Snape turned on his heel, scooped Harry up and ran to the fireplace, threw Harry in and stated "Snape's Chamber." He quickly followed and found Harry on the floor in a ball, coughing up smoke.
Chapter 10: Preparing for Separation
Snape rushed over to the kitchen and got Harry some water. He drank it slowly, to stop the coughing.
"Are you alright?" Severus asked, caringly. What the hell? I need to stop this. Har—Potter. Potter will be gone soon. And then what, Severus, then what are you going to do? Back to your lonely hell.
"Yeah," Harry said with a scratchy voice.
"Now what was all that about Mr. Weasley?"
"He was asking how I was and I thought he might ask how
I got to Diagon Alley and I panicked. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry for. You got out fine. No one noticed. Weasley might ask questions at the welcome feast. Or on the train.
"The train? I figured I'd just appear at the welcome feast late or something. No one would notice…"
"Mr. Potter, you're the only person they'd notice had disappeared."
"Damn. Well, I'm going to my room to sort all my things, I got some presents for Ron and Hermione." Harry said. Then added under his breath "not like they deserve them."
"What was that last part, Mr. Potter? And language. Had this been the school year, Gryffindor would have just lost five points."
Harry smirked but it fell when he realized that he had to explain his frustration with Ron and Hermione. "Well, Professor, it's just that…. They don't get what it's like to be me. They get to have normal lives and Ron… well, he complains about how his mom fawns over him too much and all this other shit. Sorry. But it just frustrates me. I don't have a mother! I have a…."
"An aunt and uncle that treat you worse than shit." Snape finished for him.
"Yeah that… Anyway, I'm going to go up and wrap this stuff now." He got up and walked to his room to stow and wrap his purchases.
A moment later, the clothes Snape had ordered to be sent to the house arrived, after making sure everything was as it should be, he walked over to a couch and collapsed in exhaustion. I don't think he's ready to go back. That encounter with Mr. Weasley seemed to push him to a breaking point. And while that's fine when it's me, Mr. Potter is friends with the Weasley brat. I'm shocked he hasn't told him about his home situation already in a fit of anger. Perhaps I don't give Harry enough credit. Severus shook his head. This is absurd. I have a job to do and I cannot get attached to Potter—at least not more attached than I already am.
Harry was looking at the items he got for his friends. A bracelet for Hermione that stored up to twenty books. Thank Merlin for shrinking charms. And for Ron, enough candy to keep the Hogwarts Express trolley stocked for weeks. He wrapped both of those, anger filling him. They really don't care about me. Harry grabbed for his knife and sliced his arm. What the hell are you doing? You know this doesn't help! But it feels so damn good, Harry argued with himself. Another slit, this one in his ankle. Then his hip. STOP, his mind screamed to him. Harry threw the knife down on the old rag in which he kept it wrapped. He sat in his bed and tried to relax.
Once he calmed down and got the bleeding under control, he turned his attention to his gift for Snape. The snake with luminous green eyes turned its head to look at him. He performed charms on it so no one could ever take it from Snape, no one could deeply physically hurt him or kill him when he was wearing the snake charm in some way, shape, or form. The snake seemed to nod with each spell thrust upon it, as though it approved. "You'll have a new master," he told the snake. "He's one of the best people I've ever met. I just don't want him to ever be in pain again. Not after all he's done for me." Tears rolled down Harry's cheeks and the snake slithered off the chain to wipe them from his face. It was only three inches long when uncoiled, but it had love in its heart. "Thanks." The snake flicked its tongue in response and slithered back to the chain and reattached. Harry took a minute to really study its scales, each one carved so well the snake looked real. Its silver head turned to look at Harry again and he noticed that even when in place, it was breathing. Harry performed more charms on it, including an unbreakable spell. He collapsed on his bed afterward. Too much magic in a small span of time. It had to be done.
Severus had fallen asleep in the couch, not wanting to deal with his wandering mind. Nightmares plagued his nap. Most involved Harry leaving and dying without saying goodbye.
Snape cried in pain as he watched the Dark Lord destroy the child he cared for most before his eyes. In that moment, Harry was not the Boy-Who-Lived, he was Harry, a mere boy that attended Hogwarts, the boy Severus saved from death, a child lost in the world, scared and alone. He watched as Harry fell to the ground and Voldemort's laugh echoed though the field. A maniac laughing about the death of a child who only survived the death curse because of love. Something the Dark Lord didn't understand. But the love had been beaten out of Harry. Years of pain and neglect made him forget how to love and care. He gave up his will to live. Severus looked at the body laying inches from Voldemort's feet. He let out a cry and fell to his knees, tears streamed down his face. The Dark Lord turned and faced Severus. "Severus, you were always such a great follower. Too bad you end today." Snape smiled as Voldemort cast the killing curse and he felt blind pain.
He woke to a soft touch on his arm and looked up, startled, to see Harry staring at him intently.
"P-p-p-professor?" Harry asked with a quaking voice, "A-are you okay?"
Snape just stared at Harry for a minute then pulled him into his arms. He started crying into the raven hair, not letting Harry go for fear he would die. Harry pushed away after a few minutes and Severus collected himself. "Harry, I'm sorry, it was a nightmare. Are you alright?"
Harry looked shaken, but nodded. "I was worried… you were… well, crying, Professor. I didn't know what to do—"
"Thank you Harry. Would you like some dinner?"
"Sure"
The house elf brought it straight away.
Dinner began as usual, in silence. But Severus broke it. "Mr. Potter, there's something we need to discuss." Harry looked up, fearfully. "No, not about you, or your new cuts. Yes, I noticed. But I want to speak about our relationship. I realize I have basically taken you in as my charge, but no one at Hogwarts can know. I'm going to have to go back to my old ways as soon as the Hogwarts Express arrives. That means that I will go back to taunting you in class, and doing everything else that made me a slimy, greasy git." Harry looked down trying to blink back the tears in his eyes. "But, Harry, that doesn't mean that's how I feel. It isn't. I care more about you than you will ever understand." Why am I admitting this? "I want you to know that you can always come and talk to me. Owl me if you want to talk and I can give you a detention, at least that can be the story." Harry looked a bit happier with the news. "I'm here for you Harry."
"Thank you, sir," he said and they continued to eat in silence.
Once the meal concluded, Severus waved his wand and the dishes disappeared. He motioned for Harry to stay and he left to retrieve something. When he returned, he brought a package with him and handed it to Harry.
He started tearing carefully at the paper, and as it fell away he found a black journal with his name engraved in silver at the top. His hands shook with excitement, "thank you" he breathed.
"That's not all Mr. Potter. If you write in it, a message will come to me. In my journal. He produced a journal that looked exactly like Harry's but with "Severus Snape" engraved. Harry smiled with tears in his eyes.
"May I try it out?"
"Of course."
Harry conjured a quill and ink and began writing. He stopped and a minute later, Snape's name went from silver to a dark gray. "That's how I know I have a message, " Severus explained.
Professor Snape,
I'm really going to miss you. It's already killing me.
-Harry.
Severus looked up and took the quill to reply. Harry's name faded and he opened the journal.
Harry,
I too will miss you, but you will still see me every day, if you wish.
Now, you need sleep. I suggest you get to bed after reading this.
-Severus
Harry read the message, got up and ran over to Snape. He hugged him tightly, thanked him again, and ran to his room, cradling his new journal.