章節 66: Chapter 66
Finally, after what seemed like hours of contemplation on the theory of cutting and stabbing, Harry finally agreed upon a pair of single edged aikuchi style chokuto. He spent a little time to really familiarize himself with swinging the twenty six inch blades with some care. He was still due a growth spurt or two. Sure, he was already tall, but he was still eleven. Confident that this choice would serve him well into the future, he began to stride towards the exit. He eyed his alternate choice of shikomizue a bit hesitantly but continued all the same.
Of course, something just had to go wrong...
"Er... Harry?"
"Yes, Granger?" came the impatient reply.
"You do know that nothing created inside the room can be taken outside right?"
XXX
With current progress on swords essentially grounded, Harry went back to practicing genjutsu by ensnaring random students with "hallucinations". Harry was trying to establish a threshold for when people actually began to experience a discomfort that what they were seeing was not real. So far some teachers the odd student and Hagrid had proved totally resistant to genjutsu. Hagrid and Flitwick didn't know that there was any genjutsu while Snape often made faces and shook his head. Perhaps these people had mental defenses of a sort or even a magical bloodline of sorts. Magical illusions were not unknown and one of its greater examples was the ceiling of the Great Hall. Of course, these seemed to be area effect only. They seemed to exist in a sort of ghost type configuration where an individual could not be targeted. Those might exist but were unlikely. More things to wonder about...
XXX
"Severus! Its good to see you!"
The Hogs Head was a rather unsavory place for his tastes, but it was an excellent place to discuss your business clandestinely. As it was, Lucius was quite resolved to warn his friend about the new perils of staying in the country.
The relationship between Malfoy and Snape extended all the way back to Hogwarts. Being Slytherin, both were rather professional to each other for the most part and the only real point of contention had been Snape's half blood status.
However, prevalent pureblood dogma at the time considered half bloods as a redeemable resource so as long as Snape toed the party line, he was granted tolerance and eventually grudging respect for his potions skills. The fact that the son of Prince had a public fallout with his mudblood (never friend. Just mudblood) meant that he had cemented his place in the pureblood faction. Lucius had played the mentor role and eventually befriended the young man proper, in true pureblood fashion of course.
Lucius was perhaps the only one of the Death Eaters to have known with some surety that Snape had eventually gone over completely to Dumbledore towards the end of the war. Nothing concrete or presentable as evidence of course, but he was sufficiently suspicious as to make that intuitive leap to the correct conclusion. He was the guys best friend in all but name.
Of course, in deference to their well established friendship, he said and did nothing. And the fact that Lucius continued his friendship was a sign that to the dark lord's supporters that he was one of them. In a way, the pureblood lord's complete trust was given only a half blood.
So it was that in deference to that friendship that he had decided to inform his only true friend that there was danger afoot. A danger that Takeda had supplied the pertinent details of.
They could have chosen other places, but meeting in the castle was plain stupid and Dumbledore would have never allowed the potions master to go to Malfoy manor in the middle of the year. Not to mention, he was tracked at all times by one of the headmaster's little trinkets.
"Lucius! I am surprised that you wanted to see me in person. Is something the matter?"
Malfoy let out a light chuckle.
"You know how it is my friend. The minister is far too demanding of my time. Even Narcissa complains that I am too busy these days. And I have to deal with the St. Mungo's tomorrow too. I too grow weary of all this."
Snape raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Narcissa Malfoy was the epitome of the pureblood wife. She wouldn't raise an eyebrow if her husband disappeared without a word for a decade and then returned. A slow almost hesitant nod answered his unspoken question. Something was wrong. Very wrong. It was an old death eater deception for conversations in public areas. Purebloods had far too many customs for anyone to take note of such an abnormality and anyone actually saying such a thing would be taken to have just let loose a little over a drink or so. Of course, no pureblood worth his salt would admit to a demanding wife either. Ever.
The second part was even more curious. St. Mungo's, a reference to healing. In other words, the situation was life or death.
"I see. So what do you want from me?"
"I want you to consider this proposal for another job. Its in the colonies. American potions research organization. It would be a personal favor to me. I might visit there with my family soon."
Severus accepted the offered envelop silently, before opening it. The job offer was genuine. So Lucius wanted him to go overseas for a while. And might even send his wife and kids out of the country as well. Did this have something to do with those ninja the man had hired? And what was the life or death part?
"Lucius does this have anything to do with those new consultants you hired?"
"They scouted the company. But the offer was something I picked up on my own and I personally would like to see you doing what you were born to do as well."
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