Fickle Fate:Chapter 21

I am so tired and ready for this semester to be over. SO TIRED!

Warnings: Implied "morning wood" if you catch my drift, and a likely poor attempt at humor!

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I wouldn't have to apply for so many scholarships to get through school.

Please enjoy!

Civil and Less Than Civil Conversations

The next time Harry woke he felt sore all over but his head felt a lot better. He slowly blinked his eyes open and tried to take stock of everything. Harry couldn't remember-

With a gasp he sat up, or at least tried to. He felt weak and a pair of familiar arms were holding him gently but with strength.

"It's ok, Mate. Just go back to sleep," Ron murmured. Harry looked back at his best friend and then startled when he felt someone move on the other side of him. He saw Hermione asleep and curling towards him and felt like he could breathe again. Something shifted in the corner of his vision and Harry tensed again.

"Ah, you're awake," came a quiet yet familiar voice. Harry squinted through the darkness at the Potion's Master sitting by his bedside.

"S-sir?" Harry's voice was scratchy and he tried to clear his throat to fix it. His glasses were suddenly in his face, and he took them and put them on. Severus came in to focus quickly and Harry saw that he was now standing by Harry's bed. "W-what happened," he asked as Snape laid the back of his hand on the young wizard's forehead.

"You were very ill when you arrived. The lack of potions in your system and the sudden bursts of magic overwhelmed you and rather suddenly increased your symptoms. You had a very serious fever. This is the first time you have been truly coherent since you got here." Harry slowly nodded his understanding.

"Sorry. Sirius did what he could but he didn't have much Concussion Potion stocked up. He also didn't want to leave us alone in the house to get more." Severus hummed noncommittally.

"Well, I cannot say that enough Concussion Potion would have made necessarily caused this situation to be fully avoided. You had a cut on your temple that got infected. Your skin must have split open from your harsh contact with the Malfoys' granite floors." Snape's tone spoke to indifference but Harry was almost certain he caught a glimpse of genuine concern in the man's eyes. Then again, that was probably wishful thinking on his part.

"Well…thanks, Sir. What…what are 'Mione and Ron doing here? Are they alright?" Severus snorted and returned to his seat.

"Your fever spiked dangerously and you were hallucinating. You were screaming and fighting me. Your friends burst in here and Mr. Weasley said I was 'doing it wrong'. Apparently the other two members of the Golden Trio have a system when it comes to dealing with your nightmares. When they proved successful, Lord Voldemort ordered them to remain with you in addition to my presence as your stand-in nurse." Severus raised a brow when he caught sight of his son's cheeks blooming with color. Harry bowed his head and his tone spoke to the shame he felt.

"Yeah, Ron figured out over the years the best way to hold me so I don't hurt myself. One night though…it was so bad. No one could calm me down and I wasn't waking up. Neville ran to get Hermione as a last ditch effort before they had to get Professor McGonagall. Hogwarts must have sensed the urgency because it allowed her into our dorm room. Apparently the moment she started talking to me, I relaxed and stopped fighting. Within a few minutes I was fully asleep again. Now, they do it whenever it's necessary. I almost think Hermione casts like a…Baby Monitor Charm on me with how much she comes by without needing to be fetched by one of the other guys." Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, smiling sadly at them. "They're the best friends I could ever have…and I ruin their lives almost daily."

Severus was quiet and didn't comment when he saw Harry wipe a tear from his cheek. After a long few moments he spoke.

"I am sure they do not see your friendship that way, Harry. Believe me, watching you three together, seeing what they would do for you and you for them…the last thing they would call you is their burden." The Potion's Master knew he hit the nail on the head with how Harry's fingers clenched the bed sheets beneath him.

"Yeah well…it'd be safer for them if they did," he said quietly. The next moment he huffed and bitter laugh. "You know I think this is the longest civil conversation we've had that wasn't over a bubbling cauldron." Snape leaned back in his chair and hummed again, this time in agreement.

"Mmmm. I believe the Dark Lord would call that progress." Harry huffed again this time in genuine amusement.

"Anyone else would call it a miracle." Severus' lip twitched in amusement that he refused to vocalize. "How…how long…?" Harry gestured to his situation of being tucked into bed and surrounded by his two sleeping friends. "You said this is the first time I've been coherent since I got here." Snape nodded.

