Look, look another chapter! And so soon!
I hope you like it.
They clung to each other instinctively on the way down, both thankful when they reached the bottom they landed gently on their feet.
"Where are we?" Harry asked softly not letting go of Severus.
"No idea."
"It's dark."
"Really, I hadn't noticed." Severus sharked. Harry's grip tightened. "Lumos," Severus intoned. "Are you alright Ry?" He asked gently tipping Harrys head back so he could look at his face.
"I'm fine now Sev, I just don't like small dark spaces." Harry explained finally letting go and stepping back.
"Will you tell me why?" Severus asked softly, already knowing Harry wouldn't tell him.
"Not now, perhaps one day. Shall we have a look around?"
"It might help us find a way out." Severus nodded.
The room they were in was circular and almost bare only a portrait hung on one wall. They moved closer to inspect it, the figure in the portrait was unmoving, but it showed a beautiful brown haired woman, there was a place under the frame.
'Release me from my frozen state
And your curiosity will I sate.'
Harry groaned. "This is turning into the plot of a Muggle game."
"What are you talking about?" Severus questioned.
"Well, in some Muggle computer games you have to find objects, but people won't give you them until you've done a quest for them, sometimes you end up doing half a dozen quests to get you the original thing. It's frustrating but addictive."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Let's get started then shall we, you can show me these computer games another time."
"How do we unfreeze a portrait?" Harry thought aloud.
"We need to work out the spell used in order to construct a counter spell, if all of this was set in place at the same time we can discount several spells that hadn't been written."
Severus started pacing muttering to himself, ignoring Harry's attempt to get his attention.
Finally giving up on Severus who was lost in his thoughts, Harry turned to the Portrait. "Finite Incantatem." He enunciated clearly.
The woman sprang to life and looked down grinning at Harry. "Are you one of my badgers?" She asked in a pretty sing song voice.
"No my lady, I am of Gryffindor, and my distracted friend is of Slytherin."
"What is he muttering about?" Lady Hufflepuff asked watching Severus pace.
"He's trying to work out what spell was cast on you to be able to work out a counter spell. Severus is very clever, he's been writing spells since he was a student." Harry told her proudly. "Severus." Harry shouted.
Severus stopped mid-step and looked over prepared to snarl at the interruption, when he saw the woman waving. "What did you do?" he asked in disbelief.
"Finite Incantatem."
"Oh."
The woman giggled. "Sometimes the simplest of things are the most difficult."
"Who are you?" Severus questioned briskly.
"My name is Helga Hufflpuff young snake."
"So we're on a founder of Hogwarts hunt." Harry commented with a smile.
"That you are cub." Lady Hufflpuff agreed. "And I suppose you would like your clue then."
"Please my lady, it has been a long week." Severus asked as politely as he could.
"Very well.
'Two you have met
But the third is not so easy.
Hidden by time
A movement is needed
As the new day begins
And the cycle ends
I will reveal all.'"
Harry and Severus repeated the clue until they were sure they had it right.
"Now all we have to do is get out of here." Severus said looking around for an exit, as if one would have magically appeared now they had gotten the next clue.
Lady Hufflpuff giggled, "That my young one's is easy you only need ask the right question."
"May we please leave?" Harry asked in frustration.
"Correct first time, come and visit me sometimes."
The portrait swung open. They stepped out into the great hall.
"Take care young ones."
Harry looked around the Hall on the opposite wall were two huge portraits which mirrored the two on their side, only Helga was in residence.
"Why have I never seen them before?" Harry asked no one in particular.
"Until the quest is completed only those on the hunt can see us. But I'll be here, and as you find and release them, the others will join me." Helga answered.
"What about Sal?" Harry asked. "We already found him."
"True, but he is stuck in his portrait in his rooms until you find us all."
"Good night then my lady." Severus said formally.
"Night, welcome back to Hogwarts." Harry waved over his shoulder as they left the hall.
At the main stairs they stopped. Harry to go down and Severus to go up.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Harry said with a small smile.
"Yeah, I have potions first thing." Severus could feel himself talking like he was an actual student again.
Harry drew himself up and crossed his arm's slipping easily back into character. "And I expect you to be on time Mr Potter or you will be in detention for the foreseeable future."
"I already have to spend every evening with you Sir. Anyone would think you wanted to spend time with me." Severus said cheekily, edging closer.
"Go to bed brat." Harry said with a quirk of a smile, in perfect imitation.
Severus turned to go, but Harry grabbed his arm and spun him around quickly kissing his mouth, but pulling back before Severus could react. "Sleep well."
When Severus got back to the dorms, Hermione and Ron were both waiting for him by the fire.
Hermione took one look at his dazed expression and pulled him to sit on the floor in front of the fire. "What happened Harry?" Hermione asked. "If he's hurt you, I'll kill him."
Severus snorted. "He kissed me." He blurted. Severus's eyes widened in shock, The Dark Lord had tortured him, beaten him and used magic to look into his mind, and he'd never given away his secrets. Yet these two Gryffindor's had just asked out right and he'd answered.
Hermione squealed. "He did? Really? For the cure right? What was it like?"
Severus opened his mouth and closed it again.
Ron laughed. "Yep, that's how it should feel, indescribable."
Severus nodded speechless.
"God, if his kisses do this to you, just think what it'll be like when he fu..."
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione interrupted blushing.
Severus blushed too. "Believe me Ron, I'm thinking just that."
Ron and Hermione fell about laughing.
"So Ron, I've kissed Snape now, and Hermione's snogged Blaise. I think you need to do something with Malfoy." Severus said with a glint in his eye, a glint that Hermione too adopted.
"Yeah Ron, Harry's right, you're the only one that hasn't kissed his Slytherin. Wait how did you know about me and Blaise? That only happened tonight."
"I walked passed you." Severus laughed. This was nice he thought, being able to laugh with friends.
Ron thought for a moment. "Leave it with me. That will be rectified shortly."