Disclaimer – It still isn't mine.
Chapter 8 - Running
'Ten points to Slytherin.' Harry muttered dryly.
'Hey, I wasn't a Slytherin.' David protested.
'Ravenclaw?'
David shook his head. 'Nope.'
'Hufflepuff then?'
'Third time lucky, Potter.' Snape snorted.
Harry's sightless eyes almost fell out of his head. 'Is this the bit where I suddenly wake up and find that I can actually see, Dumbledore isn't after us, and Severus, the ultimate Slytherin did not become friends with a Gryffindor?' He asked incredulously.
'Impertinent brat.' Snape scolded, smacking him lightly on the head again.
'Why do you keep doing that?' Harry asked indignantly as David hid a grin.
'Because glaring at you doesn't work anymore.' Snape replied petulantly.
'I hate to break it to you, Severus, and you might want to sit down for this because it will come as a shock, but your glares never really worked on me.'
That did it for David and he could hold in his laughter no longer. Harry laughed with him as Snape glared at them both.
Eventually they calmed down. 'You do realise Rhys that you're a Gryffindor and you are friends with him too.
Harry turned, his expression curious. 'Are we? I guess we are. You said you were beginning to like me before we left Hogwarts.'
'Yes, and I also said I'd deny it if anyone asked.' Snape snapped his arms folded across his chest in defence.
'But I'm not anyone, I'm me. Are we friends, Severus?' Harry's voice was hopeful.
'No, of course not. I risk my life and my liberty for just anybody, didn't you know.'
'Bastard.' Harry snorted.
Snape smirked at him. 'Indeed.'
Once again David shook his head. 'You two have the weirdest relationship I've ever seen.'
Snape face became abnormally blank as Harry flushed to the tips of his ears. 'I...um...we...' He stammered.
Snape decided to rescue him. 'It's alright, Potter. He didn't mean it like that.'
David thought he saw a lost look flash in Harry's sightless eyes but realised he must have been mistaken as Harry let out a small but uncomfortable laugh.
'So,' he said conversationally. 'have you worked out how we're going to get around our little problem?'
'Yes.' Snape said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Oh really? How?'
Snape glanced at David and smirked before reaching around Harry's shoulder and picked up his fork, lifting a forkful of eggs and holding it to his mouth. 'Open.' He commanded.
'What are you...mmpfh.' Harry tried talking around the mouthful of food he found dumped in his mouth.
'I told you, you had to eat and eat you shall.'
Harry mumbled unintelligibly as he swallowed the mouth full of food. He went to open it to ask again but Snape was ready for him and another forkful was dumped inside. David snorted as Harry swallowed quickly. The next time Snape tried it Harry's hand shot out and clenched tightly around the older man's halting his progress.
'Do you mind?' he ground out. 'I am quite capable of feeding myself you know.'
'Doesn't look like it. I've seen skeletons with more fat on them than you.' Severus sniffed.
'Why doesn't that surprise me?' Harry murmured dryly.
'Brat.'
'Enough of that.' David cut in, his eyes shining clearly in mirth. 'We have to work out how we are going to do this.'
'I have an idea.' Snape offered. 'But there are side effects.'
'That sounds ominous.' David snorted.
'If not painful.' Harry added with a snicker.
Snape rolled his eyes. 'I will explain if you keep eating.'
'Great, bribery and coddling. It doesn't get much better than that.' Harry muttered, earning himself another smack. This one was much softer and the hand almost seemed to linger for a moment.
'Impertinent brat, just eat and listen.'
'Fine.' Harry huffed, lifting his fork and tucking half-heartedly into his breakfast.
'There is a spell that would allow your mind to connect to mine that would mean you could know the address by reading it in my mind instead of on a piece of paper.'
'A mind merging spell?' Harry asked. Snape gave him a pointed look, one he knew Harry would be able to feel and that together with the silence told Harry everything he needed to know. 'I'm eating, I'm eating.' he groaned, quickly picking up piece of kipper. 'Uh, what in god's name was that?' He grimaced spitting the offending piece of food out into a napkin.
'For Merlin's sake, Rhys. Can you not be quiet for just one moment?' The potions master snapped, the stress of the last twenty four hours beginning to take its toll.
