Break Me, Shake Me

DaggersBloodPain

Chapter Nine

Universe

Harry watched as the newly introduced professor Sinistra teased his guardian lightly over the top of his book. Harry narrowed his eyes at the sight, not really comfortable with anyone so close to Severus right now. It was a bit selfish of him, but he was still a child and he almost unconsciously craved the attention of his mentor on him. The other professor would have to earn the right to spend time with them in Harry's young mind.

After the strange teacher had left Harry returned his attention to the useful book and soon all thoughts of keeping Severus to himself were pushed aside in favor of the printed words. With only occasional glances upwards to make sure Severus hadn't left him the rest of the morning into afternoon passed in quiet contentment, lunch forgotten by both wizards.

Harry was startled from his reading by Severus' sudden intake of breath and brief sound of excitement. The man was running a quill so fast over his parchment sheet Harry nearly expected the notes to catch fire. Apparently the man had found something important. Not wanting to interrupt his work Harry just watched the man complete his notes before he put the quill down and stretched until the bones in his back cracked.

Severus finally looked around and found himself being stared down by bright emerald eyes. "Are you alright Harry?" He asked concerned that something was wrong with the boy and he was too shy to tell him.

"I'm fine, but did you find something? You looked excited with the last book." Harry commented quietly.

"I may have found a way to stabilize the potion that might help you, but it is a bit risky. You may need to stay with another professor for a few evenings as I fine tune it, I don't want you getting hurt if I make a mistake." Severus broke it to the boy gently. He decided not to mention that this would be an example of killing two birds with one stone, Severus got to make the potion without worry for his charge, and Harry got to have some interaction with other people something the boy needed.

"Who would take me?" Harry asked feeling his heart beat speed up at the thought of spending time with someone new.

"I don't know for sure which one yet, but it will be one of the Professors you met at breakfast." Severus reassured the boy he would not be left with a complete stranger. "It will not be for the whole night, just a few hours, and I will not leave you with someone that could hurt you intentionally or not."

"When would I have to go?" Harry asked frightfully.

"After dinner, I can ask which professor would like to have you during the meal. Which speaking of food we missed lunch in the great hall, come, we will go back to my chambers and order something from the kitchen." Severus explained, easily distracting the boy from his fear with thoughts of food to fill his empty stomach.

Harry followed Severus sedately through the halls of Hogwarts, he was taking in every twist and turn of the hallways already mapping his way around. It was a trick he had learned in the muggle world, the more he knew his surroundings the less he would have to look upwards and potentially draw attention to himself. He knew the hallways of his old school so well he never had to look up from his feet when going from class to class. Hogwarts was simply too large to really do the same thing but he could learn the main paths which would help him through the worst of the crowds. He was having trouble picturing the castle full of people with its huge expanse of hallways and the enormous Great Hall, he knew there was going to be more people at this school then he had ever been around before. Just the thought of that many people worried him.

Severus and Harry enjoyed a light lunch in their rooms because dinner wasn't really that far off, and settled in to read again. Severus going over every scribbled note he had taken for the thirtieth time and Harry fished out one of his new school books, Potions, Severus noted with pride.

The time passed smoothly in a comfortable silence as they continued their respective tasks. The looming separation the one thing both were trying to forget. They both comforted themselves by remembering it would only be for a few hours and would do a world of good for them.

Dinner time came around and with a deep breath they entered the hall, and took the same seats they had at breakfast.

"Ah Severus, Harry, I trust you had a productive day?" Dumbledore asked serenely with the twinkle blinding in his eyes.

Harry just nodded while Severus responded, "Yes it was a productive day, I think I have found the answer to a puzzle, but I don't want to experiment when Harry might be harmed. I was hoping one of you could watch over him for a few hours while I do some brewing?" Severus asked the whole table.

"I will take him tonight," Sinistra volunteered with a kind smile to the boy currently trying to make himself invisible.

Severus lent down and whispered in Harry's ear, "It's alright he won't harm you, take this if you think you will need it." He handed Harry a small vial of Calming Draught just enough to take the edge off.

The boy immediately gulped it down and was able to give Sinistra a small nod of consent.

