Chapter 10 – Severus' Bad Day

Hi everyone, chapter 10 is done! As a last minute decision I've added a little twist! It was quite a lot of fun working out the planning, although it took ages. I hope this doesn't turn you off reading the story…nothing bad is going to happen, I just wanted to add a bit more excitement to Secrets Discovered. Thank you debygoebel and ElizabethAnneSoph for reviewing! Here it is.

HP

Just as Severus suspected, Harry found himself trapped in another nightmare…or was it?

It almost, almost felt like it was real. It was different though. In this nightmare Harry wasn't himself, well not really, he instead appeared as Lorne. That had never happened before! He was flying, soaring gracefully, wings slashing through the chilly night sky, until he was hit. Where did that come from? He looked up, utterly terrified yet completely mesmerised by the sight that greeted him.

He was flying through a storm. No, it wasn't, he soon realised, it was some sort of meteor shower. Deciding that it was too dangerous to continue his current flight path, Lorne scouted for a safe place to land. There wasn't one though…below him was an ocean of bright, molten lava, a fierce, bubbling predator that would consume anything that stood in its way.

Nowhere was safe, and Lorne was tiring quickly. His massive, powerful wings were weakening, and he found himself flying dangerously close to the lava. Just as he was about to fall from the sky, Harry startled awake.

He slumped back into the couch, feeling completely drained. It took him a while to realise he had been asleep in the study. How did I get out here? Oh, the pensieve, I must have fallen asleep! But why am I so tired? His eyes locked on to the ebony ones belonging to his potions professor, who was walking in his direction. He bent down to look Harry in the eye.

"You had another nightmare, didn't you Harry? I'm not surprised, to be completely honest. I didn't realise how severe they were. Something strange happened last night, we were somehow weakened by your nightmare. How do you feel this morning Harry, do you feel weak?"

"I feel completely exhausted. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like I've got no energy left. I can barely move."

Harry paused to sigh. Even that took a lot of effort. The concerned look he was receiving from Snape was causing him to worry. Was something wrong with him, did he do something he shouldn't have? Did it have anything to do with his strange dream?

"Sir, it was different, my dream. I wasn't me like usual, I was Lorne. I was flying and couldn't land, I couldn't hold myself up anymore and started falling. I was really tired. What did I do professor, what's wrong with me?"

SS

When Harry woke Severus could instantly tell that something was wrong. He watched the pale, weakened wizard collapse back into his chair. He moved straight over to him.

The frightened and panicked look residing on the boy's face was heart-wrenching. He was worried about Harry's sudden lack of energy, knowing the pensieve had somehow caused it. Severus felt extremely guilty. The boy had suffered enough already, he was just adding to his pain. And this new dream, knowing that it was completely different to the others Harry had previously experienced, was giving Severus a bad feeling.

"Harry, you need to calm down. As far as we know there is nothing wrong with you, and you didn't do anything. It's highly likely that it's just an after effect of the pensieve, being your first time using it. Do not worry yourself child, it should pass. I'm sorry Harry, I should never have put you in that position. Forgive me."

"Forgive you for what? You haven't done anything. I agreed to use the pensieve, it's not like you forced me to use it!"

"You have suffered enough Harry, and I just added to it."

"No, you didn't. I'm fine, I'm just worn out. I might have a shower, I didn't have one last night."

As the younger wizard stood, his tired legs gave way, a small yelp escaping from his lips. Severus' heart nearly stopped as he realised the boy was falling, and threw his arms out to catch him, guiding him safely back down to the comfortable sofa.

"Maybe a shower isn't such a good idea Harry, not while you are this exhausted. I'll take you to my private rooms, a bath would be much more suitable."

"Ok sir, I can't complain about that offer. Thank you."

Severus lifted the weakened child into his arms, ignoring the surprised squeak that emanated from said boy. Severus' cloak swished gracefully as he made his way through his room and into his private bathroom. He placed Harry down, taking care to steady him with strong hands.

"Um sir, before I have a bath, do you mind if I…"

"No of course I don't mind, I'll be back in a minute."