Harry heard the tone and his shoulders slumped. 'Sorry.' He muttered.
David watched as his friend took in the boy's posture and closed his eyes monetarily before he reached over to give Harry's hand a gentle squeeze. 'It's alright, I'm sorry I snapped. I know you're scared. I promise I won't let Dumbledore find you.'
Harry gave the man a small smile, picking up his fork and beginning to eat again and Snape went on.
'The spell takes quite an amount of trust, Rhys. Essentially you are letting me see all of you and I'm doing the same.'
Harry opened his mouth but hesitated before closing it again.
'Ask your question, Rhys.' Snape said quietly.
'You mentioned side effects.' Harry said before quickly taking a bite to show that he was still eating.
Snape's mouth twitched in amusement at the action. 'You have to be incredibly careful. We could essentially get lost in each other's mind if something goes wrong.'
'How likely is that?' David asked tentatively.
'Not very.' Snape admitted. 'As long as we trust one another it shouldn't be a problem.'
'What else?' Harry asked after swallowing the last bite of toast.
'You actually have to complete the spell. It takes quite a lot of power and the Ministry would respond within minutes. We would have to apparate immediately.'
'That's easy enough. We can do it away from here so Dumbledore can't trace it back.' David suggested and Snape nodded, his expression guarded.
'What is it, Severus?' Harry asked perceptively. 'You're holding something back, something you're unsure of revealing.'
Snape's eyes narrowed and he moved from his position behind Harry to stare out the window at the ever increasing traffic on the streets below. 'You would not come out of this unscathed, Rhys.' He said quietly causing Harry's fork to come to a halt midway to his mouth. Snape didn't see it however and just continued speaking. 'Once the spell ends and your mind withdrew it would take a small piece of mine with it.'
'A piece?' Harry said quizzically.
'Well, more like a feeling.'
'I would be able to feel you?'
Snape sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. 'I'm not explaining this very well, am I.' He muttered.
'What Severus is trying to say in that unique way of his is that it's a bond of sorts.' David explained.
Harry's fork clattered to his plate. 'Pardon?'
'The spell involves an exchange of trust and an exchange of words. Depending on the words it can create a sort of bond.' David went on when it seemed the older man was incapable.
'Do you mean that we would be bonded?'
'Very loosely. Sort of like best friends.'
Harry couldn't help the small smile that broke out on his face and he gently placed the plate on the floor beside him and stood up. Navigating his way through the room was more difficult as nothing was charmed but eventually he stood beside the potions master. He placed a tentative hand on the man's arm. 'Do you not wish to be friends, Severus?' He asked hesitantly.
Snape looked down at the Boy-Who-Lived, the young face covered by glamour, and lifted a hand gently running his fingers over the invisible scars. 'I thought we already were.' He murmured and Harry smiled brightly.
They stayed like that for several moments before Snape noticed something out of the corner of his eye and quickly stepped back, yanking Harry with him.
'We have to go. Now.' He said urgently, keeping his arm around Harry as he guided him away from the window.
'Severus, what's wrong?'
'Moody and Arthur are outside, they saw me at the window. Dumbledore must have finally contacted the Ministry and they traced the apparition signature.'
'Oh no.' Harry instantly paled.
'It's alright, Rhys, I won't let them find you.' Snape promised turning to David. 'You'd better come with us. Albus will stop at nothing to find where we are.'
David nodded. 'Let me tie up a few loose ends and I'll join you there tonight.' The man said, quickly striding from the room.
'Rhys, listen to me.' Snape stared down at the pale figure. 'We have to apparate several times so they can't trace us before the spell is finished. You have to close your eyes and relax. Trust me to take you with me. Alright?'
Harry nodded dumbly and Snape quickly pulled him close and with a pop they disappeared.
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Harry retched violently as they landed the final time. Still unused to the feeling of travel by apparition he felt as if his very insides had turned to rubber and completely rearranged themselves.
'It's alright, Rhys. You're okay.' Snape murmured as he held him gently and waited for him to finish before casting a freshening charm.
'Sorry.' Harry whispered.
'Don't concern yourself. Your father used to throw up every time he apparated at first.'
Harry's sightless eyes widened. 'Really?'
Snape snorted. 'Yes, Lily told me. I think she thought I'd find it amusing.' He said nonchalantly.
