Serpentine


I do not own anything Harry Potter related, I just happen to play around with him sometimes.

Warning: THIS IS A SLASH/SNARRY FIC! DO NOT READ IF THIS OFFENDS YOU! I use flames to make smores deal with it. Possible lemons later on. I'm honestly sorry if future content upsets you but don't say I didn't warn you.

Full Summary: After an normal Death Eater meeting Severus is led to the Dark Lord's personal library to study an ancient scroll with details for a dark potion. The creation of Salazar Slytherin himself. The Dark Lord expects Snape to brew the potion from a translated version of the scroll. The original is unreadable to the Professor as it is in a strange unfamiliar language. Severus duplicates the original scroll and the 11 others in the series to show the Headmaster when left alone. The Dark Lord is planning something nefarious, and is steadily becoming more interested in the Potions Master in a completely diffent nature. The key to the plans that may tilt the war firmly in Voldemort's hands are locked with-in the scrolls ancient pages. Meanwhile Harry suffers from never ending chores, ghost pains, and a lacking appetite caused from continued nightmares concerning Sirius over the summer before his sixth year. The Headmaster and Severus will soon realize they need boy wonder, and he in turn needs them. As the Potion's Master and the Boy-Who-Lived truly get to know each other sparks will fly. Perhaps they need each other far more than they thought.(Compliant with cannon until HBP.)

Chapter Three- Nightmare


"Come in Remus." Albus called pushing his half-moon spectacles up his regal nose. Severus Snape's spine snapped up from his leaning position over the ancient text a distinctly sour expression on his face.

"Why is he here this late?" He snarled even as the door open to show the weathered werewolf standing in the door way. Remus Lupin appeared more run down than possible, a sadness haunting his face. More silver streaked his brown hair and his prim mustache than the last time he had seen either man. Still he returned the menacing glare right back at the angry Potion Master with his own calm equivalent.

"I called him here." The headmaster answered easily before smiling warmly at his guest. "Please come in Remus, help your self to some tea or a lemon drop." Remus returned the smile just as warmly to the kindly headmaster who had never judged him for what he was.

"Thank you Albus, I hope you find yourself in good health." Remus took the seat next to the Potion Master inclining his head graciously in his direction.

"Severus." The man's lip curled into a snarl again and he spat back in reply cutting the headmasters reply to the werewolf off.

"Looking considerably peaky aren't we? The full moon was ever so lovely last night don't you think Lupin?" Remus didn't flinch, and the headmaster only sighed a simple "Severus" serving as a gentle reprimand to the man. The headmaster's eyes sad still maintained their twinkle, as if he knew something that no one else did. It was usually the case.

"I'm sure I would appear far worse without your potion Severus. I thank you for it." The gentle man said once again inclining his head to the surly man beside him. Severus sputtered some color suffusing his cheeks. He fully intended to point out that he only brewed the potion under duress of the headmaster, but was thwarted when Remus went on to address the headmaster.

"I am also curious why you called me here, Sir. I was surprised to receive your missive this afternoon. I was under the impression you wanted me to keep away from the school in case….parents got wind of my continued correspondence with you." Remus winced a little before his expression gentled back into his normal one. Dumbledore leaned up from his work his long fingers interlacing under his chin and beard as he rested his elbows on the wooden desk. A look of thoughtful concentration on his wise grandfatherly features.

"That's who you spent an hour writing to!" Severus snarled dismissively only half the venom in his voice as his gaze trailed back to his futile effort at making sense of the ancient document. With a sigh of frustration he flicked his hair back over his shoulder scowling at a greasy stain that had been left in his distraction. A simple tap of a stained finger erased the mark but still the image brought back bad memories especially with a marauder in the room. The spell was so often used it was one of the few he was capable of doing wordless and wandless.

"Yes, I have need of your temperament Remus." The man in question raised his eyebrows at the headmaster, Severus tilted his head listening. Still squinting at the scroll in his hands scowling.

"I'm afraid I don't follow sir." Dumbledore chuckled his eyes brightening cheerfully.

"You are the kindest soul in the order Remus. No don't be bashful my boy, it is true. You are also perhaps the fairest and levelheaded among our ranks both are traits I will need for this… observation. I have full confidence your ability to remain rational and levelheaded enough to fully investigate what I need." Severus stiffened his whole body tense, he kept his eyes down on the page but still both the men could see the pain in his tense features. His hair not quite hiding the pained expression before a mask slid into place. Remus actually glared at the headmaster with wide eyes. Professor Dumbledore seemed flustered some color tinting his cheeks. For the first time in a while he had spoken before considering his audience.

"NO Severus you silly child. I have complete faith in your ability to do so as well. Only the job requires as trait you do not revel in or more accurately put. You find the duty trying." Dumbledore tried to sooth reaching out to the Professor not deterred when the man flinched back from him. He clasped Severus's hand which gave several tremor's.

"You do not need to explain yourself to me Headmaster, sir." Severus snarled coldly still keeping his head tilted down. Dumbledore's face saddened more. His twinkle disappearing, Severus had been hurt far too many times why could even he not keep from doing the same. Remus cleared his throat his expression clear of the pity he felt for the man.

