AN: I want to greatly apologize for the lack of updates on these chapters. Now that my Senior year has started, I have been swamped with homework and work, and have barely had any free time on my hands. I shall try to update as much as possible, as it is looking right now, I shall try to update every twoweeks, but I shall try to see if I can update sooner whenever I have the time :) Please keep reading!
This is the last of the more-or-so "four-chapter" scene, where Snape and Harry finally try to listen to eachother. Will they finally understand eachother? How will their relationship develop in the next few chapters from this? You'll just have to read and see ;) Reviews are much appreciated again, I love to hear your thoughts! Love you all! :D
Chapter 9: "Explain Yourself." - Part 2
Harry sunk back into the shrubs as Bellatrix's shrill voice rang out across the empty park.
Bellatrix was walking towards the park, Narcissa following at her heels. Bellatrix brought her wand up and shouted "Lumos Maxima!", and a bright ball of light flew out of her wand and landed in the middle of the park, shining a bright glow over the whole playground.
"Bella, are you really sure that Harry is here?" Narcissa said in a contained voice. "Why would he be all the way out in a little village like this?"
"I heard him," Bellatrix said harshly. "I'd know that voice from a mile away, the voice that the Dark Lord craves to be silenced for life."
Both Harry's and Snape's eyes widened as they heard the blunt declaration.
Narcissa spoke no more. She just followed Bellatrix as she skimmed the park, a fierce look in her eyes.
"Now Potter, I know you're here...why don't you come out nicely, and I'll try not to hurt you too much." Bellatrix hair was as frazzled and crazy as always, and her skin was pale and sallow, showing a beauty that she must have once had in her later years, but was sucked away from her during her time in Azkaban.
Harry was kneeling behind the shrub, trying to hold back his breaths in order to not be found. He was silent for a couple of minutes, while Bellatrix began to grow frustrated as she could not find Harry anywhere.
When a bee appeared in front of Harry's eye.
Now if Harry was not a wizard who had grown up in the Muggle World, he would not have known what this creature was. But since he had lived in the Muggle World, and was fully capable of knowing the pain that this foul little creature ensued, he instinctively fell backwards, into a sitting position, causing him to make a loud shuffling noise as he landed on the grass, and his legs brushed through the shrubs.
Harry held his breath, as Snape stiffened in his own hiding spot on the other side of the park.
Bellatrix turned around wildly, at the spot where a strange shuffle had come from. She smiled a devilish, pleased smile, as she took her wand and tapped it at her cheek, grinning, as if she was thinking of something.
"Oh dear, I don't believe I will ever find the boy now..." She was still grinning as she pointed her wand at the shrub and uttered "Accio Potter's Wand!".
Harry felt his wand try to force itself out of his hand. As much as he tried to grasp it, the grass he had fallen back on was damp from the rain, and his hands were quite slippery, so the wand flew out of his hand, where it flew right into Bellatrix's strong grasp, confirming what Bellatrix had thought.
"Stupefy!"
The spell hit Harry square in the chest. Snape gasped as Harry was blown right from the bushes, landing on the floor in a heap.
Bellatrix ran up Harry, who was still lying on the floor, trying to find his breath. She grasped the front of his shirt and lifted him up off the ground. Harry struggled against her grip.
"Stupefy!" He had grabbed his wand from Bellatrix's hand stealthily and aimed at her chest, and she fell backwards, letting go of Harry as he fell, landing on his feet this time. She got up very quickly, an angry look on her face. Harry was about to attack Narcissa, who had taken her wand out and had it aimed at Harry, when Bellatrix's wand shot out and she yelled "Crucio!"
Harry keeled over, the pain unbearable, shouting in agony. Snape almost fell over, watching in pain, as he saw Harry squirming on the floor. Bellatrix had a devilish expression on her face. She lifted the curse, and Harry lay on the ground, not comprehending why the pain was gone for a second.
"Had enough, Potter?" Bellatrix smirked.
But it was to her surprise that Harry got up again, stumbling for a second, but then righting himself, his face full of fury, his wand pointed at Bellatrix once again.
"Hmmm..." Bellatrix muttered. "Seems like the little baby needs another dose to learn his lesson."
Harry had a harder time getting up after the second attack. As he tried to right himself, he kept losing his balance, unable to get his legs to work properly. Bellatrix laughed. She brought her wand back up once more, planning to deliver one more blow, when she gasped suddenly, falling over on the ground.
Snape had hit her with a silent curse from his hiding spot, right in her back.
