My first Harry Potter fanfic! Yay! Please do not go easy on the comments if something is wrong TELL ME!
I do not own anything.
Harry was serving his fifth detention of the week with Professor Umbridge. His shaking hand grasped the door handle and turned, he feared the blood quill, the damage inflicted already red and welted on his hand, covered by an old un-hemmed pair of robes he had found. He slipped in silently assuming his position only to find an empty desk. Confused, he glanced up to the position that Umbrige usually held above at her desk. That too was unusually empty. Cats mewled at him from their spots on the wall and he felt dazed and sick. He had women up with a slight fever but had stifled it. He sat for a few moments feeling the slight chill of air through his thin robes. He was about to stand up his legs wobbling faintly.
"Not so fast Potter!" The shrill voice caught Harry off guard. He stumbled slightly but caught himself and slid backwards into his seat.
"I-i just thought-" He mumbled his apology.
"Obviously." The toad shrilled at him. He stared at his empty desk confused. He failed to notice Umbridge making her way to the door.
"Potter!" She shrieked. Harry started and leapt from his seat. Quickly he followed. Mentally berating himself he remembered the holidays were less than a week away. He trailed a few steps behind the professor. He shivered again and hoped the rest of Hogwarts was tucked away in their common rooms and would pay no attention to the boy-who-lived for once in his life. Quickly out of breath he decided to inquire on the destination. He got no response. Taking a deep breath and trudged behind. The strange duo continued until they came to the door in the great hall.
"Uh Professor, I don't have my cloak." Harry mumbled. Umbridge whirled.
"Should've thought of that earlier Potter." She reprimanded but did not stop, passing through the door into the snowy slush outside. Harry shivered and jumped to catch up. The dreary weather had been coming down all day yet after sunset the mist quickly soaked Harry's makeshift uniform. They trudged to the lake and Harry couldn't fathom what they would be doing here of all places. At the edge of the water they stopped abruptly.
"I need two baskets of Basilisk Tongue Potter." She ordered pulling two small Easter sized baskets from her robes. To Harry's dismay they grew in size until they were each two feet off the ground. Harry looked around for vegetation however found none.
"Professor, what precisely am I gathering?" Harry almost added a snarky edge to his voice but somehow refrained. A short finger protruded, casting his eyes to the water's edge. At the very surface were thin grass-like strands, split in two at the ends. He groaned, his hands were going to have to plunge into the depths of the lake. Unless, he reached for his wand,
"By hand Potter." Harry glared. Sighing his defeat he reached into the freezing depths. His hand reached out to grasp at strands bit the moved despite the stillness of the evening. Startled he pulled back. At chuckle behind him made his spine prickle.
"Is that how you are going to face the dark lord oh Chosen One." She jibed. Harry bit his check to stop the comeback. Again he hunched, snapping as make weeds as his frozen hands could and placing them into the basket. After clearing all he could reach from the bank, he spared a look into the basket; it was barely a quarter of the way full. When Umbridge stopped him, the first basket was only half full. His whole body shook; he was soaked to the skin and his back and neck cramped badly. Umbridge looked in the basket, her warmth spell radiated powerfully off her body. She tsked at Harry at his slow progress.
"That is enough for now Potter." She again shrunk the baskets, slipping them under her robes and started towards the castle. Harry stumbled behind her, vision blackened around the edges and his back remained slightly hunched. She led him back to her room. Outside the door she paused.
"Off to bed with you." She shrilled, happily Harry turned shaking miserably.
"Oh and Potter-" Harry turned. "This will help." A small pile of what appeared to be tea leaves was piled in her palm. He took it.
"Hold it under your tongue." She commanded. Harry pushed the wad under his tongue. Warmth quickly spread through his body warming him to the finger tips. He smiled content and started for the Gryffindor common room. Professor Umbridge watched as Harry's eyes glazed over and smiled wickedly. Little did Harry know but he was already addicted and completely under all controls of the warmweed and in turn the supplier.
