Disclaimer: HP and Co belong to J.K Rowling, not myself.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this segment of Silver Lining! Sorry about the wait, school's been insane lately.
R/R!
Chapter 9: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
The next few weeks flew by, it seemed as the school year neared a close, the time was going by quicker. It was the last week of February, and amazingly things had been going relatively well.
Of course, when things are going well, disaster always seems to strike.
Severus read over the letter that had been delivered that morning via a large, official looking owl. The edges of the parchment were wrinkled were his fingers had bit into paper, and a frown creased his features. It seemed the Ministry was calling for a trial of the Dursley family and Harry would be required to testify. The trial was set for the middle of March, giving them plenty of time to 'fetch Harry from the United States' as the letter read. Cursing, Severus shoved the letter away, wondering what to do. Harry had to testify, Cornelius was insisting upon it, and Severus knew the boy was not ready for that. He raked his fingers through his greasy hair, waiting for the inevitable flaring of his floo as Albus came through. He wasn't required to wait long, soon the Headmaster was seated across from him, sipping tea and looking troubled.
"Have you spoken to Harry yet?" Albus asked, his blue eyes tired as he regarded the young potions' master.
"No, not yet" Severus murmured, sipping his own tea. Silver was off with Blaise and the other fifth year Slytherins in the Common Room. It was saturday and the kids were all celebrating after a hard week.
"He has to testify" Albus murmured, "The whole case relies on him talking and telling what happened. Poppy will also testify, as well as myself and you" The old man twirled his wand in his bent fingers absentmindedly. Severus nodded, a small frown on his face, though he understood the necessity of him speaking.
"The trial will be closed, correct?" Severus clarified, the trial needed to be closed for safety circumstances. He, himself, could only testify as long as the Dark Lord didn't find out. And the guise of Harry being in the US also needed to be maintained.
"Yes, not only for safety, but because Harry is underage and this is a sexual assault and abuse trial" Albus explained, fingers cradling the fragile tea cup.
"I don't know if Harry can handle this Albus, he hasn't really acknowledge what happened. He hides in his animagus form" The dark-haired man sighed, "I can't blame him for that though, he is so young, and suffered so much" He looked down into the dregs of his mug, before returning his gaze to Albus.
"Harry is strong Severus, he will do this" Albus murmured, "In the meantime, I will make the necessary steps to 'bring him home' from the US, no one must know what is going on. Unfortunately, Dolores has been informed and is hounding me about bringing Harry to Hogwarts" He sighed, "We have to keep him hidden, only appearing for the trial" The elderly man said with a miserable expression.
"Could Blaise perhaps come?" Severus asked suddenly, "Under a glamour charm or Polyjuice of course" He added quickly.
"Blaise Zabini? Why?" Albus asked curiously, wondering why Severus would want one of his snakes to attend the Dursleys trial.
"Blaise and Harry are a couple. You recall that Harry revealed himself to Pansy and Blaise on christmas. Well, Blaise has been extremely supportive of Harry and the two have formed a very deep connection. Blaise might be able to help Harry cope with the stress and emotions of the trial" Sev explained, re-filling his mug and taking a deep sip of the steaming liquid.
"Perhaps, we will have to come up with an excuse as to why Mr. Zabini is gone during the trial however" Albus murmured, "I shall think of something" He set his empty mug on the table.
"Sirius is insisting that Harry stay at Grimmauld place for the duration of the trial. How he found out about it, is beyond me" Albus murmured, "However, Harry will need to stay somewhere during this time, as the school will not be safe for him" He looked at Severus with a pained expression, knowing the relationship between the two men.
"I suppose, Harry would enjoy seeing his godfather and the werewolf, but I don't know how they'll react to Blaise. Black is extremely opposed to all things Slytherin"
"I'll handle that Severus, in the meantime, perhaps you need to talk to Harry, prepare him for what is coming. He will need all the support he can get" Albus murmured, rising slowly from his chair and heading to the floo. He had no desire to walk to his room from Severus' dungeon quarters.
"I shall, thank you Albus" Severus murmured, watching the old man leave before scowling miserable at the tea still residing on the table.
"Damn" He groaned, just when things were going alright too.
HP/SS
Silver squirmed about on Blaise's bed, staring down at the floor as he contemplated leaping down, just to see what would happen.
