Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR and anyone she legally lets use them. Not me.
A/N: So sorry guys, midterm season = no free time. But, my brain has been fried and demolished from ochem tonight. So I revived it with writing. I hope it is up to par! Thank you for the WONDERFUL reviews and the awesome response (I cannot believe the amount of faves and alerts. I'm so happy ppl are liking the story!)
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Chapter 9
Severus did not take kindly to being told that he had been remiss in being Slytherin. He had been Head of House for Merlin's sake. He was supposed to embody all that represented the venerable house and display those tendencies proudly and ubiquitously.
So when Lucius Malfoy insulted his Slytherin-ness.
Well…needless to say, Severus Snape was not happy.
As he sat in an armchair in the parlor, Severus contemplated what Lucius had said.
For now, Severus was going to ignore the fact that some idiot had allowed Bellatrix Lestrange to reproduce. That woman had NOT been made for motherhood and he cringed as his mind formed an image of what her daughter must be like.
As for Potter…
Potter had kept Draco and him out of Azkaban. Sacrificed his dreams to do so. He kept out of their way, didn't have anyone to turn to…
Potter was such a martyr.
Severus, however, was not sure that the picture that Lucius had painted was entirely accurate. Potter was a puzzle. A Gryffindor puzzle. And as simplistic as their minds were, Gryffindors like Harry were never that simple.
There had to be more to this then met the eye.
The question was how was he to find all the pieces?
And then Harry Potter tumbled out of the fireplace.
Harry stumbled out of the fireplace, coughing lightly. If he'd calculated correctly, Snape would be in his lab, Malfoy would be sleeping in preparation for his upcoming shift, and the parlor would be empty. He could get in, pack, and get out and no one would have to know.
Of course, it was just his luck that as he looked up from the ground, he heard a silky voice say, "Mr. Potter."
Harry cringed. What was it about Snape's voice that made him feel like he was an awkward teenager again and not a seasoned Auror?
Clearing his throat and looking up, Harry said, "Snape. If you would excuse me…"
Harry tried to step around Snape and jerked back in surprise when the older man stepped in front of him.
"Snape. I would like—"
"Where are your escorts?"
Harry groaned inwardly. Did he really have to play twenty questions now?
"I had my potions and ate and rested at the Burrow. I can move around well enough by myself."
Snape frowned. "I see. And where are you going?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Upstairs. Then I'm packing and I'll be out of your hair in seconds."
Harry tried to move around Snape but the infuriating man stepped in front of him again.
"Snape! What is your problem?"
Snape unfolded his crossed arms, and stroked his chin, as if in deep thought.
"It has occurred to me that if you are to live elsewhere while recovering, it will seem like I have been remiss in my duties as a spouse."
Harry groaned aloud now. "Snape, really, it hardly matters. They'll just assume I'm in bed here. I'm not going anywhere where I'm going."
Snape raised an eyebrow and Harry realized he was starting to make less and less sense. Shit, the potion must be wearing off.
"Look, you don't want me lazing about the house for a week, do you? I'll just be in your way all the time. Kingsley's got me on a week of vacation to, I don't know, get my priorities straight or something."
Snape pursed his lips, but then his expression flattened out.
"Regardless, I think it is prudent for you to stay here. I can make more appropriate potions, well…more effective ones at least, and Draco is here to check on you—"
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second."
Snape paused and looked down at Harry, who frowned and looked around the room. "Who was here?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Why would you think such a thing?"
It was Harry's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Frankly Snape, you're acting terribly out of character."
Severus scowled. If he was nice, Potter was suspicious. If he was normal, Potter wouldn't talk to him. What the bloody hell was he supposed to do?
"And that makes you think someone was here?"
Potter laughed, but the sound had an edge of bitterness to it. "Someone said something to you and now you're acting like this. I'll bet it was one of my meddling friends. My meddling 'well wishers'."
Severus shrugged, "And if it was?"
Potter chuckled, a soft tenor even with the sharp edge of bitterness in it. "I bet they fed you some sob story about me, yes?"
Severus furrowed his eyebrows, "Potter, I am not following you."
Harry gave Snape a half-smile. He knew what was going on. One of his friends had told Snape and Malfoy about the stupid Ministry deal. Probably made them feel guilty, though how one was supposed to make two Slytherins feel guilty was beyond him, and now they were acting all strange. Well, Snape was at least.
"Your forefinger is tinged grey. You've been reading the newspaper. Old newspapers. Maybe articles someone gave you? There's a little soot on the side of the fireplace. Someone else came through the Floo and leaned against it recently. You went from being passively hostile to far too kind in seconds. Therefore, someone came and told you about the stupid Ministry-Auror thing."
Snape's eyes had widened. Harry almost laughed, he'd surprised the Greasy Bat of the Dungeons. Take that you git. I do have a brain!
Fred and George totally owed him a round of drinks now.
Harry shrugged, "Whoever it was, they probably exaggerated and fantasized it all. Me and my noble sacrifices, blah blah blah. Don't worry about it Snape. It was my decision. I was an adult by then, it was my decision and my responsibility to deal with the consequences. Neither you nor Malfoy owe me anything. I didn't want you to know, so of course, my meddling friends had to tell you."
Harry rolled his eyes, "They always seem to think that they know what's best for me."
Under his breath, Harry muttered, "I wish someone would listen to me for once."
Clearing his throat Harry turned back to Snape, sidestepping the taller man as he stood still in what seemed to be shock. "No worries Snape. Return to whatever you were doing. Or planning on doing. Or whatever. I'll make sure they don't bother you again."
Severus stood still as a statue. In what seemed to be the first time in a very long time, someone had managed to completely stun him. And of course, it had to be Harry bloody Potter.
He had expected Potter to throw a fit, to boast about his sacrifice now that they knew about it, to make them wait hand and foot on him. Or at least, to have known that someone was going to tell them. To revel in the opportunity to shove his sacrifices in their face and show off how much they were indebted to him.
But, alas, Potter seemed dedicated to throwing him for a loop. He never responded how he was supposed to!
Potter, however, was wrong on one account.
He thought that his little speech would set Severus' inquisitive mind to rest.
But it just made Severus all the more curious.
More committed to getting Potter to stay at Grimmauld Place so that he could dig and pry and discover more about what was going on with Potter.
Because Harry Potter was a Puzzle.
And, damn if Severus wasn't going to figure him out.
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