"Perhaps if you explain Professor?" Dumbledore nodded squeezing Severus's hand before pulling back, his face once more clear of the guilt that squirmed his insides.

"Have you heard much of Harry's relatives Remus?" Some strain left Severus's shoulders. If it involved the Potter boy it would very likely be he would find the task more than "trying". Still a sense of bitterness twisted in a knot beneath his breastbone.

"Not much, Harry doesn't particularly like to talk about them. The most I can tell is that neither Harry nor his relations hold each other in much affection. Why, is something wrong Albus?" Remus asked his voice troubled. He saw Harry as the son he would never have, he was a joy to be around, and Remus would do anything for the boy. Severus listened with flagging interest. So what the boy hated his relatives? Every teenager did. He could fully understand their disdain for the boy as well. He detested the child with vehemence. Still a sense of unease prickled the back of the potion master's neck.

"I'm not certain which is why I asked you here Remus. I too know about the mutual dislike between both parties, and put it off as normal teenage angst and family quarrels." The professor trailed off, in the silence Severus snapped.

"So why are you even bringing it up?" Dumbledore sighed rubbing his forehead before popping a lemon drop into his own mouth.

"I just recently had correspondence with Arabella Fig to see to Harry's condition. I was concerned since he seemed to be still sore when he left here. She reported that he seemed more blistered and hurt than normal, but other wise was fine."

"More blistered and hurt than normal. That's normal?" Remus asked in semi shock, a feeling of sickness in turning his stomach.

"I too wondered about that and asked how often Mr. Potter seemed injured. To that she replied 'You mean you don't know? I haven't seen the boy without at least a small sprain and bruises.' As you probably can tell I was baffled. I have guessed the Dursley's were strict of course, with the memories you've extracted Severus but I never guessed it would be more…he has never said…"

"But Harry would never say anything about it. It's not is his nature, but you don't think… They wouldn't they're his relatives…." Remus trailed off uncertainly.

"As though that has ever been a deterrent." Severus groused before continuing his memories plaguing him.

"Not in his nature? The boy was born a spoilt child who lives to cry about his "misfortunate" life. The boy is a troublemaker I'm sure it is all his own doing, picking fights with that pig of a cousin. There is no reason to look further." Remus turned for the first time a snarl on his face. Dumbledore calmly cleared his throat, sending his potion's master and the werewolf a silencing look.

"I agree with you Remus, the boy would not mention it. Especially when I have made my case plain that he must stay with his relatives during the summer without fail. In fact I'm surprised at his continuance to ask, while not odd in another child. In a person like Harry, it well…could be a cry for help. Coupled with the images of the cupboard punishments, signs of neglect, and this latest report from Arabella it would be reasonable-" The headmaster was cut off by a loud crack,
"HEADMASTER HARRY POTTER IS BEING KILLED!" A hysterical house-elf screeched at the top of his lungs emerald eyes wild with terror.



It was dark where he was. A sense of familiarity leaked into the mind of Harry Potter as he searched the murky darkness or something. For what? His sleeping mind didn't know. It happened rather suddenly, like a film reel playing. A graveyard full of shadows and skulls, a snake more than a man leering down at him with a sadistic smile. Cedric Diggory smiling…Cedric Diggory dead. That's when the screams started. The reel began going quicker than ever. Sirius sullenly trapped in Grimmauld Place, his Godfather falling through the veil. Blind rage. Bellatrix mocking him as his Unforgivable was useless. Voldemort torturing him as he struggled to stay with-in himself. The all consuming pain…alone he was all alone.

Harry flinched awake just as the angry beefy hands clenched his shoulders in a vice grip. Uncle Vernon was breathing harshly his eyes holding a maddening light in them even though he was blear in Harry's vision without his glasses on. A distant part of Harry noted his cousin and aunt stood in the doorway.

"BOY! THIS IS THE SIXTH NIGHT YOU HAVE DISRUPTED MY SLEEP WITH YOUR SCREAMING. YOU INSOLENT FREAK! I GIVE YOU CLOTHES I GIVE YOU FOOD, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT! I AM BLOODY SICK OF TAKING CARE OF YOU! IT'S TIME YOU DISAPPEAR!"

Harry had never seen the glutton this angry before. It was as if a dam of hatred broke and Harry was powerless to stop it. He didn't even have his wand. It was sitting neatly on his dresser five feet away. He couldn't reach it with the heavy man on top of him. Harry was already struggling to breathe as he tried to come up with something to say when the hands wrapped around his slender neck. Startled gasps from his doorway told him that he wasn't the only one surprised. Distantly he wondered if Dobby would come to save him. As his vision dimmed he was lightly amused. The great Boy-Who-Lived murdered by his obese Muggle uncle. Voldemort would get a kick out of that one.

He wasn't completely surprised that he wasn't scared…he honestly was ready to die…he just wanted it to end sometimes. His effort to take the hands from his neck was weak, the tears in his eyes the only sign of emotion in the thin boy…it was almost over.


A/N - I hope you enjoyed it!