"Actually, I have something else in mind," said Snape, smiling a bit cryptically.
"What?"
"Ah, here is your brother, ready to go." Snape ushered both boys into the Floo. They took their usual route to Devon, flooing to Grimmauld Place and from there, Apparating.
Chapter 93: A Portrait of Evil, Part II
http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=5036&chapter=93
Warning --- This chapter contains material that some readers may find disturbing.
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A Year Like None Other
by Aspen in the Sunlight
and Mercredi
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Chapter Ninety-Three: A Portrait of Evil, Part 2
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"Nice to be home," said Draco, sighing as he flicked his wand to make the front door of the cottage fly open. And then, in defensive tones, "Well, it is, you know. Mine as much as yours now."
"I know," said Harry, smiling a little.
Severus closed the door once he and the boys were inside. "Would either one of you care for a something to eat?"
"Harry would," said Draco with a straight face. "He needs to keep his strength up. He's fragile."
Harry laughed. "I think I can hold out until I'm actually hungry, though."
Draco' duffel floated behind him as he made his way to the room he and Harry shared. Harry followed, tossing his own duffel atop his bed. Draco was standing in the middle of the room, wand out, but he wasn't casting. He didn't speak until they heard the click of their father's door closing.
"What are we going to do out here for several days?" Draco asked, raising his shoulders. "There's always Severus' room . . . it still needs some work, I think, though I suppose it's habitable."
"I think Dad has some idea of what we're going to do."
"I'm quite good at lazing around," suggested Draco, smiling. The expression faded as he went on. "But in this case I'd rather not have time to think."
"Yeah. I know what you mean," muttered Harry. His Sals-bracelet feeling heavy on his arm, he took it off and laid it on his bed. He wondered if Draco would tolerate Sals better in future. Awful as it must have been, he'd faced down his fear of snakes, well enough to not just kill one, but perhaps more importantly, to stay in the room with the Serpensortia viper for quite some time.
Even if the snake had been asleep most of that time, Harry was still impressed.
A moment later, Harry heard their father's voice, calling them into the front room.
When Harry went back out, he saw Snape standing before the hearth, two fine racing brooms in his hands.
"My Firebolt!" exclaimed Harry, at the same time Draco said in awe, "A Firebolt XL!"
Sure enough, the shinier broom was the newest model of Firebolt. Harry had never seen one up close. "Wow," he said, eyes bright as he stared.
Snape's lips quirked a little. He handed the newer broom to Draco and gave Harry the Firebolt.
Draco blinked. "This is for me? I . . . " He seemed at a loss for words. Harry almost laughed, after all the times he'd seen his brother be greedy and graspy. "I already have a Nimbus 2001, you know."
"Yes, I know," said Snape. "But when you were playing Quidditch last, Harry obviously wanted to join in. I've no doubt he'll want to play next year. And in order to challenge him to his utmost as the two of you practice, I thought you ought to have a broom even faster than his."
"You expect me to help him hone his skills so that Gryffindor can beat us cold next year?"
"No, I expect your regard for your brother to be a thing apart from House loyalties."
"Well, there is that," murmured Draco, running his hands up and down the broom handle. "Oh, this feels good. But still, Severus, the Cup--"
"If you'd rather not present Harry such a formidable challenge, I can certainly take the XL back to the shop," murmured Severus.
"No, no, that's all right!" Draco said quickly. "I'll keep it."
"Yes, I thought you might. I hadn't intended to give it to you until summer, but it's nearly that now."
"And I need the distraction," added Draco, grinning. "I'm going to wipe the floor with you, Potter."
"Ha. Like you've ever wiped a floor at all," retorted Harry.
"TouchÈ."
Harry smiled, happy for his brother. "It's a beautiful broom."
Snape cleared his throat and waited until Harry looked at him. "I would not have you feel neglected, Harry, but my . . . ah, finances at present could not stretch to two such brooms. And I rather thought that you'd prefer to keep using your Firebolt in any case. I understand it has great sentimental value."
"Yeah, it does," said Harry, nodding. "Don't feel bad, Dad. I don't, not at all. You've done a lot for me, too." He lifted a hand to touch the glasses Snape had given him. Except for being self-adjusted, they were the same as his old ones, right down to the etched snake and the spell to keep the drawing visible to him alone.
"Thank you, Harry," said Snape softly.
"Oh, yes. Thank you," piped up Draco, who'd obviously forgotten his perfect manners.
Harry and Snape exchanged a look.
"Well then," said Severus, "off you go, both of you. You'll find a practice snitch out in the meadow, already dashing about. It's spelled to stay within the unplottable area, so you need have no fear of chasing it. I don't want to see either one of you inside again until you're ready for luncheon."
"I always knew you were a hard taskmaster," said Draco, shaking his head. "Haven't you ever heard of saying, Just go have some fun, eh?"
Severus reached out his hands to grab Harry and Draco each by one shoulder, propelling them toward the front door as he spoke. "Just go have some fun."
"See, slave driver," joked Draco. "Come on, Harry. Let's see how fast an XL really goes. And after you admit I'm the better Seeker, I'll even let you have a turn on it--"
"Ha, I'll trade you the Snitch for it," retorted Harry, laughing as he headed out.
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One-on-one Quidditch was even better than Harry remembered, but maybe that was because Draco's new broom really did make Harry try his absolute very best. He caught the Snitch once to Draco's twice. Harry figured he was a bit out of practice and he'd do a lot better than after he had all summer to fly around.
His dull, horrible holidays at the Dursley house seemed like a distant memory now.
After the first round, which Draco won, Harry spent a little while floating high above the cottage, admiring the countryside. Draco tugged his broom skyward and joined him. "Tired?"
"No, and I am not fragile," retorted Harry. "Actually, I was thinking about my family before compared to my family now, and that sort of reminded me I never got that chance to talk to Severus about Aran."
"Ah, Aran."
Harry gave his brother a suspicous glance. "What's that supposed to mean? After you finished explaining about the thousands of snakes, did you tell Dad how Aran's been treating me?"
Draco's hair fluttered in the breeze as he shook his head. "All I said was that Aran took my amulet because it was interfering with spells in class, and that's the only reason we went down. I don't think the headmaster said anything, either. I mean, Severus wasn't asking any leading questions, though he did seem to know that you don't much like Aran. But you've made that plain all year."
"Oh." Harry thought that over for a second. "All right. Thanks, then."