If it seems like there was a bit of a step back as far as the physical aspect goes, I'm sorry, but this part had to be done.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews; they keep me writing and thanks very much to my beta Liz, she makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing. Acknowledgments are at the end of the chapter this time.

Chapter 7

1.


Harry put away the things he had been using to help Snape and was about to leave when a thought struck him. What if he couldn't get out? Luckily there was no need to worry. It seemed that there was only protection to stop people from getting in, not from getting out.

It had been a strange night. Who would have thought he would ever help Snape do anything that wasn't required as some sort of punishment? He always seemed sort of invincible to Harry. It had affected him to see his professor in such a vulnerable state. The man did a lot more for the Wizarding World and ultimately, for him, than anyone would ever know.

Harry felt almost ashamed for all the times he and Ron had thought Snape evil just because they wanted him to be. His Potions professor might not be an amiable or even civil man, but he was a good one...sort of. Harry's feelings of resentment towards him for his cruel behaviour and mean actions were starting to dissipate without Harry even having noticed. All he knew was that Snape suddenly seemed....human.


Morning arrived and with it came great curiosity. Harry went to Snape's office wondering if he would say anything about what had happened or if he would even be able to teach.

When he walked into the office he found Snape sitting, not standing behind his desk. He could tell that the older man was uncomfortable, but as he did not say anything Harry thought it best not to mention it


'Good morning Professor Snape.'


'Potter,' said Snape with a nod. 'We will be sitting today.'



Snape conjured a chair for Harry to use. When he sat down he noticed Snape wincing and said,


'If you're not feeling well- I mean if you're still in pain, or something, we don't have to do this today. I don't mind making it up on Saturday.'


'I'm fine Potter.'

'But-'


'I fine,' repeated Snape a bit harshly.

At the slightly affronted look on Harry's face he said in a milder tone,

'I appreciate your concern, but I'm only a bit bruised. Now that we are past the stage of you needing to physically attack me, the only thing I need to teach you is presence of mind. I have that in abundance. Unfortunately,' he continued with a sneer, 'I can't say the same for you.'



Harry felt stupid. How thick could he be? Snape was still Snape...an evil git. Just not literally.

The lesson was less intense than usual and passed quickly. At the end both teacher and pupil seemed disinclined to leave. The simply stared at one another for a few minutes. Both unsure of what to say, but knowing that something should be said or rather, that there were things that needed to be said.


'Tea Potter?'


Who said it had to be relevant?

'Sure.'



They did not talk about Harry's conversation that never took place, nor did they bring up what happened to Snape. Instead they drank tea. Sometimes they spoke, but more often they didn't. When they did though, it was about nothing significant: Quidditch, the Quibbler, which Snape confessed that he occasionally read, but would deny it if Harry ever said anything and matters of the like.

Before Harry knew it, two weeks had gone, two were left and the issues on his mind were as bothering as ever. The time had come for him to just get it over with. He was going to speak to him. He had to if only to stop from losing his mind.


After class that day, Snape poured what had become a customary cup of tea for Harry. As he passed it to him their fingers brushed causing Snape to pull away quickly. The tea almost spilled.

Harry made an unnecessary fuss over making sure none of the beverage had splattered on the desk, floor or on his person. He was avoiding starting the conversation that he knew he had to have. Eventually he cleared his throat and dove- or rather spluttered in.


'Umm, well....y'know when I had-er- wanted to talk to you before...about some things that had been on my mind?'


Snape nodded yes.

'Well, I guess I'm ready to talk about it now...if you're still willing, I mean..'


'Go ahead Potter.'


'Yeah, well...' Harry squirmed around a bit, drank some tea, then squirmed a little more. Snape certainly wasn't making opening up to him easy.


* Why does he have to stare like that? There's nothing to see! *


'Potter?'


'I...I just don't know how to react,' said Harry after a long pause. Ever since I found out about the Prophecy- do you know?'


'Yes, I know it,'


'Figures,' said Harry bitterly. 'Everyone knew but me. I suppose I know now, but it would have been helpful if I knew before. I had to wait...just sit around in the dark until Dumbledore had no choice but to tell me. He waited until I had nothing and dropped it into my lap!'


Harry was gesticulating and growing louder by the minute. Finally he got up and began to pace.

'Well what am I supposed to do now? I don't know and Dumbledore certainly did not tell me. Merlin forbid I would have an idea of what to do for a change! He didn't give me any annoying- round-the-bush-sage advice. He said kill or be killed!'


At this Snape raised an eyebrow.

'Okay, so he didn't say that exactly, but he might as well have. I can't tell Ron or Hermione- they would totally panic, plus I can't keep burdening them with my problems. They're too heavy for regular 16 year olds. The boy-who-lived! What a joke! I'm the boy-who-has-to-live, or live long enough to do away with the most powerful dark wizard around anyway. So what am I supposed to do? Just bang on Voldermort's door and ask for a duel?'


Harry flung himself back into his chair and looked at Snape earnestly.

'I mean, what happens now? Does Dumbledore expect me to act as if nothing changed? Am I to just go on with Charms and Transfiguration- which seem quite trivial now -and forget that I have to snuff Voldemort before he gets me?'


Harry took up his abandoned cup of tea and took a sip. He looked into the drink as though it could tell him everything he wanted to know.

'I just...I feel completely alone,' finished Harry in a small voice.

'Well I can't say that I know what to tell you either Potter. Most likely Dumbledore will speak to you about those very queries,' he put up his hand to stop Harry from breaking into another tirade about the headmaster. 'Probably before the new term commences. Be patient. The Headmaster has his own ways of dealing with things.'


Snape's upper lip curled slightly suggesting that he did not agree with the method, whatever it might be.

'And the subjects that you called "trivial" just now will aid you in your cause. All of them will. You should focus even more- and judging by your usual work, you don't focus much- on your studies. You will most likely be required to take private classes; training in duelling and such. My advice Potter, is to arm yourself with knowledge. With the dark Lord you never quite know what you're going to face. Learn as much as you can. Stay alert. When the time is right Dumbledore will let you know what is going. Though his methods are...questionable, he has never yet steered us wrong. I'm afraid that is all I have to offer on the subject.'


Harry, who had been staring determinedly into his tea cup all the while finally looked up. He stared for a while at his professor without saying anything.

'Thank you...for listening to me rant and trying to help.'


Harry got up to leave and was just at door when Snape called out to him.

'You're welcome Potter.'



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