Um, yeah, remember that girl who used to update this story kind of regularly and then got a horrible case of writers block and disappeared for literally 9 months? She's really sorry and she's missed you guys a lot and she hopes she can make it up to you somehow...
CHAPTER EDIT: Just wanna say thanks to who seems to know my own story better than I do! Originally in this chapter I thought I was introducing the fact that Snape is a spy to Harry, but turns out I've already done that, duh! So I changed the dialogue a bit and I'm actually much happier with this chapter now!
Hogwarts Castle – one of the grandest wizarding schools in the world – was a maze of twists and turns, staircases and spirals, and an easy place to get lost if you didn't already know where you were going.
With so many students crashing through the corridors between lessons, it was hard for Professors not to get lost in the swarming sea of black cloaks while trying to move between classrooms. For this reason, Hogwarts school provided an easier mode of transport for it's Professors, and also a much quicker one…
"If any of you even think about moving you will be out of this school before you can say –"
"Professor, go!"
Severus Snape glared at the young girl.
"30 points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. Don't you dare interrupt me again."
The Professor moved swiftly from the classroom, leaving his stunned students to sit in silence, and entered into a rather dark and gloomy office.
There was only one place Potter would go.
Snape grabbed a handful of silvery powder and threw it into the ornate fireplace behind his desk; bright green flames roared into life. Snape stepped into them without a second thought, snarling "Headmaster's Office" as he did so.
He caught glimpses of various classrooms before they rushed past in a blur of colour, eventually coming to a stop at a large, circular room.
He stepped out into the beautiful office, full of noises coming from curious silver instruments all scattered along the shelves. Portraits upon portraits hung on the walls, filled with previous Headmasters and Headmistresses. Albus Dumbledore was sat at his desk, watching Snape curiously.
"Has he run already?"
Snape stared questioningly at the headmaster.
"Sorry?"
"Harry," answered Dumbledore, standing up from his desk. "Is he making his way here already?"
"You – you knew he would run?" Snape stared at the man, ludicrously.
"I had a strong feeling he might, yes," nodded Dumbledore, looking slightly saddened.
"Then why put him through it in the first place?" Snape moved to stand in front of the large desk. "I told you I didn't think it was a good idea!"
Dumbledore looked apologetically at the potions master.
"I know, Severus, I just thought I'd give Harry the chance, see if he could cope –"
"Well he couldn't. He practically flew out of my classroom, poor –" Snape stopped suddenly.
"Poor boy?" Dumbledore's eyes began to twinkle slightly. "You do care, Severus."
"I do not." Snape ignored the small smile playing on Dumbledore's lips and glared at the door. "He should be here any moment."
"I think it would be best if you were absent from this meeting, Severus, just while I calm him down."
"And yet you seemed to think it best to allow him to come into my classroom? I'm not going anywhere –"
"Severus haven't you left a classroom full of fourth years unattended? Should you not return to them?" Dumbledore looked pleadingly at the man.
Snape glared at him.
"I will return in 20 minutes."
A sharp rap on the door startled them both, Dumbledore returning to his seat behind his desk.
"Come in, Harry."
The door opened immediately and a panting Harry Potter appeared, glancing quickly around the room, his eyes stopping on Snape.
"Not to worry, Potter, I was just leaving." Snape stepped into the fireplace, green flames springing up around him. "30 points from Gryffindor for leaving my classroom without permission. Potion Master's Office." Snape was engulfed by the flames and vanished, leaving the grate smoking slightly.
"Would you like to sit down, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, softly, the office door closing with a soft click.
Harry moved towards the desk, still staring at the place where Snape had vanished.
"A glass of water? Pumpkin Juice?" offered Dumbledore, getting up from his desk and moving to a battered looking cabinet.
"N-nothing," coughed Harry, his throat dry. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Fine?" questioned Dumbledore, eyebrow slightly raised.
"Well, not thirsty." Harry watched Dumbledore retake his seat, looking away as their eyes met.
"Harry, do you want to –"
"No."
Harry knew Dumbledore was going to ask him if he 'wanted to talk about it.' Now Snape was out of the room Harry felt very foolish. How stupid had he been? Running to the Headmaster like a scared little baby.
