crafty. He'd made sure to stun the plant properly. Hell, the amount of conviction poured into the simple word 'Stupefy' should have been enough. But apparently it wasn't. Harry had been sure his plant was stunned and proceeded to use the slim, short silver spoon to scrape out the gel. Only, the plant chose to close its petals then; right on Harry's fingers. His resulting howl of pain was enough to startle the class. Never again would he have to take Herbology after this year.

He glared down at his desensitized hand; that damned plant had probably taken a few chunks from him as well. He stalked over to his seat and sat down, still glaring at his hand, as if it were to blame. A few of the Gryffindors glanced at him, but looked away as his eyes darted to each of them. He was sullenly filling his plate in silence when Ron and Hermione came in, sitting opposite him. Ron gave him a glance but didn't say anything, starting to start on his own lunch. Hermione on the other hand had a thoroughly disapproving light in her eyes. She sniffed a bit before she opened her mouth to speak.

"You know Harry, you-" she started.

"'Mione, don't," Ron said giving her a look. "You'll only make it worse."

"But Ron, honestly-" she protested.

"'Mione, just leave it be. You might really tick him off." Ron admonished.

"But Ron, he's been acting all-"

Hermione's words were cut off as Ron abandoned his plate and firmly kissed Hermione, earning some melodramatic gagging noises from some first-years a few seats down. Harry silently thanked Ron as he started on his lunch. After a few minutes, Ron and Hermione separated. They were both a bit flushed and Ron looked thorough pleased with himself, while Hermione gave another little sniff, but she started on her own lunch as well.

"All right there, Harry?" Ron asked in a slightly gruff voice. He cleared his throat with a sheepish grin.

"Yep," Harry gave a quick grin. "Thanks for asking."

Ron grinned back at him and promptly dug into his plate. Harry felt a small smile come to his face. They ate in silence until Hermione leaned over and whispered something to Ron. Ron paused and looked up just past Harry. He snickered, his shoulders shaking a bit.

"There's nothing funny about it, Ron!" Hermione said.

"What isn't funny?" Harry asked, in a puzzled voice.

"That!" Hermione hissed, motioning with her fork.

"Yeah, it's only our favourite soap opera." Ron quipped before he started sniggering with laughter.

Harry arched an eyebrow as Hermione gave Ron a light admonishing smack on the shoulder. With an 'Hm', he turned around slightly and looked. Everything looked perfectly fine. He glanced back at Ron and Hermione before looking back again once more. Everything looked perfectly fine - even at the Slytherin table. Harry paused for a second. What were they looking at so…inconspicuously? His eyes darted along the table and when he found the answer, he almost wanted to groan and stomp over there and stop it.

Sora was sitting there rather placidly, eating her lunch - namely sausages and mashed potatoes - as was Draco. Well, it was better put that Sora was eating, and Draco, along with every other male in the general vicinity, was watching her intently. Harry's brows furrowed together as he watched her eat; she shouldn't be eating like that in front of hormonal teenage boys! It left far too little to the imagination! And every male at that table was already virtually slavering at the mouth.

He glanced at the teachers table; everyone but Snape was eating and talking amongst themselves. Snape had a hard bleak look on his face, his lips tightened into a grim line. Harry looked back at the Slytherin table, noticing something very odd about how the students were seated. All the girls sat on one side, and all the boys on the other. That, along with the furtive looks, was enough to disconcert him thoroughly.

"Only you could find that funny, Ron." Harry said as he put down his fork and knife.

"Where are you going Harry?" Hermione asked, as he picked up his book bag.

"To the library. I need to do a bit more research." He responded.

"Want some help?" Hermione offered, almost eagerly as she also lay down her eating utensils.

"No, I'm fine, thanks." Harry said; he found himself not wanting to bother Ron and Hermione that much. "I can handle it on my own."

"All right. You know where we are if you need us for anything." Hermione said as she picked up her fork again.

Harry nodded before he hurried out of the Great Hall. He could get in some reading before his History of Magic class and a good deal in later. He was going to more than prepared; he couldn't let Snape see him as completely ignorant.

