Fic: Going Home: Part Twenty-Three
Dec. 23rd, 2017 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: Going Home: Part Twenty-Three
Author:alisanne
Word count: 880
Rating: PG
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Narcissa Malfoy, Severus Snape/Minerva McGonagall.
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
slythindor100/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
slythindor100's 25 days of Christmas, Day 23 (traditional): Christmas crackers, and dracoharry100/dracoharry100's Christmas Challenge prompt: Holly.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Beta(s):sevfan and emynn.
Authors Notes: Part 23 of Going Home (LJ/IJ/DW).
~
Going Home: Part Twenty-Three
~
Hermione’s face went still before crumpling. “Headmistress, I—” Tears welled up in her eyes and her shoulders slumped. “Oh, Godric. Everything’s a mess, Ron hates me, he won’t speak to me, I don’t know what to do—”
McGonagall blinked, clearly surprised. Then, grasping Hermione’s elbow, she led her away from the rest of them saying, “Dear me. Let’s talk. Tell me what’s going on…”
“Is Weasley being an idiot again?” murmured Snape as they moved out of earshot.
“Yes,” Harry sighed. “You could say that.”
“I frequently did while attempting to teach him.” Snape rolled his eyes. “Anyway, while the ladies take a moment, perhaps you can explain what is happening to Lucius, Draco.”
Draco sighed. “It’s a horrible curse. Basically, he’s slowly turning into a snake.”
Harry nodded. “He looks the way Voldemort did when he regained his body. Only Lucius has scalier skin and hisses a lot more.”
Snape snorted. “Sounds exactly like Voldemort, actually. Is he showing any signs of wanting to rule the world?”
“Not that I saw,” said Harry. “Although I didn’t spend much time talking to him.”
Draco rolled his eyes. “Father isn’t trying to rule the world. He’s barely able to rule his bed right now.”
“Good,” said Snape. “Because I’d hate to see your…Potter have to defeat him.”
“I’m not defeating anyone today,” said Harry firmly. “Least of all my…Draco’s dad.” He glanced over at Hermione and McGonagall, who were still talking in the corner. “Now, how long do you think they’ll be? We should get going.”
“Mother should have had time to adjust the Manor’s wards by now,” said Draco. “Although I believe we can let Hermione and the Headmistress have a few more minutes. Looks like their conversation is going well.”
Harry tilted his head. Hermione was no longer crying; she looked a bit miffed, truth be told. “I wonder what the Headmistress is saying to her?”
“I’m sure she’s giving Ms Granger sound advice,” said Snape. “After all, Minerva sees all the students of Gryffindor House as hers, no matter how old they get.”
Draco smiled. “Kind of how you feel about us.”
Snape huffed. “At times, yes, although you could be a troublesome lot. Anyway, I suspect Healer Granger will benefit a great deal from Minerva’s advice, no matter what Weasley’s done this time.”
The Floo flared, and Narcissa’s face appeared. “You can Apparate to the Manor now,” she said. “I’ve opened the wards to allow you to land in the entrance hall.”
“Thank you.” Snape’s eyes narrowed as he looked over at McGonagall and Hermione. “I believe we’ll be coming soon.”
No sooner had Narcissa’s face disappeared from the fireplace than Hermione and McGonagall walked back towards them. Hermione was smiling ruefully. “Apologies for that outburst. Let’s get back to the Manor.”
“Excellent,” said Snape. He looked at McGonagall. “I’ll take Draco and Potter, and you can take Ms Granger, if that’s all right.”
McGonagall smiled. “That’s perfectly acceptable, Severus. Hold on, Hermione.”
When they all landed in Malfoy Manor, Narcissa was waiting. “It occurred to me that we should probably have something to eat before attempting any big magic, so I took the liberty of ordering a meal be set up in Lucius’ room, if that’s all right.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” said Hermione, stepping forward. Whatever McGonagall had said to her had made an impact: she was again the confident Healer Harry knew. “It will also give us an opportunity to observe him before we try the cure.”
Narcissa inclined her head. “I’m pleased you approve. If you’ll follow me—”
This time she didn’t use the magic step, and they all climbed the stairs to get to Lucius’ room. Lucius had evidently been warned since he was sitting up in bed. He was scowling, but at least he wasn’t cursing.
A table had been set up with places for all of them, and there were even Christmas crackers wrapped in holly on the plates, giving the table a festive touch.
“This is lovely, Narcissa,” said McGonagall, smiling as Snape escorted her to a seat.
“Thank you.” Narcissa clapped her hands. When Bippy appeared, she said, “Bring dinner, please.”
Dinner was a bit surreal. Harry stayed very quiet, watching Snape and McGonagall (who made a surprisingly perfect couple) interact, as he clasped Draco’s hand under the table.
After pudding, Hermione got up to examine Lucius, and Snape and Draco went with her.
Thoughtful, Harry wandered over to the window, looking out on the winter night. He gasped when he saw the owl in a tree watching him. “Draco.”
“Yes?”
“Come here, please.”
“A moment.”
“Now.”
Draco appeared at Harry’s side so quickly he could have Apparated. “What is…Oh. Is that the owl?” Draco squinted.
“What owl?” Narcissa was on Harry’s other side in a flash.
“What’s so puzzling about an owl in winter?” asked Hermione from Lucius’ bed.
As Harry heard her footsteps approaching, he turned to look at her. “It’s this owl that seems to be following me—” But the moment he turned back to show it to her, the owl flew off.