Harry grinned and reached up to touch the potions master's face. 'You're smiling again.'
'It has been known to happen on occasion.' The older man agreed.
'And becoming more regular all the time.' Harry quipped.
Snape mock scowled. 'Yes brat, and it's all your fault.'
Harry just laughed and looked around. 'Where are we?' he asked curiously.
'In an empty room at the Leaky Cauldron.' Snape told him.
Harry's eyes widened. 'What? Are you out of your mind?'
Snape clasped his shoulders. 'Calm down. There is a lot of magic in Diagon Alley. The amount of power you will be using won't register at the Ministry until the final stages of the spell giving us enough time to leave before the Aurors or the Order find us.' The man explained.
'How did you know it was empty?'
'I didn't. I would have stunned anyone if there had been someone here.'
Harry seemed thoughtful. 'Sounds reasonable.' He said finally.
Snape rolled his eyes. 'That you for your opinion, Rhys, now should we get started?'
Harry snorted but nodded, allowing the older man to tug him over to some armchairs and push him down. Snape knelt before him, taking his hands in his. 'Repeat after me. Conolorus Mentis.'
'Conolorus Mentis.' Harry said quietly.
'Good. Now concentrate on my hands, Rhys. I know you can feel the magic, follow it up my arms let it take you into the core and then follow the trail up into my mind. When you reach the wall to it begin incanting the spell. I will try to imagine the address of the safe house in written form so that you can see it as an image. Do you understand?'
Harry nodded again, already following the magic, eyes closed, his entire attention focused on the hands holding his own. Snape closed his eyes and cleared his mind until there was just the single image he wanted Harry to see.
He could feel the power of the Boy-Who-Lived searching through him and he relaxed as best he could. Harry's breathing slowed until they were almost in sync and Snape finally felt him reach his core deep within his chest. The power of the young man slipping effortlessly through Snape's core was breathtaking and Snape was suddenly was in no doubt whatsoever of Harry's ability to defeat the Dark Lord.
He heard as Harry began chanting softly and sighed heavily as the walls he had spent many years building; walls that could keep out not only the Dark Lord but Albus Dumbledore as well, were pushed almost nonchalantly aside as if made of water. Snape suddenly realised that had Harry been able to use Legilimency he would have had no trouble getting any information out of him. Of course if Harry had been able to see to use Legilimency then the spell would not have been needed anyway but there it was.
The air in the room was practically humming and minutes later there was a sharp crack and Harry's eyes shot open. 'Got it.' He gasped, panting heavily.
'Keep repeating it over in your mind and hold tight. Apparating over water isn't nice.' Snape told him, helping Harry to his feet and wrapping his arms around him.
'Apparating anywhere isn't nice.' Harry muttered.
'Could be worse. We could use a Portkey.'
'Point.' Harry sighed.
'Only one stop this time.' Snape told him and just as a pounding was heard on the stairs outside they apparated away once again.
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The first landing Harry got a whiff of sea air and Harry assumed they had apparated to Dover so that they could be as close to France as possible before apparating across the water. His stomach heaved once again and Harry had to concentrate very hard not to be left behind.
Another alley appeared around them and Harry struggled not to lose the final bit of breakfast that remained after his last bout of retching. The power he had used for the spell had left him shaking and Snape hurried him out onto the street, keeping one arm around his waist in support.
Snape stopped and hailed down a taxi, opening the door and helping Harry in before climbing in after him. 'Rue de la Bucherie, sil vous plais.' He said curtly, pulling Harry close in an effort to stop the young man's trembling.
The ride seemed indeterminable to Harry but eventually the taxi stopped and Snape pulled something out of his pocket, muttering softly before handing what Harry now assumed to be money across the seat to the driver.
'Come on.' He murmured, gently helping Harry from the backseat of the taxi. They waited until the taxi drove away before turning away from the road. 'Picture the address, Rhys.'
Harry concentrated and moments later he heard a soft whoosh and assumed the house had appeared before them as it did at Grimmauld Place.
Snape didn't speak, just helping Harry into the house and steering him through unfamiliar halls and into what seemed to be a large airy room. Harry could feel the warmth of the sun shining through what must have been large windows covering one wall.