"Yes. You arrived yesterday morning. Your fever spiked this morning and your two friends have been here since. It is long past dinner." As if one cue, Harry's stomach growled. Harry scowled down at it as if it had betrayed him. Severus conjured a Nutrition Potion and held it out to his son. "Eating actual food this late would only upset your stomach. This should satisfy you until morning." Harry grimaced at the potion's smell but downed it anyway. Severus was right and Harry no longer felt like his stomach was going to eat itself. Then Harry tasted something underneath the typical grainy taste of the Nutrition Potion.

"Wait…this has…Passion…Flower…." Harry's eyes fluttered shut as he succumbed to the potion's added sleep qualities. As such, the young man did not see the impressed look on Severus's face that his son managed to detected the altered ingredient. The Potion's Master settled back in his chair and watched his son sleep until he was eventually pulled down into his own unconsciousness.

The next time Harry woke the sun was peeking through the curtains of the room and the chair next to his bed was empty. He weakly batted away the bushy hair that was trying to get into his mouth. The young man startled for a moment when a large hand pressed against the center of his chest and pulled him against another body. A few moments later he finally registered his situation and relaxed.

Harry let himself drift and enjoy the silence but half an hour later he felt something…distinct pressing against his backside. It certainly wasn't the first time he and Ron had woken up in that situation, and they had gotten a lot better at dealing with it. Admittedly the first few times they sprung apart in the morning, faces bright red, and avoided eye contact for the rest of the day. Now, though, they were old hat at this. Harry gently patted the arm Ron had wrapped around him.

"Ron," he murmured. "Ron, come on, Mate." Ron grumbled and snuggled his face deeper into Harry's hair if that was possible. Harry bit back a laugh and rolled his eyes. "Ron, wake up." Eventually, Harry felt Ron pulling back a bit and becoming more aware.

"Wha-" the red-head mumbled. Harry patted his hand in a comforting manner.

"I hate to break it to you like this, Ron, but I just don't feel the same way. Know that this will never hurt our friendship-" Ron growled and pinched Harry's side before rolling away from Harry and onto his back.

"Oh shove off, Harry," Ron grumbled. Harry couldn't contain his snickers and rolled over so he was facing his best friend.

"Unrequited love is a serious issue, Ron, and I don't want you to think that I don't care. However, I have already devoted my heart to another and I don't want-" Harry's teasing was cut off by a pillow smacking him in the face. Harry couldn't contain his laughter then and Ron just kept whacking him with the pillow before turning his assault into a tickle attack.

Harry's legs lashed out on instinct as he tried to escape Ron's fingers in his sides.

"Ron…Ron! I'm gonna…I'm gonna kick 'Mione if you keep-" Harry wheezed out when he could. They both froze when Hermione suddenly lifted her head and glared at them. Her hair was a bit of a mess and she only looked half awake. After a few moments she huffed.

"Boys," she muttered. Harry opened his mouth to apologize when Hermione suddenly seemed wide awake and began joining in on the tickling. Harry cried out for help between his laughter and batted at them with weak arms.

A couple minutes later their laughter was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. The Trio froze and stared wide-eyed at one Lucius Malfoy. The blond was smirking in amusement, one eyebrow raised.

"I was coming to see if Harry was feeling any better, but I must admit he seems quite well at the moment." Harry's cheeks pinked but he gave Lucius a small smile.

"Hi, Mr. Malfoy." Harry felt more than saw Ron's head whip around so the red-head could stare at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Harry figured it was because his friend hadn't ever fully believed that Harry was on decent terms with the Inner Circle. Honestly a few weeks ago he never would have believed it himself. Lucius's smirk shifted into a more genuine, if subdued, smile.

"Hello, Young Man. Glad to have you back with us." Lucius unexpectedly reached out a hand to feel Harry's forehead. The blond faltered for just a moment when Harry instinctively flinched back. However, so as not to embarrass the boy, Lucius pretended to not notice and placed the back of his hand on Harry's forehead. "You are still a little warm, however, this is a significant improvement from earlier."

"Do you think Harry would be allowed to leave the infirmary, Mr. Malfoy?" All of the wizards in the room were surprised to hear Hermione address Lucius so easily, but the young witch ignored their questioning looks.