Shuffling out of the library wearily, Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose. He'd been in the library for at least a good four hours, only leaving to go to his history class, ask Beecham for a note to get a book from the Restricted Section and to eat dinner. Beecham had been more than willing, and ever recommended a particular book when she heard he wanted to read about Dark creatures that ran along human lines.

So Harry had spent much of his afternoon and evening reading through the weighty volume of 'Deorc: Compendium of Dark creatures from the Mediaeval Ages to Present' under Madame Pince's watchful gaze. Needless to say the book covered everything in detail and by the time he was done reading, he felt like his eyes were ready to bleed a few rivers. But he had paid careful attention to the section devoted entire to vampires. He'd even found Veelas mentioned in the book, but it did puzzle him somewhat; they must have been considered Dark creatures in the Mediaeval Ages.

He paused once he set foot on a landing. The books he had borrowed would require his attention before he could even think about sleep tonight. With a somnolent stretch of his arms, he continued up the flight of stairs. It was unusually quiet in the halls, and it was only six in the evening. Maybe everyone was outside. He shrugged as he continued up. Just so long as no one bothered him as he finished up his reading, he was fine.

When a soft 'thump' reached his ears, he brushed it off as nothing; he'd heard creaks and shuffling the library and it had all seemed exaggerated to his somewhat sleep-deprived brain. So he continued up the stairs. Tonight when he finished reading these books, he was going straight to sleep. Merlin knows he-

"What the hell?!" he froze dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him on the stairs.

Right there on the stairs were Sora and Draco, snogging as if they were starved for attention. And it certainly didn't look like they were going to stop anytime soon. He started in bewildered amazement before his brain decided to kick in with a good deal of anger and a swift plan of action. He strode up and tried to pry them apart, but found himself being pushed away by hands and feet; so much for plan A.

Growling he pulled out his wand, aiming it at them. "Stupefy!"

Draco and Sora froze suddenly, locked together in one another's arms. Harry looked at them with an expression of mild, detracted annoyance. Better he save his initial anger to lecture them into some form of shame so this didn't happen again.

"Mobilicorpus." He said in a tight voice. "I think that's quite enough from the two of you."

He paused for a moment, thinking before he started down to the dungeons, Draco and Sora floating after him. When he got to the door, he didn't even bother to knock, simply opening it and walking. Only when he got to Snape's office door at the back of the classroom did he knock. Snape answered it with a thoroughly displeased expression. His hair was also sticking out in various directions; Harry had just woken him up.

"What is it now, Potter?" Snape snarled.

Harry moved to side, allowing Snape to see Draco and Sora. "Professor," Harry said boldly. "I suggest you start brewing something for whatever urges they're having. A Degermate potion should do nicely." Snape gave Harry a sharp look but didn't say anything. "Wake them up." He ordered tersely before closing the door once more.

Harry moved their frozen bodies over Snape's desk once he had cleared it off with a flick of his wand before he aimed it at them once more. "Ennervate."

He watched as Draco and Sora roused, looking around in puzzlement. Once their eyes landed on Harry both their faces blushed a deep crimson red. Draco scrambled off of Sora hastily, as she straightened out her robes. They sat up with somewhat wary expressions on their faces.

"Do I even want to ask?" Harry said sharply as he glared at them. "Right in the middle of the hallway on a staircase! This is not a little exhibitionist show! Believe it or not, there is such a thing called better judgement and discretion!"

"In our defence-" Sora started, but faltered as Harry gave her a piercing look.

"And don't think I didn't see that little stunt you pulled off at breakfast, Sora. And you Malfoy, staring at her like that; so much for subtlety being your thing. Every one could see what you two were doing! Just what the hell were you thinking? You two are lucky you weren't jumped then and there! Of all the stupid inane things anyone has ever done…and don't think of shifting it to me Malfoy," Harry shifted his gaze to Draco who had just opened his mouth. "I do plenty of stupid things, more so according to Snape, so I think I know a dumb action when I see it!"

