A/N – I know that I've been uploading the chapters rather fast, but they will slow down once 7 is up. Let me know what you think.
CHAPTER 4; Hospital and Detention
"Professor!" shouted Harry as he rushed forward to catch his now unconscious teacher, "sir? Wake up sir! We have to get out of here!"
All Harry got in response was a groan of pain. Panic stricken Harry glanced over to Lucius Malfoy, who seemed to be bleeding from a large gash above his brow, and then over to Bellatrix, blood was seeping through her black clothing on to the floor.
Harry grabbed his Professor's arm and hefted him up on to his shoulder and began to shudder under the man's dead weight. Harry murmured a quick hover charm and drifted Snape carefully in the air above him.
Turning around to face the now severely damaged door Harry gasped and almost dropped Snape. Standing in the doorway was a tall, lithe figure; that seemed to radiate immense power. Even though his face was in shadow it was easy to tell that he was furious.
Harry gulped and managed to stutter out a feeble greeting before Dumbledore advanced towards him. His silver beard flowed down his deep blue robes and his eyes seemed to be sharpening with curiosity as he looked around the room.
"Mr Potter" Harry winced at the Headmaster's tone and placed his hand on the arm that had been brandished before him.
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Harry's feet slapped to the floor and almost collapsed under Snape's weight, positive he would have if Dumbledore had not also been supporting the spy's body.
Harry glanced around and instantly recognized the pearly white walls and tiles of St Mungo's hospital. Looking up at Dumbledore, who was refusing to meet his gaze, he asked,
"Would you like me to get a Healer?"
"It seems one is already on their way, thank you however Harry" Dumbledore said, still in his acidic and disappointed tone. "Ah, Healer Rosemary, we seem to be in need of urgent assistance"
Harry watched as a woman in her mid-twenties walked briskly towards them. Her silvery white hair was in a tight bun on top of her head and her pale skin contrasted quite nicely with her lime green robes.
"What have we got Mr Dumbledore?" She asked breathlessly as she tucked in a few loose pieces of hair.
"This man here, Severus Snape, has been tortured for at the minimum of six hours by Death Eaters. I would say excessive Crucios would have been used, as well as your usual torturing spells"
"Oh yes of course! Quick, hover him up to our emergency ward, I shall be there soon"
Dumbledore inclined his head and motioned for Harry to lead the way as he hovered the Potion Master up a flight of stairs.
"Sir... I am sorry I ran off like I did. I saw Professor Snape being tortured in one of my dreams and I panicked, I didn't know what else to do"
"I am starting to believe, Harry that you enjoy running off to rescue people" Harry stopped dead in his tracks at Dumbledore's icy words and a shiver ran down his spine.
Harry fleetingly looked at the Headmaster; his expression was grim, before quickly moving up the stairs, his cheeks becoming rather heated.
"What'd you expect me to do Professor?" Harry snapped back, his green eyes flashing.
"What I have always asked of you Harry; to come and tell me" Dumbledore said as he strode down a corridor and entered the door Healer Rosemary was indicating "I shall deal with you later Harry, for now I have more pressing matters to attend to"
Harry watched nervously as Dumbledore lowered Snape on to a bed, in a room that was only lit with a few floating lumos balls. Healers rushed around Snape's body stripping his filthy clothes and administrating different spells and potions.
Dumbledore and a few of the Healers conversed quietly in the corner while Harry watched Snape's every breath.
The pit of guilt that Harry had in the bottom of his stomach seemed to widen immensely as he looked at Snape's pale features, the man had almost died and Harry had not even thanked him for all of the things he had done for the Order.
"Harry, it is time to go" whispered Dumbledore, whose expression seemed to have softened greatly and was looking at Harry with clear concern.
"I'd rather not sir, I think I'll stay" Harry murmured
"I am afraid I can't let you do that Harry" Dumbledore said as he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Is he going to wake up soon?"
"Yes" replied the old man "Would you like a few minutes alone?"
Harry silently nodded his head and advanced towards the motionless figure.
Dumbledore took his leave, knowing full well that whatever Harry was going to say to Severus, the stern and emotionless man would be able to remember and hear quite clearly.
"Professor, can you hear me?" Harry whispered as he gently touched Snape's arm, a gesture he never thought he would make "I'm really grateful about what you did for me sir, everything, when you saved me in first and third year and especially this year. I... I don't exactly k-know how much l-longer I could have lasted there... and well, I just wanted to thank you for risking everything to come and get me.
"I'm sorry I blamed you for Sirius's death as well sir, no matter how cold hearted you come across I know you'd never want to actually kill someone"
Snape grunted and shifted slightly. Harry jumped, quite embarrassed because he only now realised that Snape was conscious. Quickly exiting the room without looking back Harry walked up to the Headmaster, ignoring significant looks he was getting from people in the corridor
"Are you ready Harry?" Dumbledore said an amused smile dancing across his lips.
