Chapter Nine: The Attack and Aftermath:
Harry felt weak and ashamed, he was really trying so hard to keep his mind closed but so far it was not working. Try as he might at night he ended up dreaming and in that dream he always saw the same thing, a long corridor that lead to a door and beyond a room filled with golden light. He told Sirius and Remus but was too embarrassed to tell Severus, he felt he was failing him some way as he had taught him Occulumency and would be upset with him. Of course he was being foolish as Severus would never be upset at him for this. In fact he would be very concerned and worried as Harry should be able to block his mind fully now. It was close to Christmas and Harry was going to spend it for the first time away from the Lair and at Grimmauld place.
On a cold night when snow fell softly outside and the boys were asleep in their dorms Harry had the dream again. This time he saw a man asleep against the door and he was much closer to the ground. He wanted to attack the man and he slithered up to the man and bit him. Then with horror Harry saw who the man was, it was Mr. Weasley! The someone was shaking him and trying to wake him and he came awake sweating and shaking. He looked up to see Ron and Neville over him with Seamus and Dean right behind them looking very worried. Harry knew what had happened was not a dream, it was real! He tried to speak but no words came at first then he tried again.
"What is it Harry what happened?" Neville asked him.
"Ron your dad, attacked the ministry!" Harry said.
"It was a dream mate." Ron said looking pale.
"No I was there, snake attacked your dad, we have to hurry…"
"What is going on here?" Came the voice of McGonagall and Harry turned to her very pale.
"I saw Ron's dad attacked in the ministry!" Harry shouted.
"Alright get up, we have to go to the headmaster." McGonagall said.
Harry wanted to run as there was so little time and he could be dead! He followed McGonagall out of the dorms and common room and down to the headmaster's office. His heart was racing and he was still sweating and scared as he was lead up to the office of the headmaster. He told the headmaster the tale and Dumbledore did not even look at Harry. Severus was there and put a hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry wanted to strike out at him at once. Severus looked very worried and guided Harry to the fireplace and Dumbledore, who had just spoke to two portraits, one of headmaster Black the other of a witch Harry did not know looked at him questioningly.
"He needs help headmaster." Severus said, "I know who can help him."
"Please hurry." Harry said, "he is hurt!"
"Where are you taking him?" Dumbledore asked.
" Grimmauld Place , Sirius will know where Fleur is." Severus said.
"Severus you cannot…."
"I can and will! This child is my responsibility headmaster, you know that and I am taking him where he can get help!" Severus snapped at the headmaster.
"Of course my boy but is it safe…"
"This boy is suffering, the more I argue with you the more he suffers, good night headmaster!" Severus said throwing floo powder on the fire." Grimmauld Place Order of the Phoenix !"
He gently but firmly lead Harry through the floo and after a wild ride they came out at Grimmauld place. Severus gave a prayer of thanks at seeing not only Sirius here but Bill and Fleur, there was a God indeed above and Fleur took one look at the boy and went into mothering mode. She took Harry from Severus checking his forehead for fever then with an oath in French she took her hand away from the scar and turned on Severus anger in her eyes.
"How long has he suffered with this?" She demanded.
"The open connection, since Voldemort came back." Severus said.
"This scar it is more than curse, I will help I can."
"You don't mean that there is part of that beast in my godson do you?" Sirius said weakly.
"A part yes, isolated but trying to take over I think." Fleur said, "I can help, I can remove the evil but allow him to keep spying on dark lord I think."
"What do you mean?" Severus asked.
"I am part Veela, I am not as strong as grandmother but she taught me how to fight evil like this." Fleur said.
"Do what you must." Sirius said, then as she took Harry out and up to the Parlor Sirius looked over at Severus who had sat down and downed a shot of fire whisky and was going for another. "What happened?"
"Dumbledore happened what the hell do you think happened, Bill your father was attacked in the ministry, no he will live Harry saw it, rather he was in the mind of Voldemort when he attacked, or had his snake attack."
"Where does Dumbledore come into this?" Bill asked.