Draco and Sora sat there, like two small children. Harry glared at them, trying to make sense of the chaos whirling in his brain.

"I realize that you two might be getting…stronger instinctual urges. But this is certainly not the place for them." Harry watched as they nodded their heads in mute agreement. "And until we can ascertain what Voldemort wants with the two of you, I think anything of that nature is definitely not a good idea."

"But-" Sora's protest was cut off by another of Harry's glares.

"You two are already attached enough as it is. Voldemort can easily use you against one another as blackmail or in some other form. If you two do mate, then it's a good as sealed and Merlin knows how Voldemort will exploit that for all it's worth. It is the element of the uncertain that is making Voldemort cautious. We certainly don't want him getting a hold of Malfoy here because then, he could force you to negotiate and bring the vampires back to his side Sora. Since, Merlin knows, Leiko is not having any luck from what it seems like."

Again, Draco and Sora nodded their heads.

"When Snape comes back out here, you will take whatever potion he gives you." Harry paused, trying to condense all the words and advice floating around in his head. "Take the potion and do the best to contain the raging hormones in your body," Draco and Sora's face flared an even brighter red. "Because, next time, it mightn't be me who finds you. If you can't even be in one another's company without experiencing the need to jump one another," They both looked away, abashed. "Then leave for Merlin's sake. Am I understood?"

Draco and Sora nodded their heads, still staring at their dangling feet.

Harry gave a small grunt of satisfaction. "Now where the bloody hell is Severus with whatever it is he needed to get?!"

Harry whirled around, promptly bumping into the Potion master's broad chest. He took a step back, seeing those black eyes glittering down at him. A few minutes passed, and Harry found himself still holding Snape’s gaze. He found himself short of breath, with somewhat sweaty palms and a rather dry throat. When Sora spoke, he looked away quickly and forced himself to remain calm.

"Are you going to say anything, Severus?" Sora's voice was soft and tinged with fear.

"I think Potter here has said it all," Snape said smoothly as he gave each one of them a vial. "You'll both need a daily dosage in order to better control the…stronger instinctual urges. It takes an immediate effect. I'll see to it that there's one for you each in the morning."

Harry watched as they simply nodded their heads; it wasn't possible for their faces to get any redder. They unstoppered the vials and quickly drank the contents, grimacing at the taste. Then they slipped down from Snape's desk and quickly vacated the classroom, leaving the door wide open behind them. Harry didn't say anything, standing there somewhat uncomfortably; if he looked him in the eye, he just might say or do something foolish - like blurt out something along the lines of 'Did you know I had an amazing wet dream about you?' - it was certainly not a good idea. He could feel Snape's eyes on him; it made his skin shiver with anticipation. That was certainly a good cue to get the hell out of there.

"I'll be going now too, Sir." He mumbled as he started for the classroom door.

"Running off already, Potter?" Snape said in a low voice.

Was it just Harry's imagination, or did Snape… purr? "I really need to be going, Sir. I have some reading to do and an essay for history." He didn't turn around, wishing to God his skin hadn't goose pimple at the way Snape said those words.

"Undoubtedly," Snape said. "But you do have a Bandolier potion to finish off."

"Oh, that." Harry winced; today was the day it finished its first maturation stage. "I…suppose I could stay to add the last ingredients." He turned around to find his potion out on the desk in its cauldron.

"I'm sure you know what to do, Potter." Snape said coolly as he went up to his desk.

Harry swallowed and nodded, going to the store cupboard to take out the final ingredients. Once he carefully arranged them on his desk in the order of addition, he looked back at the door, wondering if he should even bother.

"Don't," Snape said suddenly. "We certainly don't need a repeat of last time…do we, Potter?"

Harry felt his face flush violently, as the image of Snape sprawled on the couch flared in his mind. He shook his head and cursed himself inwardly as he lit a fire under his potion and waited for it to come to a simmer; between the potion and the reading he had to do, this would certainly be a long night.

When Darkness Comes - Chapter Thirteen || When Darkness Comes - Chapter Fifteen