"Yes sir" Harry said, rather hushed as he grabbed Dumbledore's arm and was apparated back to Hogwarts.
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"Lemon drop Harry?" Dumbledore asked as he bustled around to the back of his desk and opened a few drawers.
"No thank you sir" Harry mumbled, glancing around the elegant office. Everything he had destroyed last year in his tirade about Sirius had either been removed or repaired.
"Now Harry, I must ask you to keep this quiet? I do not want anyone to know that you have not been simply expelled from the school after your escapade last night"
Harry swallowed and nodded his head, grateful that Dumbledore saw fit to keep him in the school.
"However I cannot let you get away with things so easy" the old man stated sternly, his blue eyes scanning over Harry "therefore I must insist that you serve two weeks detention"
Harry's breath came out in a rush and he met the headmasters gaze,
"Yes sir, with Professor McGonagall?"
Dumbledore chuckled and smiled at Harry,
"No, Professor Snape"
Harry's heart stopped in his chest and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He had just given another weapon to Snape, one that he could now use against him in class and detention.
"Really sir?"
"Yes Harry, now I believe you should head off to bed" Dumbledore said in a clearly dismissive tone, his disappointment in Harry still evident.
"Okay sir, good night" said Harry before he quickly strode over to the door and rushed back to his dormitory.
Harry lay awake that night, waiting for Voldemort to discover that Snape had been rescued and two of his best recruits severely injured by a crazed beast, but no searing pain shot through his scar.
Harry grinned in to the night when he remembered the look of terror on Lucius Malfoy's face when he used one of his paws to hit him and the screaming of Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry could not be anymore happier with his animagus form.
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"Mr Potter? Potter! Up!"
Harry cracked an eye open to see, through blurry vision, that someone had pulled his drapes open and were standing at the end of his bed.
"Mmm?" mumbled Harry, his eyes drifting shut.
"Up young man or you'll miss breakfast!" Harry's eyes snapped open to the familiar, stern voice of Minerva Mcgonagall "Do not make me hex you out of bed!"
Now newly alert Harry leapt out of bed and stumbled slightly, disorientated about rising so fast.
"That won't be necessary Professor" muttered Harry, running his hand through his hair and looking at his Head of House.
She looked sterner and more agitated than usual. Her mouth was merely a thin line, her brow was lowered and her hands were clenched together.
"I am looking for any excuse after last night Potter, be on your best behaviour" she snarled with a look that could rival Snape and walked swiftly out of the room.
Harry moaned and shoved his head into his hands. Everyone was going to be angry with him, he didn't know how many of the teachers knew about the prophecy, but he had just risked losing the war once again.
Trying to comfort himself with the fact that Snape would have died had Harry not run off into the night, he got ready for a very tense and awkward breakfast.
Entering the Great Hall as quietly and inconspicuously as possible he joined the teachers where they sat at the Hufflepuff table.
Dumbledore nodded his head in greeting, Flitwick blatantly ignored him, Mcgonagall still looked like she had when she awoke him and even Hagrid looked severely disappointed.
"Morning" mumbled Harry and he only got a few greetings returned one of which was Dumbledore "Uh... has anyone heard how Professor Snape is doing?"
Several surprised looks were pointed at Harry and some looked as though they were about to say something when Dumbledore spoke up.
"He is fine Harry"
"That's good" muttered Harry before he realised a plate of food had appeared in front of him and he started ambling pushing scrambled egg around his plate.
Each time he looked up at least one teacher was pointedly looking at him.
"What?" snapped Harry when he caught Professor Sprout staring.
"You were very foolish last night Harry" said Mcgonagall as she slammed her cutlery on to the ancient table.
Anger manifested inside of Harry until he could hold it no longer.
"What'd you want me to do? He would have died if I hadn't have gone after him!" screamed Harry as he rose from his chair.
"Possibly what we have been telling you to do all along!" screeched Mcgonagall, her face purpling "Go and tell the Headmaster!"
Harry had never seen her so enraged and was shocked that he was the one who had driven her to this amount of rage.
"I would if I had the bloody password!"
"Harry! Minerva! That is enough!" boomed Dumbledore.
Harry was suddenly aware that Hagrid's huge hands rested on his shoulders and his wand was shaking in his hand.
"You need to teach this boy he can't play hero all the time Albus!"
Before Dumbledore could reply to the Transfiguration teacher's outrage Harry yelled,
"WHY? NO ONE ELSE WILL! YOU'RE ALL QUITE HAPPY TO LET PEOPLE DIE! I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CARE IF I RUN OFF! ALL I AM IS A BURDEN TO YOU ALL! I HAVE NO FAMILY AND NO BODY CARES!" and with that Harry shook of Hagrid's hands, glanced around at the mingled looks of shock and shame before he fled from the room.
