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Bonded chapter 23
🕑 Added 2022-06-24 13:04:41 +0000 UTCChapter 23 - Drugs
"Enter," Called Professor Dumbledore as he sat behind his desk, organising a few papers while Fawkes was perched on his stand while cleaning his feathers. Soon the door opened and in walked none other than Rubeus Hagrid, the gentle half-giant walked over to Professor Dumbledore's desk.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir," He greeted Dumbledore warmly and respectfully with a nod of his head.
"Good afternoon, Hagrid," Dumbledore smiled as he flicked his wand and enlarged the chair in front of his desk for Hagrid to sit in before he strengthened it to be able to withstand his weight.
"Thank you," Hagrid said in a grateful voice as he sat down.
"I suppose I should be calling you 'Professor Hagrid' now, shouldn't I?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes twinkling brightly while Hagrid blushed.
"Just Hagrid will do, Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid insisted.
"As you wish, Hagrid," Dumbledore inclined his head in agreement. "Now, not that I am displeased to see you, but I must ask, why have you come to my office today? Is now not normally the time you would spend in the forbidden forest?" He asked, well aware of Hagrid's love of venturing into the forest.
"That's actually why I am here now, sir," Hagrid confessed, his voice and expression turning slightly more serious.
"Oh," Professor Dumbledore looked at him curiously. "Do go on, Hagrid." Dumbledore gestured for him to continue.
"Yes, well," Hagrid coughed lightly before continuing to speak. "It's usually around this time of year that I go to visit Aragog in the forest. Now, normally I get through the forest without any problems. Stop and chat to the centaurs, go say hello to a few magical creatures and so on before I reach the spider's nest. Now, when I get there, his children let me in and guide me to him. But this time, they didn't."
"Why not, Hagrid?" Asked Dumbledore with a small frown.
"They only ever really let me in because of Aragog," Hagrid confessed. "When I got there, they told me that Aragog was no longer in charge."
"No longer in charge?" Professor Dumbledore repeated. "Do correct me if I'm wrong but the only way that should happen is if there is a new king."
"Aye," Hagrid confirmed with a nod. "And that'll only happen if Aragog died or stepped down."
"Which do you believe happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"I hope it's not the first one," Hagrid admitted in a grim tone that made it clear he knew which one was more likely. "I plan to ask the centaurs tomorrow, they might know something."
"Hmm," Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, but why did you not ask the centaurs today?" He asked.
"Because I was too busy getting chased out of the forest," Hagrid said in a hurt voice. "The older spiders remembered me and gave me one warning to stay out of their nest, said that since Aragog wasn't around, they were no longer obligated to spare me. The youngest ones did try and eat me, had to send a few warning shots from my crossbow when I booked it out of there. Poor Fang was with me, he's scared senseless."
"That is definitely disturbing," Dumbledore sighed. "Do you know who the new king of the spider is?" He asked hopefully.
"No, they wouldn't tell me, they sounded right scared of him," Hagrid admitted.
"This is concerning," Dumbledore began but was quickly interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming out of his door.
"Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall walked in followed by Snape. "We need to talk, now." She told him in a no-nonsense tone of voice.
"Forgive me, Hagrid," Dumbledore sighed. "Please, come back to me tomorrow after your talk with the centaurs."
"Right you are, sir." Hagrid nodded to him before standing up. "Professors." He nodded to the other two teachers before he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Now, may you both please tell me what has happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"Headmaster, I demand that you punish that boy at once!" Snape spoke up first.
"By which, I suppose you mean Harry Potter." Dumbledore guessed. 'Really, who else would it be?' He thought.
"Of course, he means Harry Potter," Snapped Professor McGonagall. "The man's obsessed with tormenting the boy!"
"I treat Potter no less than he deserves!" Snape glared at her.
"Don't you dare give me that look, Severus!" Professor McGonagall hissed. "I was teaching at this school long before you had made your first potion! Don't for a moment believe that I will hesitate to put you in your place simply because you've somehow become a teacher! And that boy deserves the same level of respect as all students at this institution! No more and no less!"
"Enough," Dumbledore interrupted in a gentle but firm voice. "Now, please explain to me what has happened."
"Lupin was not able to teach his class so I had taken over," Snape began explaining. "As soon as I got in, the Potter boy insisted on causing trouble and tried to walk out of my class! When I demanded that he stay, the boy broke the door and then demanded that I fix it! He's out of control!"
"A beautifully half-painted picture, Severus," Professor McGonagall cut in. "But don't worry, I'm more than willing to fill out the rest."
"What do you mean, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.