Severus left to give the boy the privacy he desired. He didn't finish his sentence, but Severus knew what he wanted…needed. The boy was the colour of a tomato, was he really that embarrassed about asking permission to relieve himself? Why did he need to ask at all? He would never deny a child the use of a toilet, but what if those nasty, neglectful, careless relatives of Harry had? The thought angered Severus almost to breaking point. He wanted to apparate there now and torture them mercilessly.

Harry opened the door, interrupting Severus' train of thought. Good thing too. Severus rested his hand on Harry's shoulder for a moment, giving it a gentle, comforting squeeze. This earned him a small smile from the child, which Severus happily returned.

He let the taps run, warm water pouring into the empty tub and summoned a pair of clean boxers for the child. Harry, while Severus was doing that, had stripped down to the ones he was currently wearing.

"In a few days' time Harry, I will be returning to my home, Prince Manor, and I would like you to accompany me. How does that sound to you?"

"Why do you want me to come with you? I'll just be in your way for the rest of the holidays, I don't want to do that to you."

"Harry, I know your relatives think you are a waste of space, but you are not. Aside from the fact that you are staying with me for the remainder of the holidays, I want you to come with me because it is safer and more comfortable than my quarters here in the dungeons."

"Only if you are sure then sir, but I really don't want to intrude in your home."

"Of course I'm sure. I have three house elves at home that I'm sure would think so too."

"Three sir? Wow! What are their names?"

"Zapphira, Raven and Theodore. Zapphira is very smart and protective, she is a fine house elf. Raven is stubborn and moody, but has a good heart. And Theodore, or Theo, as he likes to be called, is extremely loyal, he has been with me the longest. They're all free, but choose to call Prince Manor home, as I do."

"They sound amazing, I can't wait to meet them!"

"I'll leave you to it. I have left clean clothes and a towel beside the bath, just call out when you are done."

Once again Severus left, pleased that the boy was willing to go to Prince Manor without much encouragement. It would be a much better environment for the boy to recover from his depression. Hopefully Harry would feel more at ease there.

Suddenly the fire roared to life. Albus Dumbledore stepped into Severus' quarters, wearing expensive looking, hideous, lime green robes.

"Severus, my dear boy, I was hoping I would find you here. How did it go at Harry's?"

An overwhelming anger boiled in Severus' stomach at seeing his mentor. How could the old fool have been so…blind? He quickly controlled his rage, not wanting Harry to be aware of the discussion that was about to take place. He didn't hold back though. He spoke in a cold, harsh whisper.

"How did it go? Albus, did you know that Harry was being abused by those hateful relatives of his? Tell me the truth!"

"Abused? No of course I didn't Severus! I would never allow a child to be abused. How could you accuse me of such a thing?"

"He has had a terrible childhood, much worse than my own. And you sent him back, even though he begged you to let him stay. Surely the greatest wizard alive would be smart enough to see that something was wrong, but you didn't. You sent him BACK!"

"I didn't know Severus. I only sent him back for the blood wards. They can provide him with the protection he needs. He had nowhere else to go."

"He does now! I'm returning to Prince Manor in a few days and Harry is coming with me."

"Severus, it's not safe."

"Where is safe then, Albus? Nowhere is truly safe, and like you said, I'm the only one available. You sent me to check on him, I found him beaten half to death. He is coming with me Albus, whether you like it or not!"

"Fine Severus, I trust you to look after young Harry. How is he?"

Finally…finally Dumbledore was showing some real concern!

"Not good, he's depressed. It's worse than any other case I have come across. Every time he even appears to be slightly happy, something rips it away from him. He is an emotional wreck! He hardly eats anything, he apologises for everything and his sleep is plagued by nightmares, severe ones."

"My poor boy. If only I had known. What are we going to do Severus?"

Severus was bewildered. Dumbledore was never unsure of anything. What did the old fool think they were going to do? Put the boy out of his misery?

"I'm going to…help him. He's already started to open up to me, I'm doing everything I can…"

"Marvellous, Severus! I noticed that you've been calling him 'Harry'. Your care about him, don't you?"

Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling with knowing. Damn that man! Damn him to hell! He always had been able to read Severus, this was no different.

"No I don't care about him! I made a promise to Lily, in case you have forgotten. Of course I don't care about the Potter brat! I just don't want him moping about for the entire summer."

"Who are you trying to convince Severus?"

"Fine, I care a little bit, okay?! That reminds me, there is something important that I wish to discuss with you."

"Go ahead, Severus."

"Two nights ago, the boy had a particularly bad nightmare, worse than usual. He agreed to let me view it in my pensieve. Nothing was different until it was over. Albus, it physically drained us! Then Harry woke up from another dream not long ago, and it too was different. He is an animagus, a dragon. Only a very powerful wizard would be able to take the form of one. He was the dragon, in his dream. He was exhausted in the nightmare and woke up the same. He can barely stand! What do you think is wrong with him?"

"Severus, calm down. This sounds familiar. His animagus form could be affecting his ability to sleep. Yes. I remember reading about a wizard who was also a dragon animagi, just like our young Harry. He lived with dragons, in a sanctuary, and he finally became one of them. He was fine for the first few years, but gradually became weaker. It nearly killed him, and would have too, if he wasn't living in the sanctuary. It saved him. He was able to create a potion to 'calm the beast' I believe the phrase is."

Harry was going to die? Severus, for the first time in his adult life felt truly frightened. He couldn't let that happen! Severus interrupted his mentor.

"He will die?! There has to be something we can do!"

"You truly care about the boy Severus, I can tell. He won't die, not while there is someone who can make the potion for him. You can help him Severus, it won't be easy though."

"How Albus, tell me!"

There should be a book in my office called 'Effects on an Animagi'. Read it, it should tell you everything you need to know. Provide young Harry with invigoration draughts, they will greatly slow down the weakening process, prevent it even. Do not worry Severus, Harry will be fine. If he is only just beginning to feel it now, you will have at least a year to complete the potion. Probably longer in fact, it could just be the pensieve at this point in time."

"I hope so. I will retrieve the book immediately."

"I have to go, but I will return late tomorrow evening to help. Good day, Severus!"

Severus' head was spinning. This could kill Harry! I can't let that happen, I need to make him the potion for him! Severus surprised himself with how protective he felt of Harry, he didn't want the child to die. He could feel tears of hopelessness and frustration burning in his dark, emotionless eyes. He thought he had gained control, but when Harry opened the door, they returned, a few traitorous tears escaping him. He tried to hide his face, hoping Harry hadn't seen, but he had.

HP

Harry opened the door, allowing his professor to enter. He noticed that he looked…really sad. It scared Harry, it was an emotion he had never seen before on his professor, and he never thought he would see it, not in a million years. He didn't like seeing his teacher like that. Had something happened?

"Sir, what's wrong? Are you ok?"

That must have been Severus' breaking point.

Harry watched as his professor's head bowed slightly forward, a few tears leaking out of his ebony eyes. Something was really wrong if the toughest teacher at Hogwarts was in tears.

"I'm fine Harry, I was just talking with the headmaster."

"Dumbledore did this to you?"

Harry was flabbergasted! What did the headmaster do to upset Professor Snape? He felt bad for him. It hurt Harry knowing that the only person that actually cared about him was crying. He didn't deserve that.

Suddenly feeling very brave, Harry took a tentative step forward. He looked at his professor, who was still obviously upset, before his arms extended, hugging him tightly as he had done for Harry before.

Worried that he had gone too far, Harry began to loosen his grip. He stopped though as strong arms mirrored his gesture, pulling him into the warmth of the larger man's chest. Professor Snape let out a long, shaky sigh, evident of the emotion he was currently feeling. He pulled back a bit and looked a very concerned young wizard.

"Harry, child, there is something I need to tell you."

There, all done! I didn't really want Dumbledore in the story just yet, but I needed his character in this chapter. Don't worry, I don't plan on killing Harry, I just thought this would be fun to add in. Please continue to review! Thank you! - AsSafeAsSnape