"Sorry, Professor, I –"
The office door flew open and a rather dishevelled Ferro emerged, looking as though he had run a great distance.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm sorry to barge in like this but I've just seen Harry running away from the dungeons and I wondered whether you'd seen –" Ferro stopped as he caught sight of Harry, "– whether you'd seen him…"
Harry smiled timidly at Ferro, who looked relieved to see him.
"Please, take a seat, Andrew," offered Dumbledore. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer to talk alone, Harry?" They both looked at him expectantly, Ferro hesitating in the doorway.
"No, it's fine. Sit down, Professor." Harry gestured to the chair next to him. Ferro closed the door and sat next to Harry, looking slightly like a naughty schoolboy.
Dumbledore watched the two of them for a moment before standing up and moving over to Fawkes; his feathers gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, the healthiest Harry had seen him for a while.
"Harry, I know you don't wish to talk about it," sighed Dumbledore, stroking a hand down Fawkes' back, "but we must address the issue of Professor Snape."
"In all seriousness Professor, Snape's always been an issue," shrugged Harry, finally calming down enough to realise how silly he'd been.
"Professor Snape, Harry," corrected Dumbledore sternly, though there was a slight glint in his eyes.
"Sorry," mumbled Harry, his turn to look like a naughty schoolboy. "But I realise now that I overreacted if that's what you mean?" he looked up at Dumbledore questioningly.
"You did no such thing, Harry," assured Dumbledore as he ruffled his hand across Fawkes' head before returning to his seat. "Your reaction was completely understandable, if not predictable." Dumbledore looked apologetically at Harry from across the desk. "I should have arranged a meeting between yourself and Professor Snape in private, that way all of this stress could have been avoided."
"It's fine Professor, really," assured Harry. "He just took me by surprise is all, it won't happen again." I hope… thought Harry, staring intently at the floor.
"Pardon the interruption," Ferro raised a hand to catch Harry's attention, "but when you ran past me in the hall you looked very distressed, Harry. You don't have to put on a brave face," Ferro looked at him intently, his eyes kind but his mouth turned downward with worry. "You've been through a lot these past few days."
Harry knew they were only trying to make him feel better, but he couldn't help feeling like such a baby. Sat here while his two professors fretted and worried over him, all because he'd run when faced with a man who had tried to kill him... Come to think of it, maybe he hadn't overreacted?
"Harry? Did you hear me?"
Harry snapped out of his thoughts and met Dumbledore's concerned gaze.
"Sorry Professor, no." Harry shook his head, looking sheepish.
Dumbledore's gaze softened slightly.
"Professor Snape did not wish to harm you Harry." Even though Dumbledore's voice was full of sincerity, Harry wasn't convinced – this obviously showed on his face as Dumbledore continued. "I know the two of you have never really seen eye to eye –" Harry couldn't help the short snort of laughter "–but," continued Dumbledore, ignoring Harry, "Professor Snape would never, never try to harm you, Harry, you must realise that?"
"I realise that he was probably going to try and kill me that night because Voldemort ordered him to." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Sorry, I…" His voice trailed off as Dumbledore continued to stare at him.
"Harry, Professor Snape is working as a spy for me. Or have you forgotten that?"
In all honesty, Harry had completely forgotten that. "I-I..." He couldn't find the words he was looking for. Sure, Snape said he was on Dumbledore's side, but none of them had seen the way Snape moved towards him, the anger in his eyes. That couldn't be fake, could it?
"But he didn't try to save me at all! He was going to kill me!" Harry couldn't believe Dumbledore thought Snape capable of wanting to save him. "If Whisp-" he stopped himself, "wh-whatever that thing was that saved me hadn't appeared he'd have killed me soon as look at me!"
"Harry that was all part of the act!" opposed Dumbledore, looking pleadingly at Harry. "How can you expect Voldemort to accept Snape as one of his own if he's not willing to follow orders?"
"No matter how hideous they are," added Ferro with a grimace. "Professor Snape is a good man, Harry. He would never harm you, he'll only ever protect you."
Ferro did have a point. Harry had lasted 3 years at Hogwarts, and despite the fact that his Professor despised him and him his Professor, Snape had never actually laid a hand on Harry or hurt him in any way, not even that night in the forest. Perhaps he was on Dumbledore's side? Harry tried to ignore the memories flooding into his mind of Snape's angry face, his raised wand ready to curse him.