"Straight after leaving Severus's class, Mr Potter had come straight to me and explained what had happened," Professor McGonagall replied. "He told me that Severus had insulted him when he asked where Professor Lupin was and that when Mr Potter tried to leave he had repeatedly prevented him from doing so and even threatened to force him back into his seat if he didn't sit down despite Snape knowing that he was not supposed to have any contact with him."
"You're supporting the brat's attempt to gain attention? Why am I not surprised?" Snape snorted.
"Please," Scoffed Minerva. "The boy could sacrifice all that he has while doing a truly selfless deed without anyone knowing and you'd still claim that he did it for purely selfish reasons. It amuses me that you seem so ready to label Mr Potter as an attention-seeker when it's well known that Draco Malfoy, your favourite student, is quite happy to throw his father's name around whenever possible."
"That is not the same thing!"
"How isn't it?!"
"Enough," Dumbledore said in a slightly louder voice than before. "Minerva, thank you for your time, you may go now. I would like to talk with Severus."
"Hmm," Professor McGonagall sniffed. "I hope that your talk yields some results, there are only so many times that the aurors can be called to a school before parents start pulling out their children." With her piece being said, she turned and walked away with her head held high.
"Severus," Dumbledore gestured Snape to sit down, Snape took out his wand and reverted Hagrid's seat back to normal before he did so. "I have an important question I need you to answer for me."
"What is it?" Snape sniffed.
"Are you, perhaps, an idiot?" Dumbledore asked in a seemingly humourless voice.
"What?! Snape blurted out in an offended voice.
"Ah, my mistake, I believe I was incorrect, the answer is clearly obvious. You simply worship me as a god."
"What are you talking about?!" Demanded Snape.
"Severus, you do see me as a god, do you not?"
"Of course not!" Snapped Snape.
"Then why do you believe me to be omnipotent?" Asked Dumbledore.
"I do not! I..."
"You don't yet you continue to act out," Dumbledore cut him off. "Tell me, do you truly believe that no matter what, I will always be able to keep you out of jail and within this school? Because let me make it quite clear now, my power is in fact quite limited. If you continue acting out enough then I may be unable to prevent Azkaban from being your new home."
"Is this some sort of joke?!" Snape stared at Dumbledore with disbelief.
"Severus, did you believe that it was a simple matter to prevent you from going to Azkaban?" Questioned Dumbledore. "Attempting to read the mind of anyone, including and especially a minor, is a serious crime."
"You do it all the time!" Protested Snape.
"Says who?" Dumbledore shrugged. "Either way, I had to call in quite a few valuable favours to get you out of that particular predicament. And even then that has also cost us a valuable bit of not just your reputation, but also mine and the school's reputation. This cannot continue."
"But Potter was..."
"You were told to stay away from the boy, were you not?" Dumbledore interrupted. "Yet you still decided to force him to stay in his class?"
"I was trying to teach him a valuable lesson that could end up saving his life, is that not what you want for your precious little golden boy?" Snape sneered, earning an unamused look from Dumbledore.
"I will not waste any more time on this subject, believe it or not, I do have other things that need to be done. You will stop this behaviour and stay away from the boy." Dumbledore ordered as he shook his head. 'Honestly, if he wasn't valuable, he would have been fired long ago.' Thought Dumbledore.
(.)
"This thing between you and Professor Snape is really getting out of control," Hermione commented as the trio of friends sat together at the Gryffindor table.
"Not my fault," Harry shrugged. "I've never done anything wrong...in my life...ever." Harry's words, for one reason or another, earned eye rolls and various amounts of disbelief from his friends, he wasn't sure why. "Besides, I'd be perfectly content with the guy leaving me alone, not that he seems capable of that." Harry finished bitterly.
"I know, he's probably the only person in this school that hates you more than Malfoy," Ron spoke up.
"I rank him as equal to or slightly above Voldemort." Harry's response earned a shiver from Ron and Hermione.
'Why the hell is she shivering? She's muggle-raised.' Venom pointed out.
"Harry, Professor Snape doesn't hate you as much as you-know-who," Hermione said with a small shake of her head.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Snorted Harry. "That guy hates me more than Malfoy hates you."
"Ignore him," Ron suggested. "It's not like anyone likes him anyway." Harry was about to open his mouth to agree with Ron when suddenly they were interrupted by the Weasley twins sitting on either side of Harry.
"Hello, Harry," The two twins said at the same time as they each wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "How's our handsome Gryffindor champion doing?" They asked in unison.
"I will not object but I would like to know why I have been given those titles?" Harry asked in an amused voice.
"You're the one Gryffindor who stands up to Snape, you're clearly the Gryffindor champion." The twin on Harry's left spoke first.