The staff all sat there no one dared to move. Minerva Mcgonagall was breathing harshly but now looked quite ashamed, Dumbledore was resting his head in his hands and Hagrid was in a state of shock.
"'E didn't mean all that did 'e? We all care 'bout'im, he knows tha!" grumbled Hagrid
"I should apologise to him, I sounded like Severus" mumbled Mcgonagall as she fitfully rubbed her hands together.
"Leave him be" ordered Dumbledore before he rose from the table and strode out of the room.
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Harry sat in the dark dungeon room trembling with rage and shock. He had just screamed at all of his teachers and had pulled his wand on them.
He was tired, upset and sick of everything. All he wanted to do was help and look after everyone. Maybe it was a hero instinct, but he didn't care. Harry knew what it was like to be left helpless and tortured.
Ever since he could remember his uncle had abused him as much as he could and now even when he was old enough to defend himself he was still being attacked, tortured and hunted by people more powerful than him.
He had been down in the Potions lab for quite a while, long enough for the room to become dark and to enhance the creepy effect.
No one would expect him to be down here and that is why it made the perfect hiding place. He knew everyone would be looking for him now, not because they cared where he was, but because they couldn't let their weapon be damaged.
Harry shook his head; he didn't know what had gotten in to him. He knew many of the teachers cared for him. Maybe it was Voldemort tuning in to his thoughts, making him feel powerless and alone. Now gripped with terror Harry hastily shut off his mind as much as he possibly could.
Figuring that it had worked as he now felt much more positive and more himself, Harry lifted himself up off of the unforgiving floor and slowly stumbled back up to his dormitory.
Walking past the Great Hall, Harry heard a whisper of his name. Chastising himself for not using a secret passage so that he wouldn't run in to anyone Harry slowly turned around to face Professor McGonagall.
"How are you Harry?" she whispered as she advanced towards the young teen.
"Fine" mumbled Harry, looking up in to his Professor's eyes,
"I need to apologise Harry, for the way I acted. It was and is not my place to reprimand or punish you, that lies with Dumbledore and I believe he has given you detention. So I am sorry for what I said this morning, I can understand that you are angry and annoyed at all of us and I also know that if it wasn't for you, Severus would be dead" she offered him a genuine smile before patting him on the shoulder and walking away.
Harry watched after her, ashamed that he had a hard lump in his throat that he didn't seem to be able to swallow past.
"Come on Harry, pull it together" he murmured to himself before continuing to walk back to the Gryffindor common room.
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A week of several tense and awkward breakfasts pasted, but they gradually returned to normal. Harry would always ask after Snape and one morning Dumbledore replied.
"He is most likely coming home in two days time Harry"
Harry nodded his head, working out that Snape had been in hospital now for eight days, half the length Harry had been subjected to it.
A few smiles were shared between the table, no one knew how Severus was going to react to this knew found attachment Harry had for him, but for now it was quite endearing to see the boy showing so much concern for his once least favourite Professor.
"He probably isn't going to be too happy to see me though... you know... since I have to serve two weeks detention with him" Harry chuckled as he downed the rest of his pumpkin juice.
Many people tittered around the table and Harry looked up and beamed at Hagrid who had returned to his usual loud self.
"He owes you Harry" Mcgongall laughed as she looked at the scrawny teenager across from her.
Harry's expression grew sombre and he placed his glass down.
"I owe him professor... he has saved my life so many times I've lost count"
Everyone startled and looked at him, they all had a different assortment of expressions on their faces.
"I doubt Severus is counting Harry, anyone of us would have done what was necessary to save you" Dumbledore intoned
Harry nodded his head and returned to his breakfast.
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Harry strode down once again to the Great Hall and was greeted by the sight of many of the teachers crowding around the Hufflepuff table.
He stopped dead and his breath hitched. He saw someone with a famous scowl upon their face and a head full of long black hair standing in the middle of the crowd. He looked as if this was the last place he wanted to be, exactly how Harry felt.
Severus Snape's black eyes locked with Harry's and he nodded his head slightly. Harry gulped and quickly walked back out of the Hall in to the bailey.
He paced up and down, underneath the shining sun, his thoughts flying wildly through his head.
Snape had so much he could use against him. He had saved Harry numerous times in his life, he had risked his life and position for Harry, he had seen in to Harry's inner most thoughts and now he knew that Harry had gone out of his way to save Snape's life.
"Mr Potter?" Minerva Mcgonagall barked sharply, all business like.
Harry spun around, fearful that he was in trouble.
"Professor?"
"What do you think you are doing outside?" she snarled as she strode over to him.
"Uh... I forgot?" mumbled Harry, instantly recognizing his error. Dumbledore had specifically told him not to leave the castle's walls.