"Potter, don't be so dramatic. I was never going to attack you."
Harry's head whipped to the fireplace as Snape emerged from the emerald green flames.
"H-how did you-"
"And if you'd like to recall I promised you I would get you out of there, so do not question where my loyalties lie." Harry watched as the man drew nearer, his words stirring a memory of Snape lying to Voldemort, informing him Harry was knocked out...
"Severus, do you really have to keep sneaking up on the boy?" asked Ferro, rubbing his eyes and shaking his head slightly.
"I did not sneak, Andrew." Snape stopped next to Harry's chair and Harry looked straight ahead, still lost in his thoughts.
"Severus would you like a seat?" offered Dumbledore, raising his wand.
"No, Headmaster, I should think this will only take a few moments." Harry felt Snape's eyes boring into the side of his skull. "I assume you've convinced Potter I am indeed on the side of the Order?"
"Yes, we were just discussing it," nodded Dumbledore. He, too, was looking at Harry. Order? What Order? thought Harry, momentarily confused.
"And does Potter understand that in order for me to retain my status with the Dark Lord I had to partake in whatever he commanded?"
"Yes, I believe he does," Dumbledore answered for Harry.
Harry had only ever heard the Malfoy's call Voldemort the Dark Lord, and the fact that Snape was doing the same didn't fill him with confidence.
He could feel everyone in the room staring at him. Perhaps he had been a bit childish, bolting from the classroom like that. Snape would never hurt him, right?
"Well then, can I return to my classroom?" asked Snape, moving once again towards the fireplace.
"Harry?" Dumbledore's voice was gentle. Harry raised his eyes slowly to meet his gaze. "Do you feel comfortable enough to accompany Professor Snape back to your lesson?"
Harry took a deep breath and turned his gaze towards Snape. He locked eyes with his professor and steeled himself. If Dumbledore trusted Snape then he would too. After all, he was safe while he was at Hogwarts. Harry swallowed hard before answering.
"Yes Professor," he looked at Dumbledore once again. "I'm sorry I overacted and came running to your office. I don't know what came over me." He looked around sheepishly, feeling quite foolish once again.
"You didn't overreact, Harry," Ferro repeated Dumbledore's words, standing up and vanishing his chair.
"Professor Ferro is right, Harry," added Dumbledore. He, too, stood up and moved to stand next to Harry.
"Potter, will you be returning to my potions lesson or not?" Snape grabbed a handful of silvery powder from above the fireplace.
"Yes, Professor," answered Harry, standing up from his seat and glaring at Snape. "But if it's ok with you I'd prefer to walk down." He looked at Dumbledore for approval; he'd never enjoyed traveling by floo.
"Of course, Harry," nodded Dumbledore. "He'll meet you down there, Severus."
Snape snarled at Dumbledore's use of his name, throwing the powder into the grate and stepping into the flames.
"Five minutes, Potter." He disappeared after muttering his location, taking with him a weight Harry hadn't even realised had been in his stomach.
Harry knew he would never make it back down to the dungeons in five minutes, and he didn't plan on attempting to walk that quickly anyway.
Mirroring his thoughts, Ferro moved towards the door and opened it. "I'll walk back down with you, Harry, better hurry if you want to get there in time." Ferro smiled knowingly as Harry headed toward the door.
"Excuse me, Andrew, but I was wondering if I might speak with you a minute longer?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, waiting for Ferro's answer.
Harry saw confusion dance briefly across Ferro's face, before he composed himself once again.
"Of course, Headmaster," nodded Ferro. "You go ahead, Harry, maybe I'll catch you up."
Harry took his leave as Ferro moved towards Dumbledore's desk once again, closing the door behind him as he left.
He descended the spiral staircase much calmer than the last time he used them and emerged out into the corridor with a much clearer head. Ignoring the gargoyle as it jumped back into place Harry began the long walk back down to the dungeons.
Why on earth had he agreed to go back to his lesson? He'd done it just to prove to Snape that he wasn't scared of him, but did it have to be potions? And so far away?
He walked slowly past classroom doors, some open, some closed, catching snippets of different lessons, some sounded a lot more exciting than others. He tiptoed past an empty classroom that contained Peeves, no doubt up to no good, and turned a corner to find Mrs Norris gazing up at him.