Snape pushed him gently down on the bed and began helping him off with his jumper and his shoes. Harry was still stunned, still speechless and still shaking.
'You did very well, Rhys.' Snape murmured soothingly as he moved to lay Harry down and cover him with a blanket. 'You're safe now. Albus cannot find us here, I promise you.'
'Thank you, Severus.' Harry whispered wearily before his eyes closed and he drifted off.
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Snape sat in the kitchen several hours later, sipping idly at a glass of wine. He knew he would have to wake Harry in an hour. The young man needed to eat; he had to keep his strength up. A tapping at the window startled him and he leapt off the chair, wand drawn to see Hedwig perched on the window sill and couldn't help but snort softly.
Opening the window he allowed the owl to fly into the room and perch on the back of one of the chairs eyeing him balefully.
'You are a clever girl, aren't you?' Snape murmured in spite of having no doubt that Harry's familiar would have had no trouble finding him even across the continent. Hedwig hooted softly but her expression didn't change.
'You want to see him for yourself.' Snape said holding out his arm and waiting until the bird hopped over to it before setting back off down the corridors to Harry's room. Hedwig leapt off his arm the moment he opened the door and settled beside the sleeping Boy-Who-Lived, running her yellow eyes over him as if in inspection before gently rubbing her head against his cheek. Snape couldn't help but smile at the devotion from such a creature to her master.
Her task finished she flew back over to the potions master who was still standing by the door and looked at him expectantly. Snape raised an eyebrow.
'Yes, I have some letters that need to be sent.' He murmured softly. 'Your master needs help and I only know a few people that may be able to help him.'
Hedwig hooted softly glancing back over at Harry before flying from the room; Snape quickly following. When they were back in the kitchen Hedwig once again perched on the back of a chair and held out her leg.
Snape pulled the three envelopes from his pocket, staring at the names on the front before placing one back in his pocket and handing tying the other two to the owl's leg. 'Be careful you aren't seen.' He instructed the animal. 'Rhys would be most upset if something happened to you.'
Hedwig seemed to be about to scold him for his lack of faith in her but seemed to think better of it and with a hoot flew back out the still open window as Snape returned to his glass of wine and his ruminations.
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The man was surprised when the owl flew down to land on his shoulder as he walked into the alley to apparate. He was exhausted having spent all day searching for Snape and Harry at the order of Albus Dumbledore. The alarm had gone up shortly before eleven this morning when they had been seen at the second floor window of a muggle hotel owned by a man who had been in Snape's year at Hogwarts, and members of the Order had been searching ever since.
The Ministry had registered an enormous spike of magic in Diagon Alley shortly before lunch but once again they had missed the two by mere seconds.
Dumbledore had been yelling long and loud at lunchtime and they had all been out looking ever since. The man was starting to think the old man might be barking.
As if to remind him of her presence, Hedwig nipped his ear. 'Ouch, sorry girl. What have you got for me? Is this from Harry?' The man said taking the envelope off the owl's leg and scanning it.
He reread it several times and it took a further few minutes before it sunk in. He glanced back up at the bird on his shoulder noticing the second letter and to whom it was addressed. 'I wouldn't deliver that one, Hedwig. He will not help, I can assure you. Albus has him far too tightly under his thumb.'
The owl's eyes seemed to droop and the man stroked her feathers gently. 'Don't worry, I'll help. Harry will be ready, I promise.' He said solemnly.
At his vow several more words appeared on the bottom of the parchment. Words the man quickly recognised. 'Bloody Snape and his truth spells.' He muttered. Quickly moving further into the alley he conjured a quill and scrawled on the back of the note before tying it back to the owl's leg.
'Go back to Severus, Hedwig. I will be there in the morning.' The man said firmly, waiting for the owl to take off into the sky before apparating away.
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This time it was the front door opening that had Snape on his feet, wand drawn.
'It's me, Severus.' David's voice rang out softly as he walked through the hall and into the kitchen. The man snorted at the potions master's stance before dumping a bag full of groceries on the table and beginning to fill the kettle.
'How did it go?' Snape asked, automatically pulling the food out of the bag and putting it away even as David took it back out and began preparing a dinner of sorts.