"Don't" Blaise growled playfully from where he sprawled next to the kitten. The fifth year boys had all congregated in the dorm, as the seventh years had taken over the Common Room for some DADA project and were chasing anyone who tried to enter out.
Silver glanced at Blaise, mewing quietly before wriggling towards the end of the bed again. His toys were spread out on the floor and a familiar ball of yarn was tempting him.
"Can he jump down?" Draco asked curiously from his position on a desk chair. He had attempted to begin his Charms Essay, however he had given up once they had begun discussing more important things, such as quidditch and girls (or in Blaise's case, boys).
"No, his leg's still too weak" Blaise said, reaching over and tugging Silver back from the edge of the bed.
"Ah right, I thought he'd be fine by now" Draco mused.
"He is, fine I mean, but his bone's still a bit brittle. Professor Snape doesn't want him taking any unnecessary risks, especially leaping off tall things" Blaise said, remembering what the Professor had told him a few days previous.
Draco snorted, "I've never seen Professor Snape worry so much" He chuckled.
"He is pretty protective over Silver" Blaise agreed, chuckling as the kitten struggled against his hand.
"Fine brat" Blaise muttered, keeping Silver pressed against his chest as he leaned over the side of the bed and scooped up the toys the kitten had been so anxious to get out. Sitting back up, he positioned himself against the head of the bed, seated now, and scattered the toys in front of him.
"Professor Snape's not the only one who's worried" Theo commented dryly from his own bed while he observed Blaise and Silver.
"Shut up" Blaise growled, though he was smiling lightly, knowing he was a giant worry-wort when it came to his boyfriend, whether he was in kitten form or human.
"He's right Blaise, I've never seen you mother something so much" Draco drawled, ducking as Blaise chucked a pillow at his head.
"Watch the hair" Draco barked, hands going up protectively while Theo dissolved in giggles on the other bed.
"Speaking of mothering..." Blaise trailed off, smirking in Draco's direction as the blonde anxiously tried to fix his disheveled hair.
"Just because I care about my appearance" Draco muttered as he finally let his hands fall back into his lap.
"I swear Pansy spends less time on her appearance then you" Theo teased, while Blaise jerked a piece of yarn back and forth for Silver to bat at.
Draco looked at Theo, affronted, "Bite your tongue Nott" The blonde said, while the other boys all chuckled. It was well known that Pansy Parkinson spent hours a day on her appearance.
Silver continued to try and attack the piece of thread Blaise was taunting him with. The conversation flowed easily around him and he was, once again, struck by how relaxed Slytherins were in their own environment. The thought passed quickly though, as Blaise dragged the yarn over his back, causing him to twitch and flip over, trying to grab the offending string. Blaise chuckled, his voice deep and reassuring to the tiny kitten, who clambered onto Blaise's legs, still trying to attack the string.
HP/SS
The fifth year Slytherins walked into the great hall, their masks firmly in place, though the imposing effect was lost due to the Silver kitten riding contently on Blaise's shoulder.
Severus watched his students settle themselves at the Slytherin table, a small smirk on his face as he watched his familiar scramble down from Blaise's shoulder and onto the table. The Slytherin students ignored the kitten who was picking his way amongst the dishes, pausing to grab certain items whether off plates or platters, before he made his way back to Blaise and was placed in the teens lap.
"Thats so unsanitary" Ronald Weasley shouted from the opposite side of the hall, his half-chewed food on display for everyone to see. Hermione groaned, kicking Ron hard under the table, causing the teen to yelp and spew food all over the table, drawing disgusted groans from his table mates.
"Speaking of unsanitary" Draco muttered under his breath, drawing laughs from the snake table. The red-head's face darkened, giving his hair a run for its money as he glowered at the Slytherins. Silver poked his head up from Blaise's lap, he had been dozing since his little meal but the laughter had awoken him. Blaise chuckled as the kitten mewed quietly, pawing at the table lightly. Blaise looked at his plate, looking to see what the kitten was interested in. Rolling his eyes, Blaise picked up a delicate piece of steak and held it out to the tiny kitten. Mewing contently, Silver took the meat in his teeth, and inhaled it quickly.