"Shoo, I'm not doing anything wrong." She hissed at him and he refrained from giving her a well-earned kick as he moved past her, descending a flight of stairs and heading towards the entrance hall. Had he really run all this way? He passed a large statue of a headless troll and rounded yet another corner. He glanced at his watch and noted that his five minutes were up. He wondered how many points Snape would deduct when he showed up late, grimacing at the thought of having to walk in there and face his classmates. He had literally run from their professor – there was no way the Slytherins would let him live this down.
He rounded a final corner and emerged into the entrance hall, the front doors open wide to let the last of the autumn sun in, warm on his face as he headed across the hall to the staircase down to the dungeons. It would be winter soon and Harry was very much looking forward to the snow that was sure to come. Winter at Hogwarts was always one of Harry's favourite seasons.
"I like the winter too, funnily enough."
Harry nearly fell down the steps, grappling with the stone wall as he spun around.
Silhouetted faintly by the light from the entrance hall and by the dim candlelight radiating from the walls was none other than Whisper, his icy blue eyes looking down at Harry from a few steps above.
"Whisper?!" he hissed, glancing around warily, waiting for someone to step out of the shadows and find them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He descended to where Harry was standing and looked at him innocently. "I wanted to check you were ok."
"I-I'm fine," stuttered Harry, his poor heart once again returning to a steady pace. "How did you know there was something wrong?" he asked, confused and slightly worried that Whisper seemed to know so much about him all the time.
"Intuition," shrugged Whisper. At least, Harry assumed he shrugged – it was hard to tell Whisper apart form the stone wall in such poor lighting.
"Oh, well, yeah, I'm fine now, just had a little panic but I'm over it," whispered Harry quickly, sure that someone would find them at any moment.
"Ah, excellent!" Harry saw Whisper's mouth turn up into a smile. "So what got you panicked?"
"Uh, look Whisper, I'm already late for my lesson and I don't think this is the best place to be having a conversation – anyone could walk down here and find us –"
Harry stopped as he saw Whisper's face drop, his eyes loosing some of their light.
"Sorry Harry, you're right. It was stupid of me to stop you. I'll let you get back to your lesson." Whisper looked at the floor and fell silent.
Harry stared at his newfound friend, unsure of what to do.
"How about we talk this evening," he ventured, "in the Gryffindor common room, after everyone's gone to bed?" He really didn't want to leave Whisper feeling sad, let alone be the cause of his sadness. He had saved his life, after all, the least Harry could do was be a friend to him.
Whisper's head snapped up, a wide grin on his charcoal face.
"See you there, Harry!" his eyes crinkled with his smile. "Don't be late for your lesson!"
Harry glanced at his watch and noted he was now fifteen minutes late. At least it was a double period…
He looked up once again and found that Whisper had vanished, he checked up and down the corridor but couldn't see him anywhere. Hoping his friend would be able to keep out of trouble, he headed towards the end of the corridor and found himself outside their classroom door.
He gulped once and pushed the door open.
"Ah, Mr Potter, finally decided to grace us with your presence." Snape glared at him as he stood in the doorway. "Forty points from Gryffindor, now sit down."
And in that moment, Snape went from being an evil death eater intent on killing him at every opportunity, straight back to his old self.
An incredibly ugly, disgustingly slimy, greasy haired git.
OK WORLD I'M BACK AND I'M LOVING LIFE. First things first I'm so sorry I left this story all by itself I'm a horrible human being it actually won't happen again I can see how I'm going to end the story now I have it all planned out on various bits of paper like seriously my room is a mess oh my god I'll never leave you guys again. Secondly I apologise for this chapter - it's very short and to be honest it's not very good... For some reason I struggled SO much writing this chapter and I'm just so happy it's over and out of the way, I can finally enjoy writing this fic again! Thirdly if you've read this far into the story thank you so much for taking the time to do so, it means the world to know that someone somewhere is enjoying it (hopefully you're enjoying it...?) But yeah, thanks once again. I'm back from the dead and I'm a little writing machine so be warned, adventure is coming your way! (Also apologies for the last sentence of that chapter - it's super childish I know but it just seemed like a fun way to end such a dull but necessary chapter...) ^-^ THANK YOU FANFIC FAMILY I LOVE YOU 3