"I would wait for Severus to make that decision, given he is our stand in Healer for the moment. My own experience would tell me that it would be best if young Harry stayed in bed for another day at least, given he only recently became coherent. It wouldn't do for him to leap from bed the moment he felt a bit better only to land himself right back here, even worse than before." Harry huffed and rolled his eyes.

"You just asked him that because you knew I wouldn't have listened to you if you told me to stay in bed longer." Lucius lifted a brow in amusement at Harry's accusation against Hermione.

"Well, did it work," the witch asked. Harry tilted his head as if he was considering.

"Hmmmmm….nope."

"You will stay in that bed for at least another day, Mr. Potter. If you leave before I deem you properly recovered you will find very quickly that I am much worse than Ms. Granger or Madame Pomfrey." Severus's sharp voice cut through the air from the doorway he was standing in. Harry visibly flinched at the harsh tone, and a small part of him was hurt that Severus didn't call him Harry. However, it wasn't the time for self-introspection as to why that was, so Harry focused on playing off his flinch instead.

"I'm not sure that's physically possible, Sir." Snape scowled at the boy.

"Watch. Me." Harry leaned back instinctively as the Potion's Master loomed over him. Lucius huffed and rolled his eyes from his place at the foot of the bed.

"Really, Severus. The boy has been awake not even an hour. Can't you tone down the theatrics?" Suddenly two heads popped around the open doorway.

"The Little Lion is awake!" Harry didn't even have time to roll his eyes before Rabastan and Rodolphus were rushing into the room and scooping him up into a strange three-way hug.

"Put him down, you idiots! Merlin's sake, he still has healing to do and you're throwing him around like a rag-doll." Harry would never admit how much he actually enjoyed the enthusiastic hug and how disappointed he was that the Lestrange brothers let him go. The two older wizards didn't seem happy to release him, though, which soothed him a bit. Harry suddenly remembered his two best friends and turned to see them eyeing the newcomers warily.

"Umm…guys this is Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange. They were kind of my bodyguards-slash-professors while I was here before." The two brothers bowed simultaneously to Ron and Hermione reminding the Trio of the Twins. The Twins… "Sirius! I-Is he okay!? I have to check! We left him with Dumbledore and-" Harry struggled with the bedsheets wrapped around his legs and suddenly he had his best friends and numerous Death Eaters rushing him, trying to get him to stay in bed.

"Harry, I'm sure he's fine. Just calm down."

"Stay here, Mate. You can't go rushing off right now."

"Mr. Potter, don't you dare leave this bed!"

"Your godfather is a strong wizard, young man, I'm sure he's fine." And on and on, the words were thrown at him, as Harry's heart raced and panic was shrouding his mind.

"ENOUGH!" Silence reigned as Voldemort glared at the occupants of the room. Harry was the first to break the silence.

"Tom, Tom, I need to go! I need to make sure Sirius is alright. Please, please! I need to go!" Tom Riddle sighed upon hearing Harry begging him to let the boy go. Ignoring his followers and the young wizard's nervous friends, Tom approached the bed and laid his hands on Harry's shoulders.

"Harry, listen to me. There is no need for you to go running off." Tom held up a hand when Harry opened his mouth to protest. "I have heard from a very reliable source that your godfather expelled Dumbledore and his Order from the safe house before any harm could come to him. He revoked the Fidelis over the Order as well, so he will be safe in his home." Harry stared at him for a few moments, trying to tell whether or not Tom was lying to him. Tom pushed his thoughts into the boy's mind gently so Harry had a better grasp on the truthfulness of his little speech. "Now, I think you have had enough excitement for now. I'm going to clear the room of non-essential individuals and then have breakfast sent in for you. You will rest here for the day, alright? If you take good care of yourself today, I'm sure I can convince your father to let you have some fresh air tomorrow." Harry nodded his agreement slowly and quietly as suddenly exhaustion crept up on him. Tom gave him a gentle smile (both unnatural and too natural on his human face) and stood.

As promised he cleared the room, soon leaving the Trio and Severus alone with each other. Harry laid there quietly between his two friends, waiting for breakfast to be sent, when a thought suddenly struck him: he hadn't protested at all when Tom referred to Severus as his father!

My stories are usually so angsty, I thought I'd try and toss a little humor and fluff. Not sure if it worked, but hey it was fun trying. ;)

Please review!