"Forgot? That's all you can come up with?" she snapped, grabbing his arm and tugging him back to the doorway "and tell me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that you have a detention to serve with someone do you not?"
"Umm, that'd be right Professor... is he well enough?"
"He was well enough to snarl at us all and argue with the Headmaster about your detention"
Harry paled and stumbled to a stop,
"He... he doesn't want to s-see m- me?" whispered Harry, absolutely horrified that he cared so much about what the Slytherin thought.
"I believe you injured his pride quite severely Harry, I do not think he likes being rescued by Gryffindors a little more than half his age"
Harry smiled lightly, but Minerva didn't miss the look of anxiety that flashed through his dull green eyes.
"I'll be able to get to him by myself Professor"
"Good luck Mr Potter" encouraged his Head of House.
The young lion walked quickly out of sight and headed down to the dungeon. He felt as if he was walking to his doom.
Before he knew it he was standing in front of the dark mahogany door of the potions lab. It took all of his Gryffindor courage to knock.
In a matter of seconds the door swung open and the Potions Master stood in the middle of the room. His face blank and his arms folded.
"Enter" he droned as he spun around and strode towards his desk and sat down.
Harry walked in to the room and felt like he was being watched by the organisms encased in green sludge. Hands slightly trembling he stood in the middle of the room awaiting his grim fate.
"Get to work scrubbing those cauldrons, I will stop you in two hours" said Snape as he pointed a finger at the pile of cauldrons in the corner of the room "without magic if you would"
Harry nodded and then realising that Snape had not looked at him since he had entered the room he let out a feeble answer and set to work.
Over the period of two hours Harry hadn't felt or seen Snape look at him once. He just sat at his desk, his eyes facing the ceiling and his hand slowly massaging his ribs.
"Your time is up, return here tomorrow at the same time"
"Yes sir" mumbled Harry before he quickly left the room.
Breathing harshly, but figuring that it could have gone worse Harry headed to the library to catch up on all of his assignments and homework.
Then an unsettling reality hit Harry; he was going to be spending his birthday in detention with Severus Snape of all people.
Letting out a groan Harry entered the library and was startled by walking straight into Hagrid.
"'Ello 'Arry! How are yer? Where 'ave you been all day?" he boomed, ignoring the filthy looks he was receiving from Madame Pince.
"Hey Hagrid, umm, I'm alright... I just served detention with Professor Snape" Harry mumbled his eyes down cast.
"Ah yer, Dumbledore mention you 'ad detention with'im. Can't a been to bad could it?"
"Umm, well... not really"
"I'd love ta chat 'Arry but I gotta go 'elp madam Sprout prune the barlampiam. Ya see she is a bit too short to get to the top" and with that Hagrid continued on his way.
Not even bothering to ask what a barlampiam was or what Hagrid was doing in the library, Harry moved to the far corner of the library. Head down, Harry collapsed in to an old leather chair. He looked around the silent room at all of the ancient books and began choosing the ones he was interested in and needed for his assignments. He hovered them over from his place in his chair and started to read which turned out to be well on into the afternoon.
"Harry?" came the soft voice of Albus Dumbledore. Harry startled awake and the book that had been resting on his lap crumpled to the floor.
"Professor?" mumbled Harry, the last remnants of sleep clinging to him.
"Dinner will be served in ten minutes Harry; I believe it would be best if you ate something"
Harry looked up at his Headmaster and panic rolled through him when he realised Dumbledore seemed to be aging quite rapidly.
"I'll be there Professor, I'll just put all these away" Harry said as he started to pack up the books that were littered around him.
"I will see you there Harry" Dumbledore said with a smile and Harry watched him navigate his way through the aisle and out the door.
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"Evening Harry, did you have a good day?" queried Mcgonagall as Harry sat down across from her, making sure he was sitting down the opposite end to Snape.
"It was alright Professor" Harry replied shooting a look down towards Snape who either did not see it or chose to ignore it.
Mcgonagall seemed to have seen it though and continued to question further,
"How was Severus with your detention?"
Snape's head rose at this and he glared at Mcgonagall, still refusing to look at Harry.
"Uh... I had to scrub cauldrons, but that's it" mumbled Harry, his anxiety around Snape heightening to a new level.
"Have you thanked the boy yet Severus? He saved your life after all" Mcgonagall said with a knowing smile, she knew that Severus hated being baited, especially by her.
"I believe we are even now Minerva" Snape droned before returning to his roast chicken.
Mcgonagall looked like she was going to say something quite sharp to reprimand Snape for his selfishness when Harry quickly butted in.
"Uh, actually sir, you've saved my life three times... so no, we're not even"
Snape looked at Harry for the first time since the morning, his black eyes flashed with an emotion Harry could not recognize.
"I believe I said we were even Potter" snapped Snape before he stood from the table and walked out of the hall leaving his unfinished meal behind.