Chapter twelve
'One thing you must remember Harry is that Minerva and I have all rights over you. So say someone did this to gain entry into your vault then they would be out of luck until you reached the age of twenty five. Yet if you were still unconscious it would still be up to us. As of now whoever did this would not benefit if they killed you.'
'You deliberately changed the subject, didn't you?'
'Yes, I did, I believe we should take our time so you can assess your feelings. It would not be wise to start anything then for you to realise you do not have real feelings for me.'
'I know I do, but okay, I would not like to hurt you. So what you were saying, killing me would not get them my money, is there another way they could if they didn't kill me, some sort of magical way?'
'There are many ways people could make you give them money or even access your vault. Since you do not remember anything, I will need to teach you all over again. But there is one spell that is used for total control, it's classed as an unforgivable and if any person uses it earns them a life sentence in Azkaban, which is our prison. The spell is called the imperius curse and I do know you could fight it off, yet as of now you are like a first year, learning about magic. I also know that some of your DA learned to fight off that curse. Albus Dumbledore, who knew of your secret defence club worked some magic so the ministry would not pick up the use of an unforgivable, but only in the room of requirement, where you had your meetings, he just never told you he did that.
'So let's say it was one of the Weasley's, which we believe it is, Ginny, Ron, Fred and George were all in the DA and all know how to use that curse. Now what a lot of people do not know is there is a potion that works like the imperius curse, total control of the mind. It is illegal and classed as a dark potion, so again someone using it would end up in Azkaban. Mr. Longbottom did find all the plants at the Burrow to make that potion but those plants can be used for other potions, so again it is not proof.'
'So I should be safe from being killed but not cursed or poisoned.'
'Correct, the only other ways I know that someone could access your vault is if they either asked you or you were married. A legal partner would have the right to enter your vault.'
'So if they did not want to kill me they could use that curse or poison to make me give them money or make me marry one of them. Okay, I think I'm going to stick with you from now on because if they went with marriage it would be that red headed girl.'
'That would be the less suspicious way,' Severus moved until he was no longer holding Harry.
'You explained what you did during the war, even before you changed sides. Who do you think did it?'
'I do not like to make guesses.'
'Please.'
Severus knew Harry was scared and he had reason to, 'Very well, as I've said, I would say it was either Ginny Weasley or Molly Weasley, those two always visited and caused the most commotion when they were watched while visiting. You saw the way Ginny and Ron were during their visits especially the way they would look at Anthony. They also did keep questioning why I was giving rights over you and tried to get the minister to change that, he refused. The minister knew I made a wizards oath to your mother to protect you.
'Another thing, the fake Will that Miss Weasley said she saw you writing, it was proven to be a forgery and a very good copy but it was not your magical signature or your handwriting even though it was very close. When she was questioned about it she admitted she never saw you writing it but it was in with your belongings. She has been saying you are her boyfriend yet we know thanks to Hermione that you are not. Molly has not stopped asking for you to return to the Burrow now you are awake. She might not be allowed back into the castle but it does not stop her sending owls, not just to Minerva but to the minister. She is trying everything she can to get you to the Burrow and alone with her and she can make those potions.'
'Okay, if it is those two do you believe any of the others are involved?'
'Another guess, apart from Ron, I do not.'
'Then I want to tell them again I'm staying here, it's my choice and I feel safe with you. That no matter what they say or how they act they will not change my mind. But I also thought of mentioned the fact that I'm gay.'
'They would say I made you believe you were gay since my preference for men is known. As for staying here, yes, if you say it again and keep saying it then they might believe it. Molly on the other hand will continue to try and talk you into going home with her, nothing will make her give up.'
'It's not my home and she's not my mother.'
'There, that face and that voice should show them that you are not someone who can be manipulated. You would never deliberately hurt anyone Harry, especially your friends and the Weasley's, so you would not sound so cold. Now though you are finding yourself because you do not remember how you were before this happened. You had to keep so many secrets Harry which made you wary of who to trust. The moment you found out about our world you started to hear about spies and who you could not trust so you were very cautious. You were never a bit talker, normally, that stems from your time with those muggles.
'Right now you are just doing what you want because you do not know anything about your past so you are not sure if what you are saying or doing is how you did it before. You said earlier that you do not know if you had sex, yet before this happened you would not have spoken about that. You are more honest and open now, you say what you want instead of holding your tongue which is what you did very often. You had a very complicated life and even though you still do it's not as it was. There is only one danger now, trying to find proof that they poisoned you.'
'That's why I want to stay close to you or Anthony, Poppy and Minerva. From the moment I woke you lot were there, talking to me. So even though I did not know who you were I felt comfortable, not scared. When you explained what had been done then I felt scared but you explained how you and Minerva could say what I need. I don't know I just know that apart from my feelings for you I knew you four were people I could trust and rely on. When you were under the cloak last time they visited, Ron whispered to be careful, that you couldn't be trusted, that you change sides to suit you and a lot of people believe you would even kill me without a second thought if you had to. It was then I realised I could not trust him but you are someone that I would trust with my life.'
'Your instincts have kept you alive for years Harry, they are telling you to trust them again because you are right, you are safe with me. Even if I did not make that vow to your mother I did get to know you while you were a student here. So even though we believe it is Ginny and Molly, it seems that Ron might be involved in more that we first believed, we never had any type of proof about him, still don't. He was mentioned in the report by the aurors, he spoke about using your money to care for you. He was the first one to bring up the subject that you had money, yet a real friend might have said that so you could get the best care available.'
'There's something about him that makes me angry Severus, I look at him and I want to punch him and I have no idea why. He keeps telling me he is my best friend and I have to trust him, I don't, something is telling me not to trust him, to be careful around him. Anyway, I want to ask you something else, I think it's time I went into the school. I want them to believe I'm not hiding or anything even if I've been acting like I know nothing. Do you think I could sit with you down in the great hall?'
'I believe that would do you good and yes, they will see that I am not holding you against your will, neither is Minerva or the minister. That is one thing Neville did hear from them, they believed we were deliberately keeping you away from them.'
'I like being with you,' Harry smiled, 'Are you sure we can't kiss?'
Severus smiled, 'For now, let's enjoy a dinner down in the great hall then we will see how the night ends.'
'You're a very stubborn man, I've got to see that. Okay, we'll do this your way.'
'I am stubborn so you might as well give up, until we are both sure. Now are you ready to head up to the great hall?'
'I am, I want to see this place, especially after what Hermione said, that I called this place my home. I do feel comfortable here even though I haven't seen it, but it does have a familiar feel to it.'
'Like most students, they have their homes and their families, you did not, apart from those muggles. You never thought of that place as a home, the moment you arrived here you just seem comfortable, more than most,' Severus put his robe on then opened the door for Harry. He did wonder how the young man would go being up in the main part of the school. So even though Severus would use his extensive knowledge as a spy to keep Harry safe, he realised this could be a good test.