"He is mental, I really believe this now, no not evil." Severus held up a hand at the fury coming on Bill's face, "he is trying to do what is right but I don't think his mind is all there. That is not his fault but I think he knew that there was a possibility of Voldemort passing more than his powers to Harry."
"A bit of soul." Bill said, "I can help Fleur if she needs back-up, it's a matter of isolating the evil bit and getting it out with out damaging the human. A bit tricky but it can be done."
"So a Horcrux then." Sirius said putting a shaking hand to his head.
"No, not exactly, this can be destroyed with out destroying the person it is attached to, it's more like a parasite that can be removed." Bill said.
"I am going to kill Dumbledore, if he knew…"
"He would have thought it was a Horcrux or something like it and be researching a way to remove it safely." Severus said, "the fact he did not ask a Veela shows he is smart but due to his upbringing he would not think to look very far beyond the human element. Either that or he is senile and should be pitied and not scorned."
"Good point Severus, still that is my godson…"
"And my good friend's son and as annoying a brat as they get." Severus said a small smile on his lips. "Your fault really."
"You evil bat." Sirius said.
"Thank you, I love bats."
"You would."
"Taste like chicken." Severus deadpanned.
"You did not just say that!"
While the wizards were talking in the sitting room Ron, Ginny, Fred and George landed in the kitchen and took a seat at the table to wait for news on their father. He had been found and was headed to St. Mungos he had been bit and was in bad shape but it looked as if he would live. Upstairs Fleur was singing over Harry words of a deeper magic if you will than any Voldemort could hope to use. It was pure and sweet and the songs she sang of love and God and of the goodness of the earth rising up and triumphing over evil. She continued far into the night and Bill came to offer help chanting counter curses over the scar. The other children did not go into the room as Bill had warned everyone to stay out and let him and Fleur take care of Harry.
Hours later, as dawn started to creep across London two people pulled through that long cold night. Mr. Weasley was sleeping and his wound had been treated with anti-venom and it was starting to heal and Fleur removed the piece of soul and trapped it in a small crystal vial watching it turn green then vanish. Harry stirred and smiled a peaceful smile and fell fast asleep on her lap. Bill gently picked him up getting a mild protest from the boy in his sleep. He wrapped Harry in blankets and took him to bed. For the first time in a long time Harry did not dream and slept the full day and another night away while everyone let him get his rest. He came down early on his second day here into the dining room yawning his head off his hair sticking up all over the place.
"You cannot be tired." Sirius said, "you slept a full twenty four hours pup!"
"Well I feel so much better, Fleur saved me didn't she?" Harry asked.
"Yea she did, she went to see how Arthur is doing with Bill but will be back later." Remus said.
"Oh Harry thank you so much for saving Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley said coming up to give him a large hug. "You need to eat, it's been too long since you last ate."
"I would rather no tsave someone like that again, too painful." Harry replied.
"Sirius told me what happened, to have that in you, you poor boy!" Mrs. Weasley said.
"Don't say it, uncle Siri do not say it or I will hex you!" Harry said seeing his godfather get an entirely too innocent look on his face.
"Really Padfoot it would not be nice." Remus said quietly. "Let the boy eat in peace."
Harry sat down and tucked in the large bowl of porridge a stack of toast and lots of orange juice. He did not know it but his scar, once purple was now white and no longer did it hurt. He was sure Voldemort knew of the connection and was sure he would try use it again but Harry could block him now and that made him happy for a moment. Then guilt over came him and he looked up to see the adults watching him.
"It's not your fault, it's not as if you asked for that thing to do that to you." Mrs. Weasley said.
"But how can you say that I mean I attacked him didn't I?"
"No you did not, you had a very personal view of it but your feelings such were not your own." Mrs. Weasley said. "Besides you are fine and Arthur will be home today."
