The following days made Snape more absent than ever from his chamber. Classes have started again so Harry would spend the entire day alone with his thoughts and Snape's books. He had, at least, Ron and Hermione's visits to look forward to during the evening much to the Potions master's dismay. The two friends used their allocated ten minutes to briefly update Harry on the school's events. Fortunately, there have been no further attacks on Muggle-born students. The bad news (according to Harry and Ron and even Snape) was that Gilderoy Lockhart was now prancing around the school claiming that he had singlehandedly scared off the monster of the Chamber of Secrets. Snape had miraculously made Harry and Ron laugh (Harry's laugh had been sounded rather strangled) when he had said the only reason that the monster had stopped spreading terror around the school was because it was too ashamed to have such an incompetent fool like Lockhart as an opponent. Hermione had been rather scandalized and offended at that remark.
It was now Wednesday and Harry felt better than ever. His throat no longer hurt, he coughed ever so slightly and he had most of his voice back. The potion's side-effect was now less intense and Harry cried less every night. Snape had been quite helpful during those times, holding and soothing his student until the tears stopped. The Potions master was, in Harry's opinion, improving at handling delicate situations and Harry made sure that Snape knew that his attempts at comforting someone were good for someone who has been unemotional for most of his life. The Gryffindor wanted Snape to develop his caring side.
Harry sat sideways in an armchair, gazing at the photographs of his mother after a hot shower. He loved watching her laugh and smile brightly for the camera. There was one picture that Harry particularly liked: his mother was sitting underneath a large oak tree with a book in her hands, smiling warmly at the camera that Snape had been apparently holding. Her flaming hair danced in a small breeze and she seemed to be full of life. Harry desperately wanted to know more about her but would Snape answer his questions? Harry knew that he would never know unless he tried but he feared the consequences of his actions all the same.
A loud knock came from the portrait hole and Harry scrambled to his feet, failing to notice the photo album falling open to the ground. Who could it possibly be? Everyone, student and teacher alike, should be in class at the moment. Harry hesitated then approached the portrait hole.
He had only pushed the canvas open by a fraction when he heard the annoyed voices of Ron and Hermione bickering with the portrait.
"How dare you knock on my frame! How dare you!" the portrait shrieked.
"Bloody hell, lady! How else are we supposed to get inside without the password? We have to let Harry know we're here somehow!" Ron retorted angrily.
"Then I suggest you sit out here and wait for the impertinent brat to come out and use the bathroom," the portrait replied.
"We are not going to sit here and wait for Harry to have a full bladder," Hermione scoffed. "Last time I checked, knocking is the courtesy to enter a room."
"Last time I checked, Gryffindors are a bunch of dunderheads who only know how to get what they want by being aggressive," the portrait said smoothly.
Harry rolled his eyes. He gave the canvas a good shove and it flew open at top speed, coming to an abrupt halt when it couldn't be opened any wider. Harry smiled broadly as he watched Hermione look positively scandalized by what he had done and Ron going over to examine the portrait. He returned chortling.
"That was brilliant, mate!" Ron exclaimed cheerfully. "You've made her fall off her chair and some of her books fell out of her library!"
"It's not funny! Harry, she could get you in serious trouble!" Hermione chastised, scowling at the boys.
"I could say the same thing about you two," Harry said hoarsely.
Ron stopped laughing as Hermione gasped. "You can talk again!" she squealed.
"Yeah but my voice is not completely back yet as you can hear," Harry replied.
"I think that it's just lack of use. Keep talking and it'll be back to normal."
"That's great!" Ron said, thumping Harry on the back. "That means that you'll be out of here soon!"
"No kidding. Now come inside before somebody sees you," Harry said.
Ron and Hermione hastily stepped inside. Harry was about to force the portrait to close when he heard it mumble something about reporting to Snape about the intrusion. Harry stepped around the portrait and faced the woman fixing her hair.
"If you ever tell Professor Snape about this I will send that mad Sir Cadogan I've heard about after you," Harry threatened. "They say he's always up for a challenge and I think that you're a perfect match for him."
The woman sitting in the portrait looked genuinely alarmed at this and she roughly shook her head. Satisfied, Harry went back inside the chamber, closing the portrait while doing so.
Ron and Hermione were standing in the middle of the room, arguing whether the way Harry had handled the portrait was good or not. When The Boy Who Lived joined them, they fell silent and turned to him.
"What are you guys doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"We were but there was a bit of a mishap in Potions," Ron replied, smirking.
"What happened?"
"Somehow, Seamus, Neville and Goyle all have managed to make their cauldrons explode while we were all making a Swelling Solution. A whole bunch of students were hit and got various body parts that were about five times their normal sizes and Neville's potion was actually acid so the classroom itself got pretty damaged," Hermione explained. "Snape has cancelled the rest of the lesson to clean everything up so we've got an extended lunch hour."
"Wow. Poor Neville and Seamus must've gotten a detention for that," Harry said sympathetically.
