（HP同人）secrets（英文版）第 22 章

He wasn’t as thrilled as he thought he should be that Blaise and Draco would likely be able to hook back up again. He reckoned it was good that neither of them wanted to be Death Eaters, at least, and that’s what he needed to be focusing on.

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“I’m not sure what I can do for you,” he said slowly, trying to think things through. “I gather you’re safe enough for the moment. Are you willing to go into hiding if Voldemort does decide to recruit you?”

Blaise grimaced, but nodded.

“Hopefully it won’t even come down to that,” Harry said grimly. “I fully intend to take down Voldemort as soon as I possibly can. I could use information, though.” He eyed Blaise calculatingly. “Are you willing to pass on any information you can come up with?”

“I don’t know much, Potter,” Blaise said irritably. “At the moment, I’m still technically neutral so people don’t tell me much about what’s going on.”

“I think you know far more than you’re letting on,” Harry sneered. “But have it your way. Here’s the deal. You fill me in on what you can and whatever you feel comfortable telling me. However, I especially want the names of anyone else who is at risk of being recruited that doesn’t want to be. If Voldemort contacts you, you let me know immediately. Get prepared to go into hiding if it becomes necessary, and if it does, then I’ll provide a safe place for you to go to,” he said.

Blaise reluctantly agreed and said that he would owl Harry soon. They went their separate ways soon after, and Harry made his way to Grimmauld Place for training with Snape, lost in thought about Slytherins and loyalties.

* * * * *

“Concentrate, Potter!”

“I am!” Harry shouted, picking himself up off the floor for at least the tenth time in the last twenty minutes.

He fervently wished that Winky had padded the floor with much thicker mats. As it was, that’s all there was in the large drawing room. Snape had warded the room so that it was safe for them to practice duelling, but Harry already hated the room with a passion.

Snape had been running him through defensive spells that he supposedly should’ve already learned his last six years at Hogwarts. The problem lay in the fact that only Remus and Snape had ever actually taught them anything useful, and maybe the fake Moody. Snape had worked them all hard this last year, but he’d still been dealing with a classroom full of students at once. Now, Harry was his sole focus and neither of them were happy.

“Potter, how do you expect to defeat the Dark Lord if you can’t even defend basic spells?” Snape asked nastily.

“Basic spells?!” Harry shouted incredulously. “I can defend basic spells. I just don’t have a clue as to what you’re even casting at me, let alone how to defend myself from them.”

“Your defence training has been worthless,” Snape said contemptuously.

“You were my last Defence teacher,” Harry retorted.

Snape’s eyes narrowed dangerously and Harry cursed the fact that he hadn’t kept his mouth shut.

“You are clearly lacking in your first five years of training,” Snape said coldly. “Therefore, we will start back at the beginning.”

By Friday evening, Harry was almost positive that Snape had drilled him on every single spell that had ever been mentioned in his textbooks for the first five years at Hogwarts. If he hadn’t known it beforehand, he was quickly and efficiently taught it. He was extremely thankful that he was a quick learner in practical defence.

Even so, Harry gratefully sank his bruised body into the bath that night. The Dursleys had left for some weekend retreat as soon as Uncle Vernon had arrived home from work so he actually had the house to himself. Unfortunately, they were supposed to be back earlier on Sunday this time, but for the moment, he didn’t care.

He wasn’t at all looking forward to having to meet Snape first thing in the morning to start all over again. He told himself that his reluctance had nothing to do with missing the time that he’d normally spend with Draco in the morning. He probably wouldn’t see him again until Monday. Snape had made Harry miss his time with Draco that morning as well. He’d left a note for Draco, but realized that he probably wasn’t very happy with Harry at the moment.

Resigned, Harry went to bed early that night and spent all day Saturday reviewing every spell he’d ever been taught, or should’ve been taught, in Defence.

* * * * *

It wasn’t until Sunday morning that everything fell apart. He found Snape waiting for him in the kitchen, as usual, but he was ordered unceremoniously to sit instead of heading for the training room.

“The Dark Lord called his followers again,” Snape said. “He has assigned tasks for many of us.”

That got Harry’s full attention. “What are you and Malfoy supposed to do?” he burst out.

Snape glared at him sharply. “Mr. Malfoy is no concern of yours, Potter.”

Cursing himself, Harry floundered for a way to cover his slip. “Malfoy’s last task was to kill off Dumbledore. Forgive me for being concerned about my own life,” he spat sarcastically.

He breathed an inward sigh of relief when Snape bought it. He didn’t want to question the swirl of emotions in his chest too deeply.

“The Dark Lord is unaware of your location at the moment,” Snape sneered. “I believe you are safe from Mr. Malfoy for the time being.”

Harry wanted to laugh hysterically, considering that Mr. Malfoy had been disrupting his life for a few weeks already.

“Potter,” Snape said impatiently. “Revenge on Malfoy should not be your primary concern.”

“Why not?” Harry asked, knowing he was stepping into very risky territory. “He’s a bastard Death Eater just like I’ve always suspected. His actions caused so many people to be hurt this past year. Obviously he’s a threat!”

“He’s far less of a threat to you than the Dark Lord,” Snape shouted furiously. “You will desist with your concerns about Malfoy and focus on the real problem!”

“Oh, was poor little Malfoy not given one of Voldemort’s precious tasks last night?” Harry taunted. “Is he all upset now? I’m sure you know where he is since he always seems to be hanging on in your shadows.”

“Malfoy has locked himself into his room for the last two days,” Severus said viciously. “He is not a threat! I’m tired of repeating myself, Potter!”

Harry blinked in astonishment. “Why?” It wasn’t for Snape to know that Harry was astonished because he knew that it coincided with Harry not being there in the mornings at the Dursley’s house. “Is he pouting because of not getting a task this time?” he taunted, trying to keep up the pretence.

“His pouting started long before the meeting with the Dark Lord,” Snape ground out between clenched teeth. “Whatever his current issues are, it has nothing to do with you or this war.”

So much for what Snape knew, Harry thought. Harry recognized the guilt that was flowing through him.

He ran his hands through his hair agitatedly. “What’s the latest from dear old Voldemort then?”

Snape frowned at Harry’s sudden calm attitude, despite the agitation still obviously flowing through him. Snape took a deep breath before addressing Harry with his cool, professorial tones. “The Dark Lord is planning an attack on a small town tonight. It is near Little Whinging,” he said.

He paused, registering the gasp and look of horror crossing Harry’s face before continuing. “I know that there will be forty followers sent there sometime after dark, but I cannot give you any specific time. It is not often that I have even this much information in advance.”

“Which town?” Harry whispered.

Snape shook his head. “As I said, the Dark Lord does not often give out too much of his plans in advance. He was quite pleased, however, to gloat about the fact that he was coming so close to your home,” he said with a grimace.

“He’s attacking an entire town full of people because they live close to me,” Harry said flatly.

Snape nodded curtly.

“You don’t know anything else?” Harry asked.

“I know that I will be there,” Snape said evenly.

“So you can feel special about hitting me literally close to home,” Harry said bitterly.

Snape’s lips twisted into a smirk, faint surprise that Harry had understood. “Yes, I believe that is why I have been informed of this information.”