CHAPTER 4 - A Second Chance Which You Probably Don't Understand

Weird sounds coming from his stomach startled Harry. He was hungry and now it was time for breakfast. But he was determined to wait until his professor had come out of his bedroom. Or at the end, Harry would have to knock on the door to wake him. He had to see Snape before he left his chambers. He had to ask him what he had seen the previous night. It was obvious that Snape had known his mother since he had gone to school with his father and the Marauders. But her photo, framed, on his bedside table? That was a little too much for a simple friendship. He had to confront him. But how? How could he haul him over the coals, how could he ask about such a thing since the man had helped him and comforted him and shared his secrets with him?!

Severus opened his weary eyes. An intense pain shut through his body, his ears were ringing and his head felt like he had been a snack for a cave troll. For one moment he forgot where he was. Looking around, he released the breath he was holding, he was in his rooms, safe. The events of last night caused him a loss of balance, but it was all over now. Just for a second, he had thought that was his last summoning. He thought he would die. But when he arrived his quarters and when Potter...

Wait! What?! POTTER!

Abruptly, he climbed out of his bed, blunt pain shot through his torso. He hissed as the photo frame he had been holding fell on the floor, bringing back the look of confusion he had seen on the brat's face last night. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Shaking his head, he released a sigh, "Oh no! No no no!"

As Harry was lost in thought, Severus Snape's bedroom door cracked open and he saw a pair of dark weary eyes looking at him behind the door. Instantly Harry got up from where he was seated and set to preen.

"Good morning, Prefessor." he hessitated, "How are you feeling today?"

Severus didn't reply. He wasn't sure what to say to the boy. He didn't know whether he should answer him civil, or he should snap at him. They had shared an important secret. He had seen a different and unexpected side of Potter. And volunteraly he had shown the boy a vulnerable side of himself. What sould he tell him now? How should he...

"May I ask why you are still here, Mr. Potter?" Severus couldn't stop the words coming out of his mouth.

"I... er... well... I was worried about you... sir." the boy stuttered.

"Your concern is touching. But as you can see I am quite alright, Mr. Potter. Thank you for your help. I trust you will not tell anyone what happened here last night."

"No sir. I will not. But I..."

"Now if you allow me Mr. Potter, I have work to attend to."

"But Professor Snape, please..."

"Out, Potter!"

Harry looked at the man, standing sternly before him. He wanted so desperately to know. He wanted to ask him about his mother's photo. He wanted to get angry. He wanted to jump down his throat, to call him names, tell him that he was not worthy enough to love his mother. But he couldn't do any of these. Because he was worried. He needed to be sure that his professor was alright, that he could take care of himself when Harry had left him in his quarters. For the first time, Harry cared.

"Are.. ahem... Are you sure, sir? That you're... you... are.. alright?"

"Yes, I told you I am quite well. I am up, standing on my feet. I am alive." Severus replied. *I am in pain. I am sick of this shit. I hate my life. I am everything but alright, Potter. No, I am not airlght!* He kept the last part to himself.

"Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"

"Mr. Potter, it's time for you to go now."

"But, Professor."

"Out Potter! Now!"

"Professor Snape, can I... may I ask you something, sir?"

"Potter!" Severus walked to the boy as if he would grab him from his collar. Harry backed.

"Professor please, the photo..."

"I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT!" Severus roared, the air coming out from his lungs. He grabbed Harry's upper arm and hurled him to the door. But the sudden action caused his body to double over with pain.

"Professor Snape!" Harry launched himself forward but Severus was now pushing the door to close.

"I've had enough! This is my private life. STAY OUT OF IT!" Severus yelled as he pushed the door forward. "I am done with you!" he stated and Harry heard him whimper in pain.

By the time Harry found himslef thrown out of the door, he turned back to see Severus but the door was already closed on him.

"Professor?!" he called, "Professor Snape?!"

There was no answer. Harry could hear whimpers of his professor. He knocked on the door.

"Professor, please..."

"Go away..."

"Professor..."

"GO. AWAY!"

Harry stayed there to listen his professor's moans from the other side of the door for a while. Then unwillingly he turned around and walked away from the dungeons to his classes.

"Where were you last nigt?" Hermione asked Harry as they walked along the corridors together. It was now dinner time and Harry had been very silent the whole day.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked, when Harry didn't answer Hermione's question. "Don't you hear, or something?!"

"Harry, is something matter? You can tell us." Hermione said.

"It's nothing, really." Harry replied, "I'm just tired."

When they arrived at the Great Hall, the dinner had already been served. Everybody was enjoying the feast. Harry looked at the staff table, Professor Snape was not there. Where was he? Now Harry was really concerned.

That night Harry considered going to the dungeons secretly and see if Snape was alright for himself. But he couldn't bring himself to do that. Instead, he climbed in his bed worriedly and dozed off to a restless sleep.

Meanwhile, Severus was suffering from dizziness, extreme fatigue and headaches. He was trying to find out what he had done wrong. Because the pain and spasms seemed to be increasing with time. He tried special potions, healing spells, he even tried muggle painkillers but nothing seemed to work. He started getting worried but he was too weak to keep working. Finally he surrendered to a haunted slumber.

The room was dark. Severus rubbed his eyes to see a little better. There was a bookshelf and a book next to the shelf, the book was glowing red. It read "Dark Spells, Bodybound and Healing". Looking around, there was a lamp blinking. A giant wooden door opened with a squeak of rusty hinges, revealing the silhouette of a man in the darkness... A little boy curled up on his bed under the duvet, closed his eyes tight... The man approached the bed and sat down on the edge... The boy turned his face away, his little hands covering his ears... A lightning flashed... The thunder almost deafening... The man reached his hand out, removed the duvet... The door slammed shut... Some rocks toppled down from a hill... A child screamed... A little boy removed his head, "Daddy?"... A water drop dropped into a pool of water... A light lightened... A slim hand reached out to him... A whisper was heard; "Sev"... The boy shyly walked along a dark, humid corridor... A ball bounced against the wall then into the ground... The man followed the boy along the corridor... Her voice was heard; "You gave him the prophecy, Severus. My son suffered this because of you. He had a childhood just like yours. He lived through hell. You are responsible for that, Severus. But now it's time to fix this. You will be given a second chance. Use it well. You know all the answers. Just listen to your heart. I am waiting."... The sound of the thunder faded away... The lights went out... Wake up!

Severus jerked form his sleep. It was so real. He wondered the maning of this peculiar dream. He sat on his bed for a while, panthing. He felt so weak and ill. "Something is deffinitely wrong with me." he thought and he decided to go and visit his friend who was working as a healer at St. Mungo's.

In the morning Harry's first class was Potions. He and his friends walked in the potions classroom and took their seats. As they were preparing the potion ingredients, Professor Flitwick walked in the classroom, saying:

"Hello students. Professor Snape is a little busy at the moment. That's why I will be taking over his classes for today."

That was when Harry deviantly rose from his chair and raced to Snape's private quarters without listening his friends' questions and calls.

To Be Continued...

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