Harry woke feeling dazed. His mind only focused on the herbs Umbridge had given him last night. His thoughts drifted easily but his body did not ache as it had. He was left with the memory of the warmth, like a mother's caress. His classes flew by; he didn't seem to remember any of them. Hermione had said something about an essay and the library and then he was blissfully alone. He checked his watch an hour until his detention with Umbridge. He sighed staring out the expansive window. He looked at his watch startled he found there were only ten minutes until he was due in detention. He dashed through the corridors. He skidded to a stop in front of her door. A note was posted to meet down at the lake and he dashed quickly, not bothering to remember he had forgotten his heavy cloak yet again. Once at the lakeside he again saw the two baskets, one was empty whereas the other was only a quarter full when he had sworn he had filled it halfway yesterday. Hurriedly he started pulling weeds. He didn't notice the water pooling over his shoes as he desperately clawed for more plant life. He ignored the stiff in his back and shoulders focusing only on pulling as many weeds as he could. Darkness fell quickly this time but Harry continued his work even though he couldn't see. He waded further into the water. It was only when he heard the share intake of breath behind him that he stood.
"Potter! Out after curfew! Another two detentions." Umbridge shrieked. Harry smirked back towards the Professor. Although when he turned his face was indifferent. He turned, walking out of the water that was up to his knees. His lips were blue rimmed with white and his body shook as if he were seizing. Little did he know that the silent smirk would be the last expression he would make in a long while. He traveled back to the baskets placing his handful in the halfway full basket, confused he noticed the other was full. Triumphant he looked up at Umbridge.
"Improvement Potter. That deserves a reward." She pulled the warmweed out of her pocket. Harry snatched it and tucked it safely in his mouth, content. Harry stumbled along after Umbridge, every bone in his bone protesting at the abuse but he paid no attention. He arrived at Umbridge's room just as the bells sounding 11, an hour after curfew. Harry hesitated just enough for the professor to notice. She smiled knowingly but paused nonetheless.
"Professor, I think I am still a little cold." Harry stammered.
"That's quite alright Harry, you did well today." She cooed flakily at him. A small pressed pile of leaves found its way into Harry's hand. Harry lifted it and placed it in his mouth his shoulders drooping and his eyes glazing further over. Without another word he turned and stumbled, dripping water behind him and left for his bed. He tried to hurry his mind foggy and his eyes closing towards sleep. He felt the world tip and he reached out a hand to steady himself on the castle wall. A wave of warmth clouded his vision and when he passed he restarted his voyage. In his haze he didn't noticed the shadowy presence behind him.
"Potter." The cool voice drawled behind him. "Out of bed after hours, how surprising." Harry didn't turn however. The potion's master stepped forward and noticed the trail if water dripping off the boy. A sneer stretched across his face. Be watched a few tremors cross the boy's shoulders and frowned slightly. He reached forward, long fingers easily wrapping over the shoulder and turned Harry. Snape took in his appearance, eyes glassy and unseeing, clothes dripping and the cold white lips. Silently he turned the boy and marched him down the corridor towards the Gryffindor room. However they stopped before the portrait of the fat lady. Snape tapped a pattern and the wall swing back to reveal small quarters. He ushered Harry in making sure the boy didn't trip and sat him forcefully-perhaps too forcefully- in the chair. He marched across the maroon and gold room to the fire place.
"Minerva." He called and instantly the woman was in the room.
"Severus! What in Merlin's name could it be at this hour- oh." Her gaze fell on Harry slumped in the chair. "What happened?"
"Found him in the hallway." Snape drawled. Harry's eyes flickered towards Severus. Harry murmured something unintelligible.
"We must get Poppy." Minerva whispered.
"I don't think he can hear you Minerva. There is no need to whisper." The older woman crouched by Harry's side by the large chair.
"Harry?" She called. Snape had moved to behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
"Don't upset yourself, he has been dazed a few days, we should not get our hopes up." Harry's eyes flickered to Snake's new position. Professor McGonagall noticed. She stood carefully.
"Severus, speak again." Snape looked at her quizzically.
"Potter. Detention." The eyes flicked to the area around Snape for the fourth time.
"Already. Professor. Umbridge." Harry slurred and his head drooped. Snape looked up sharply.
"I knew it had something to do with that-" He abruptly stopped himself, sneering and with a swish of his robes, billowing behind him he left the room swiftly.
Yay! Chap 1 done! Tell me what you think! Hit that lovely button bellow to follow and review! More to come sooooooooooooon!
Oh and I would LOVE to hear what you think is going to happen in the upcoming chapters!