Harry felt much better and he went back to his breakfast just as Ron, Ginny Fred and George came into the room. Fred took a seat on one side of Harry, George took a seat on the other and Harry had an idea they were there to cheer him up. He finished his breakfast and sat talking with the family blushing at their gratitude and thanks. After breakfast he was studying when Severus stopped by briefly to make sure he was alright. He was not there long before Alastor Moody showed up and Harry could have cut the tension with a knife. Severus hated Moody and Moody hated Severus, Harry was surprised at the fact they had not killed each other in Hogwarts. Dumbledore had managed to keep them apart and that was a miracle, yet Dumbledore was not here now and so the two men went off on each other.
"If it isn't my least favorite death eater." Moody snarled.
"You must have forgot your medication Moody as your mind is clearly addled, it is very clear I am no death eater." Severus shot back.
"You callin' me insane boy?"
"If the shoe fits…" Severus said looking down at Moody's carved wooden leg, "seeing as you only have one foot…"
"Boy you are treading on thin ice." Moody growled slumping up to shove Severus.
"Better tread I think ice than be as ugly as you." Severus shot at Moody getting the small audience gathered to gasp in shock.
"At least I learned to wash my hair boy." Moody shot back.
"So juvenile Moody, then again I think you had way too many hits to the head…"
"Boy you just crossed the line." Moody said drawing his wand getting Severus to draw his a moment later.
"Just what is going on here?" Came the voice of Mrs. Weasley.
Both men turned and all color had drained out of each man's face, Mrs. Weasley was very calm, in fact it was intimidating to see her this calm. She was more disappointed than angry and Severus could have handled being tortured by Voldemort himself to the look in her eyes. She ordered them into the parlor and shut the door. Fred dangled a long flesh colored string in front of Harry and grinning Harry took the extendable ear and let it trail to the door. He put the other end in his ear but removed it quickly as the very calm voice of Mrs. Weasley stated if she saw whoever was on the other end of the ear she would make their life very painful.
"Um they are dead." Harry said to Fred and George as they headed into the sitting room.
"Who are dead, what did your godfather and professor Remus do?" Neville said from where he was brushing ashes off his cloak.
"It's professors Moody and Snape." Harry said. "Mrs. Weasley is talking to them."
"Oh are we going to need a new potions master?" Neville asked.
"One who is preferably not Slytherin?" Ron said.
"Hey you know he is brilliant and he expects all of us to work very hard." Harry said.
"I would so date him." Tonks said walking into the room getting the boys to gag. "What he is quite a nice looking man, though I think Remus is so sexy."
The boys ran not wanting to hear anymore as Ginny and Hermione were now in the room with Tonks and girl talk was not anything they wanted to get in the middle of! They headed to the library and started to study, this was where Severus found him looking a but subdued, at least he still looked like he had all his body parts. He carefully sat down by Harry and looked him over touching his mind with Legilimancy, Harry swore at him in his mind smirking as Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Thinking of using that language with the unnamed one?" Severus asked.
"Um a bit more actually sir." Harry replied.
"You will end up as ash." Severus said.
"It will be the best looking ash around." Harry said.
"Doubtful you look like you stuck your finger in a light socket."
"Point taken, think I should grow it out or something?
"Or something, let's practice, Longbottom is here and all of you need much work."
"I just got part of a dark lord out of my head." Harry grumbled.
"You slept for over twenty four hours straight." Severus replied walking out and Harry stuck his tongue out at him. "Do that again brat and I will have your tongue in a jar on my desk!"
Ron shook his head and followed Harry out, he could not help but like professor Snape. He was strict and demanding but he really did care, Ron could see that. He would like him better if he were not Slytherin though and he thought for a quick second that may just be unfair. He shook that feeling off and went to join in practice. One thing was for sure the rest of this year was going to be very interesting indeed and he was thinking of actually helping his brothers get Umbridge. He may be a prefect but he was not Percy and would turn a blind eye to some (not all of course) of his brother's pranks. He just hoped like all his friends did that Voldemort was too busy getting his face fixed or something. He certainly hoped that was the case as he did not really want too much adventure, playing Quidditch as keeper was enough adventure for him…
It's peaceful and nice that Harry no longer has that evil in his head. School will go good now and Harry will be just fine. Ah yea right, the next chapters will be extremely dark and violent. Just thought you might like to know in advance.