~
Continued in Going Home: Part Twenty-Four (LJ/IJ/DW).
Author:
alisanneWord count: 880
Rating: PG
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Narcissa Malfoy, Severus Snape/Minerva McGonagall.
Challenge: Written for
slythindor100/slythindor100's 25 days of Christmas, Day 23 (traditional): Christmas crackers, and dracoharry100/dracoharry100's Christmas Challenge prompt: Holly.Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Beta(s):
sevfan and emynn.Authors Notes: Part 23 of Going Home (LJ/IJ/DW).
~
Going Home: Part Twenty-Three
~
Hermione’s face went still before crumpling. “Headmistress, I—” Tears welled up in her eyes and her shoulders slumped. “Oh, Godric. Everything’s a mess, Ron hates me, he won’t speak to me, I don’t know what to do—”
McGonagall blinked, clearly surprised. Then, grasping Hermione’s elbow, she led her away from the rest of them saying, “Dear me. Let’s talk. Tell me what’s going on…”
“Is Weasley being an idiot again?” murmured Snape as they moved out of earshot.
“Yes,” Harry sighed. “You could say that.”
“I frequently did while attempting to teach him.” Snape rolled his eyes. “Anyway, while the ladies take a moment, perhaps you can explain what is happening to Lucius, Draco.”
Draco sighed. “It’s a horrible curse. Basically, he’s slowly turning into a snake.”
Harry nodded. “He looks the way Voldemort did when he regained his body. Only Lucius has scalier skin and hisses a lot more.”
Snape snorted. “Sounds exactly like Voldemort, actually. Is he showing any signs of wanting to rule the world?”
“Not that I saw,” said Harry. “Although I didn’t spend much time talking to him.”
Draco rolled his eyes. “Father isn’t trying to rule the world. He’s barely able to rule his bed right now.”
“Good,” said Snape. “Because I’d hate to see your…Potter have to defeat him.”
“I’m not defeating anyone today,” said Harry firmly. “Least of all my…Draco’s dad.” He glanced over at Hermione and McGonagall, who were still talking in the corner. “Now, how long do you think they’ll be? We should get going.”
“Mother should have had time to adjust the Manor’s wards by now,” said Draco. “Although I believe we can let Hermione and the Headmistress have a few more minutes. Looks like their conversation is going well.”
Harry tilted his head. Hermione was no longer crying; she looked a bit miffed, truth be told. “I wonder what the Headmistress is saying to her?”
“I’m sure she’s giving Ms Granger sound advice,” said Snape. “After all, Minerva sees all the students of Gryffindor House as hers, no matter how old they get.”
Draco smiled. “Kind of how you feel about us.”
Snape huffed. “At times, yes, although you could be a troublesome lot. Anyway, I suspect Healer Granger will benefit a great deal from Minerva’s advice, no matter what Weasley’s done this time.”
The Floo flared, and Narcissa’s face appeared. “You can Apparate to the Manor now,” she said. “I’ve opened the wards to allow you to land in the entrance hall.”
“Thank you.” Snape’s eyes narrowed as he looked over at McGonagall and Hermione. “I believe we’ll be coming soon.”
No sooner had Narcissa’s face disappeared from the fireplace than Hermione and McGonagall walked back towards them. Hermione was smiling ruefully. “Apologies for that outburst. Let’s get back to the Manor.”
“Excellent,” said Snape. He looked at McGonagall. “I’ll take Draco and Potter, and you can take Ms Granger, if that’s all right.”
McGonagall smiled. “That’s perfectly acceptable, Severus. Hold on, Hermione.”
When they all landed in Malfoy Manor, Narcissa was waiting. “It occurred to me that we should probably have something to eat before attempting any big magic, so I took the liberty of ordering a meal be set up in Lucius’ room, if that’s all right.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” said Hermione, stepping forward. Whatever McGonagall had said to her had made an impact: she was again the confident Healer Harry knew. “It will also give us an opportunity to observe him before we try the cure.”
Narcissa inclined her head. “I’m pleased you approve. If you’ll follow me—”
This time she didn’t use the magic step, and they all climbed the stairs to get to Lucius’ room. Lucius had evidently been warned since he was sitting up in bed. He was scowling, but at least he wasn’t cursing.
A table had been set up with places for all of them, and there were even Christmas crackers wrapped in holly on the plates, giving the table a festive touch.
“This is lovely, Narcissa,” said McGonagall, smiling as Snape escorted her to a seat.
“Thank you.” Narcissa clapped her hands. When Bippy appeared, she said, “Bring dinner, please.”
Dinner was a bit surreal. Harry stayed very quiet, watching Snape and McGonagall (who made a surprisingly perfect couple) interact, as he clasped Draco’s hand under the table.
After pudding, Hermione got up to examine Lucius, and Snape and Draco went with her.
Thoughtful, Harry wandered over to the window, looking out on the winter night. He gasped when he saw the owl in a tree watching him. “Draco.”
“Yes?”
“Come here, please.”
“A moment.”
“Now.”
Draco appeared at Harry’s side so quickly he could have Apparated. “What is…Oh. Is that the owl?” Draco squinted.
“What owl?” Narcissa was on Harry’s other side in a flash.
“What’s so puzzling about an owl in winter?” asked Hermione from Lucius’ bed.
As Harry heard her footsteps approaching, he turned to look at her. “It’s this owl that seems to be following me—” But the moment he turned back to show it to her, the owl flew off.
~
Continued in Going Home: Part Twenty-Four (LJ/IJ/DW).