"And second of all, you're becoming quite the looker according to some of the stuff we've heard from the girls around school." The second twin grinned at Harry.
Harry blinked at them before he heard a giggle and looked behind himself to see a couple of Ravenclaw girls giggling and turning their heads away to try and hide the fact that they had been staring at him, one of which was the Ravenclaw seeker, Cho Chang, a rather attractive Asian girl.
'She's not Tonks!' Protested Venom who forced Harry's head back around so he could continue talking with the Weasley twins instead of having those ridiculous ideas about being with girls that weren't Tonks.
"Anyway, we heard about your Hogsmead predicament," The twins spoke together, causing Harry to frown. Unfortunately, Harry was not able to bring a signed copy of his Hogsmead form to Professor McGonagall since the Dursleys did not sign his form before he left the house due to them being - as Venom had quite aptly named them - bitches. Harry had begged but Professor McGonagall refused, she was apologetic about it but wasn't going to be moved.
"Yeah, we figured that you'd probably use that special cloak of yours to sneak off to Hogsmead." The twins continued.
"He wouldn't do that." Hermione objected, earning a look from the twins that clearly said they didn't believe that.
"First of all, yes, second of all, how the hell do you two know about that?" Harry blinked.
"Oh, Ron told us." They easily answered, causing Harry's head to snap towards Ron who was blushing slightly.
"Are you functional?" Blinked Harry. "You told people about that? It's supposed to be a secret. Who else have you told?"
"Nobody!" Ron's face turned redder.
"He's told us and Ginny," The twins continued. "Anyway, we've got something that will help you. Call it a present."
"How come he gets a present and not me?" Ron frowned.
"When you end up saving sisters and standing up to Snape then you'll get a present as well." The twins replied before they stood up. "Now, great champion, follow us."
"You expect the great champion to walk like a common peasant?" Harry said with mock superiority.
"Oh, he's right," The twin on the left said.
"Indeed, Brother, on three." The twin on the right said.
"One."
"Two."
"Two and a half."
"Two and three quarters."
"Two and a half of three quarters."
"Two and three-quarters of three quarters."
"And now!" They said together before they both grabbed Harry and picked him up out of his seat before they began carrying him out of the hall on their shoulders.
"Blimey, you've gotten heavier." They told a highly amused Harry who dropped onto the ground as soon as they got out of the hall.
"Thanks," Harry said appreciatively before the twins walked with him to an empty alcove. "So, what did you want to give me?" He asked.
"This." The twin that Harry was pretty sure was Fred pulled out what looked to be a bit of parchment.
"What's this supposed to be?" Harry frowned.
"That right there is the secret to our success," George replied. "Nicked it from Filch in our first year." He added proudly.
"That was fun." Fred smiled.
"Yep," George agreed. "We didn't really want to give it up but we figured you'd need it more than us, plus you can consider this as a thank you from us."
"For you know...standing up to Snape and saving our sister." Fred shrugged. "Anyway, just say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to good' when you tap it with your wand." He instructed Harry who frowned before doing as Fred said, suddenly the map started changing and Harry's eyes widened as he read what was written on there.
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
"It's a map of all of Hogwarts," Fred explained.
"Look see, shows you where everybody is." George added while pointing to a set of walking footprints approaching their direction that were labelled as 'Severus Snape'. "Shows everyone in the castle."
"Where they are and where they're moving, every day at any time," Fred added before frowning. "Are you okay, Harry? You're awfully quiet."
"This...this belonged to my dad." Harry breathed out, remembering a memory that Venom had shown him where his father had tried to get a baby Harry to say 'Prongs'. "He was Prongs."
"Whoa!" The twins breathed, staring at Harry as if he was their new personal hero. "We've got the heir to the marauders right here!" They grinned at each other before remembering that Snape was approaching. "Quick, if you want to deactivate it then just tap your wand to it and say 'mischief managed' or anybody can read it." Harry looked at the map and saw that Snape was getting closer so he quickly did as the twins said before popping the map into his pockets just before Snape arrived and caught the three of them standing together.
"What are you three miscreants doing?" Snape glared at them.
"Drugs." Harry dryly replied while raising an eyebrow at Snape in a way that made it clear he was waiting for Snape to say something that would get him in trouble again. Snape glared at Harry for a few moments before he turned and stormed away, his cape billowing behind him.
"You...you don't actually have drugs, do you?" Fred asked once Snape was gone.
"No, not really."
"Bloody tease," George muttered under his breath.
Comments
Christian Jeffress
Drugs lol. Thanks for another really great and highly enjoyable chapter.
BROWN DONUT
Uhm... drugs are bad m'kay. -Mr Mackey,