"Do you like sunsets Harry?" Sinistra asked calmly.

"Yes," Harry squeaked out hesitantly.

"I teach Astronomy Harry, and the view from the tower is perfect for watching the sun set, we could go see that while Severus is busy?" He offered, giving the boy a semblance of choice.

"If you are sure it is alright," Even with the calming draught he was still hesitant.

"If I wasn't sure I wouldn't have asked." Sinistra assured.

When the time came to lead Harry away from Severus for the first time since they met it was not an easy parting. Harry's steps became shorter and slower and Severus didn't move from his spot until the boy was out of sight. Once Harry was in safe hands Severus immediately started brewing, the sooner he was done the quicker he could retrieve his ward.

Sinistra just kept a running commentary on the places and classrooms they were passing, unknowingly adding to Harry's mental map of Hogwarts. Sinistra made sure he was close enough to keep the boy safe but not so close he crowded him. Hogwarts had a few skittish children in every year, it wasn't too far of a stretch to take care of Harry, he just had to remember the things that triggered the other shy students and amplify them to understand Harry.

Harry could not suppress the look of awe on his face when they finally reached the astronomy tower, the sun was not quite ready to set yet, and therefore the view of the Hogwarts grounds was brightly lit with the rich golden hue of a tired out sun. The lake was a sea of molten amber, the forbidden forest had a deceptive halo of light, and the hills protecting the castle were shadowed protectors. It was a magnificent sight.

"Harry, this is the tallest tower at Hogwarts, the only place you can see the entire way around the castle without obstructions. The view is even better on moonlit nights. From this place every student of Hogwarts can look out and hold the universe in the palm of their hands. Most students who come through Hogwarts don't truly appreciate the purpose of looking at the sky, or the beauty of a star. There is no spell casting in my class, or mysterious elixirs that can cheat death, only the stars and moon. Yet those same students seem to forget ritual spell casting and the harder potions are affected by the moon and stars. Divination may be an awkward subject for most, but there are true seers such as centaurs and very rare humans, they can read the stars and have never been proven wrong." Sinistra stopped there as he realized he had just lost Harry with the unfamiliar magic terms.

"Harry, you can ask questions if you want to know more," He encouraged gently.

Harry looked like he wasn't going to say anything, but curiosity won out over fear this time with help from the potion. "What is Divination? Centaurs are real, are they really half human and half horse?"

"First of all yes centaurs are real, there are a number of creatures from muggle myths that really do exist in the wizarding world. They are like the myths describe them physically, they are strong and wise, but prefer to be left alone. They are natural seers with a gift for star gazing, and if they chose to give a prophecy to a human it is always in riddle form. Divination is the practice of predicting the future. Real Seers are extremely rare, but they do exist and its better not to cross them, a Seer is a most often a witch, but they have the ability to see things that can not be seen by normal eyes." Sinistra explained to the curious boy.

"Do all Seers use the stars?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"No, the stars are a mystery very few can read, some use dreams or crystals of different weights and colors. The more powerful seers have some measure of control over what they see, and the future is not the only thing Seers have been known to see." Sinistra was deliberately encouraging the boy's curiosity.

"What other things?" Harry fell for the bait.

"Some can see the present time, but in a different place, they can use it to check on family and friends that are in trouble or an enemy they are gaining information on. There are a few who can sense a person's aura through color or temperature, this gives the seers knowledge of a person's mindset and therefore their potential to cause harm in the future. Some can communicate with the dead, with either sight or sound. Even some muggles have had seer abilities in them, showing it is a human trait not a magical one." Sinistra had to stop there, the sun was setting in earnest now and it had captured Harry's attention away from his words.

They watched the sun set in quiet thought. Harry thought nothing of the long periods of silence he spent his days in. Quiet was safe, quiet was home, no one had hurt him when he had been quiet.

Tired out from the stressful day he didn't notice that he fell asleep with the sun. He didn't feel himself be lifted onto a conjured bed to wait for Severus. He was dead to the world as he was carried down to their dungeon rooms face snuggled against Severus' neck. It was the first time another person had ever carried him without waking him up, a big step on the road to dealing with his disorder.