"They sure did though Snape surprisingly didn't take points off of Gryffindor. Not that we're complaining, it's just weird," Ron said, shrugging.
"Let's just be grateful for that. As much as I appreciate you guys coming to visit me, aren't you scared that Snape might come in here at any moment?" Harry wanted to know.
"Nah, Snape's got a real mess to take care of so we're not worried."
"How come you guys didn't get hit with any Swelling Solution?"
"I had cast a Shield Charm over as many people as I could, which wasn't many since I'm still in the process of learning how to extend the spell," Hermione said. "But at least it was effective," she added proudly.
"I can see that," Harry praised her with a smile. She beamed at him.
"Hey, Harry? What's that over there?" Ron asked curiously, pointing at the floor.
Harry looked at what Ron was showing him and realized with a jolt that it was Snape's photo album. Much to his horror, Harry saw Ron approach the album and pick it up.
"It…It's nothing!" Harry exclaimed hastily. He cringed at how weak his attempt at protecting Snape's privacy had sounded.
"Who are the bloke and the girl?" Ron asked as he examined the photographs. Hermione went up to him and took a look at the pictures herself.
"It's Snape! Anyone can see that," she told Ron. "As for the girl—" She faltered, staring at the photographs. Harry bit his lower lip; if anyone could put two and two together, it was Hermione.
And she did. Hermione examined the pictures a bit more closely and gasped before she exclaimed, "Harry! The girl in the pictures has your eyes!"
"Blimey! She does!" Ron remarked incredulously.
"Harry, is this girl your mother?" Hermione asked tentatively.
Harry looked at the both of them and nodded. Hermione covered her mouth with her hands as Ron dropped the album in shock. They both stared at Harry, who was anxiously waiting for their thoughts.
"Surprise," Harry said weakly. When his friends didn't answer he added, "For the love of God, say something!"
"I… I…" Hermione stammered almost incoherently. Ron suddenly took over.
"Wait, how can we be sure that this is Harry's mother?" he said. "I mean, Snape couldn't possibly have known her let alone have hung out with her."
"Ron, the eyes are a dead giveaway! Besides, I've seen my mother in the Mirror of Erised last year; that girl looks exactly like her except younger. Let's face it, Snape was friends with Mum," Harry told him.
"Ron, look. It says 'Lily' on the top of the page," Hermione said, pointing at the photo album on the floor. "That's Mrs Potter's given name. Right, Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"Okay, okay. I get it. So, Harry, what did Snape tell you about her?"
"W-What?" Harry said.
"What did he tell you about her?" Ron repeated. "I'm sure you've asked him about her."
"Er, I didn't, actually," Harry replied hesitantly.
"Why not?" Hermione asked, visibly startled.
"Because this is Snape we're talking about! I'm positively certain that the reason he hasn't told me about his connection to my mother is because he doesn't want me to know! Especially me out of all people," Harry exclaimed briskly. "I'm willing to bet all of the gold in my Gringotts vault that if I ask Snape about my mum he will put me in detention faster than you can say 'unfair'."
A pause followed his words. Then Hermione slowly approached Harry and she put both hands on his shoulders. He looked at her.
"Harry," Hermione said gently, "I understand that you're scared that Snape might get mad and, frankly, he probably will. But Snape is not heartless even if he appears to be; those photos are proof of that. I'm willing to bet all of the money in my vault that since your mother is extremely important to you and obviously to him as well, Snape will answer your questions."
"I hate to admit it but I think Hermione's right, mate," Ron said. "It's clear that Snape cared for your mum so he'll understand why you'd want to know more about her."
Harry and Hermione goggled at him. "Did those words just come out of that mouth?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Hey! I can be deep too, you know!" Ron retorted.
Hermione giggled and turned back to Harry. "Will you talk to Snape about your mum?" she questioned.
"Uh, I guess so. I've got nothing to lose, right?" Harry answered, managing a small smile.
Hermione smiled warmly and gave him a hug. The gesture surprised, embarrassed, and pleased Harry all at once. He tentatively returned the embrace, finally fully coming to terms with that here in the wizarding world, he was cared for and loved. He didn't know why it took him so long to completely acknowledge that fact.
The school bell rang and Harry and Hermione broke apart. Ron clapped his hands together and he licked his lips.
"Lunch time!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "Let's go, Hermione. I'm starving."
"Must you always think with your stomach?" Hermione snapped. She focused on Harry again. "Though I do agree that it's best that we leave. Snape might be back any minute now. We'll be back later this evening to discuss real quick the ways to approach Snape with a delicate subject," she told him in a kinder tone.
Harry nodded. Hermione waved at him before returning to Ron's side. She grabbed his arm and dragged the ginger-haired boy out of the portrait hole, leaving The Boy Who Lived to muse over his own thoughts again.
Let's see if Harry can summon his courage to ask Snape about his mother. And maybe at the same time Snape will find the answer to his potion he was looking for a few chapters back.
Thanks for the reviews! :D They're very much appreciated!