"Mine was just so much better looking eh?" Blaise teased as he watched the kitten eat the food and then begin to clean his paws.
Severus smirked again, causing many students at the Hufflepuff table to flinch, as he watched Blaise and Silver. He sincerely hoped the Italian teen would be able to accompany them to the trial. Harry was so much more comfortable around Blaise and the Italian had a way of keeping Harry calm. He glanced down the staff table, noticing Albus watching the pair, as well as Dolores, though he knew she was watching due to the kitten, and not admiring the relationship between the pair.
Albus glanced up, meeting Severus' eye before inclining his head lightly. Clearly Harry would need Blaise to help him cope with this new drama. He could see, clear as day, how close the two boys were, even when Harry was masquerading as Silver.
HP/SS
Later that evening, Severus waited for Harry to get out of the shower. He had been stunned when the boy had willingly reverted back into hi human form, though happy. He knew he'd have to tell Harry what was happening, but tonight he wanted to enjoy having Harry as Harry. He'd tell him tomorrow, he knew Harry would immediately revert back to Silver, at the very least, he also knew how awful it would be for the teen to be faced with the very real reality of having to see the Dursleys again. Shaking his head, he watched as Harry walked back into the living room, wearing a pair of his new pajama bottoms and a large t-shirt that belonged to Blaise. His hair was dripping wet and his eyes were bright as he shuffled along. Severus resisted the urge to snicker, he looked much younger then his fifteen, but Severus knew that on some level, Harry was a lot younger then fifteen. Blaise was helping him overcome his emotional deficiencies, and Severus was filling the role of parent, especially since the only example of authority figures were those god-forsaken Dursleys.
"Would you like something to eat?" Severus asked curiously, watching the young man with a small smile.
"I'm okay" Harry murmured, moving to sit on the couch next to the man he considered to be his father. He curled up instantly, a habit Severus had since to break, and pulled his blanket around him. Severus smiled, letting Harry rest against his side, he didn't speak however, not wanting to ruin the moment, instead he cleared his throat and began to read aloud from his potions' journal. He was adamant that Harry would improve in Potions if it killed him. The boy was not a natural, but he was a bit better then Severus had initially given him credit for.
His voice faltered lightly as Harry snuggled up against him, his head resting on his shoulder, wet hair still dripping lightly though Severus didn't mind. It was rare that Harry cuddled with him while in human form, he was still sensitive to touches from older men. Blaise was unique in that sense, Harry was fine with touches from Blaise, though he was getting better with others.
Severus continued to read, finally closing the book a few hours later and stretching carefully. Harry had fallen asleep against him, not that Sev was surprised, the boy tended to doze off quite frequently, just like his cat form. Setting aside the journal, Severus carefully scooped Harry up, trying not to wake him, and carried him down the hall to his bedroom. Tucking the boy in he cast a drying charm on his still slightly damp hair before leaving the room to head to his own. He made sure to leave his door cracked so Harry could come in, if he needed him. Climbing into bed, Severus tried to keep away the depressing thoughts of the conversation he would have to have with his young charge tomorrow. For now, he wanted to dwell on the content feelings left over from the few hours he had just spent with human Harry.
HP/SS
Morning dawned bright and early, though Severus could only tell due to the enchanted windows that resided in his dungeon rooms. Stretching lightly, he slipped into the washroom to shower and tidy up for the day, mildly surprised Harry hadn't joined him in the night, it was rare that Harry managed a night in his own bed, especially in human form. The boy still had rather vivid nightmares about what had happened to him, as well as nightmares connected to his curse scar.
Walking into the kitchen, he opted to order breakfast from the elves as it was Sunday and he had no desire to brave the great hall. He needed to speak to Harry anyway, and he figured sticking around his chambers would be the best.
A few moments later a still sleepy Harry stumbled into the kitchen, falling into his seat at the table, and loading his plate with bacon and eggs as well as pouring himself a large glass of pumpkin juice.
"Morning" Severus said with a small chuckle, the teen was barely awake, his eyes were sleep ridden and his hair tousled.
"M'rning" Harry muttered, yawning widely before digging into his breakfast. Severus sighed, he'd have to wait until Harry was much more awake for this conversation. Yes, that was it, Harry needed to be awake, it had nothing to do with him not wanting to have the conversation at all.