Narcissa turned around sharply, trying to find the source of the attack, her wand out in front of her. However, she couldn't have seen – or heard – it coming. She fell over as well as she was hit with Snape's curse. Both lay on the floor, unconscious, as Harry stood around, confused as to what happened.
Snape took that chance to quickly get up, run across the park, grab Harry's hand before he could react, and apparate away.
They landed in front of Snape's house. The rain had ceded, a light spitting falling from the sky now. As soon as they apparated in front of Snape's house, Snape let go of Harry's hand, walked abruptly to the front door, and held it open, waiting for Harry to come inside.
Harry stood at the door, hesitating.
"Harry," Snape said in a slow voice. "Come inside."
Harry, eyes wide, followed Snape inside the house. He had not missed the fact that Snape had used his first name for the first time that he had ever known him.
When they entered the house, Snape didn't say a word. He just pointed to the living room. Harry followed his finger, and walked to the living room, not saying a word.
When he got to the room, he sat on the sofa. He sat there quietly, absorbed in his thoughts.
He didn't know what to think. What were the chances of running into Bellatrix and Narcissa? Well, granted, they had just left Snape's house a minute before he had broken out.
He knew one thing: he was lucky – lucky that he didn't get killed tonight.
Lucky that Snape had followed him.
He hated the feeling that crept upon him, but he couldn't control it. He felt guilty. He felt shame for running away in the first place, the second time this week. He had reacted on instinct that he did not have any background information on.
He sat with his guilty feeling for about 20 minutes, while Snape was in the kitchen, doing what, Harry did not know.
Little did Harry know, that that was Snape's intent: to make Harry sit on his own and squirm, feeling guilty and afraid of how Snape would react. He peeked into the living room, and saw Harry with an uncomfortable look on his face. Snape smiled a tiny smile. He picked up two cups of coffee, and went into the living room, where Harry looked up, eyes wide. Snape sat, to Harry's surprise, on the table in front of him, handing Harry the cup of coffee. Harry took it tenderly, looking down at the cup as he took a sip, not able to look up. He felt like a baby.
Snape broke the silence.
"Explain yourself."
Harry hesitated, not knowing what to say. "I was...angry."
"About?" Snape said simply.
"That you were talking about siding with the Dark Lord so easily," Harry said a little forcefully, defiantly. Harry looked up and say Snape's eyes narrow, and the defiance was wiped off his face instantly.
"You don't think I could just defy the Dark Lord right in front of his greatest supporters, do you?" Snape said in a low voice. Harry looked down again, his answer showing in his silence. He had just never thought of that. He had been too angry.
"You foolish Gryffindor boy...don't you think before you act?" Snape said, without as much malice in it as it would have had, but it was definitely an accusation.
"Like you would understand why I thought like that. Like I've ever been able to trust anyone. Like I've ever had anyone to trust. Like the only people I could trust are dead. Like – " Harry stopped talking abruptly as he realized what he was revealing. He was embarrassed, revealing his most inner-most thoughts to his hated Potions Master. He expected Snape to disgrace him for his dramaticness, and to tell him to get over his moping.
However, Snape just sighed.
"Perhaps I should have talked to you earlier," Snape muttered, and Harry looked up once more, seeing Snape's face look quite uncomfortable.
"About what?"
Snape shook his head. He took a breath, and started to talk. "Me and your mom...we were friends. Good friends. And one day, a long time ago, I made a promise. I made a promise that I would take care of you. And I intend to keep my promise."
Harry's eyes widened. "You and my mom were...friends?"
Snape nodded mutely.
"But..." Harry stuttered. "You and my dad hated eachother."
An unpleasant look came upon Snape's face, and Harry backed off.
"And you promised that you would...protect me." It wasn't a question. It was an affirmation.
Snape was silent, just looking at Harry, waiting for him to process it.
"I'm sorry," Harry finally said. "I didn't know..."
"Ofcourse you didn't," Snape said. "And I didn't give you much reason to, anyways. I haven't been very pleasant to you for the past 5 years, and neither have you to me."
Harry nodded, not knowing what to say.
"However, you cannot just make rash decisions like that, and run off whenever you get angry. You almost exposed my position, as well as gotten yourself killed," Snape said harshly. "And there will be consequences for your actions."
"Yes, sir," Harry said.
Both of them sat silently for a minute, until Snape stood up, looking at the clock.
"It's late. You will be waking up early tomorrow. Go get ready for bed."
Harry stood up silently and nodded. "Goodnight sir."
Snape simply nodded, and walked towards the kitchen, while Harry headed towards the washroom.
Snape might still not like Harry entirely. Harry might still not like Snape either.
But, for once, they understood eachother.