'The Aurors came, Dumbledore and the Order not much farther behind, but then all peeled off fairly quickly when what I assume to be the spike from your spell was detected. I took the chance for what it was and after leaving a long list of instructions for my hotel manager I took off home, packed a few things and jumped on a plane.' David explained casually.
Snape couldn't help but smile. 'You never did learn to apparate, did you?' he murmured wryly.
David tossed him a withering look. 'I don't see any value in anything that makes me feel as if I've been eaten by a Chimera and spat out again no matter how convenient it may be.'
Snape let out a bark of laughter. 'Well, there is another thing you and Rhys have in common.' He chuckled.
David looked up from the tomatoes he was chopping. 'How is he?' he asked hesitantly.
Snape's eyes brightened. 'He's asleep. It was incredible. The power...he completed the spell without any help from me. The air was practically crackling. But afterwards the apparition had him retching.'
'You didn't apparate straight to here did you?'
Snape shook his head. 'No, what do you take me for? I apparated us first onto the channel ferry that was partway across. That way the signature couldn't be traced, we then apparated to Gare du Nord and caught a taxi here, just in case.'
David put his knife down and stared at his old friend. 'That was risky, Severus. A second or two off and you both could have ended up in the channel. After the spell Rhys would have been in no position to help you or even help himself.' He scolded quietly.
Snape's eyes narrowed. 'Don't you think I know that, David. Everything I've done in the last twenty four hours is to keep him safe, both from the Dark Lord and from those who are supposed to care about him.'
'You care for him.' David said bluntly.
'Don't be ridiculous.' Snape growled irritably.
David raised an eyebrow in a gesture eerily reminiscent of the man across the room. 'Just when are you going to admit how you feel about him?' he asked calmly.
Snape growled but was saved from answering as a chilling scream tore through the house around them. 'Damn it, not again.' Snape breathed, leaping off his chair and barrelling from the room, David trailing.
'Rhys.' Snape yelled as he swept into Harry's room to find the Boy-Who-Lived in the throes of another vision.
'Rhys.' Snape said again, quickly climbing onto the bed and gathering the writhing figure in his arms. 'Rhys.' Harry was grunting as he tried not to scream again and Snape noticed the scar on his forehead was red and blistered. 'Can you get me a damp wash cloth?' He all but ordered his friend as his attention remained on the man in his arms. 'It's alright, Rhys. It'll be over soon. Just relax.' Snape kept up his soothing monologue even as David came back and he placed the cool cloth on the searing scar.
'How the hell can he go through this again so soon?' David whispered.
Snape glanced up. 'The Dark Lord does not program his outbursts of anger to any particular schedule.' He muttered dryly looking back down at Harry.
'Come on, Rhys. Just relax. Try to come back to us.' He said softly.
Harry's ragged breathing filled the room as the tension finally bled from his body. 'Severus.' He gasped hoarsely.
'Shhh, it's okay. Don't speak, just relax for me.' Snape murmured, holding the young man close as he pushed the sweaty hair back off Harry's face.
Harry turned slightly leaning his head against the potions master's chest and closing his eyes as the pain that was still coursing through him finally began to fade. David ducked into the bathroom to rinse the cloth, holding it under the cold tap and squeezing it out before returning and placing it back over Harry's scar.
'Ohhh.' Harry moaned, his body feeling as if all his bones had turned to rubber as the cold compress soothed him greatly. 'Thank you.' He whispered.
'It's alright, Rhys. Just relax like Severus said.' David said, his voice wavering in concern.
Harry cracked open a bleary eye and regarded the auras of the two men for a moment before closing it once more and concentrating on returning his breathing to normal.
Eventually it was quiet and Harry shifted and opened his eyes, moving until he was leaning back against the headboard several pillows holding him up. 'He's found out we're missing.' Harry whispered.
Snape looked at the blistered scar and bloodshot eyes. 'That was a pretty bad one, Rhys, much worse than the last.'
Harry sighed and looked away. 'There is an extra connection now.' He murmured.
Snape and David exchanged an uneasy glance. 'What extra connection?' Snape asked hesitantly.
Harry looked back at the older man, his sightless green eyes burning brightly as he reached forward and took the potions master's arm, sliding the sleeve up to the elbow to show unmarked skin. 'Yours.' He whispered.
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