Summary: Severus has never done anything for anyone, but what will he do for one small boy named Harry.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
A/N: Of course it is AU. I also would like to thank my beta Nita
Chapter 37
Severus woke up feeling even worse than before he had fallen asleep. His dreams had been plagued with visions of the numerous people he had hurt in his past; the cold, dead stares of his victims. He went into the loo and took his time, trying to wash away the feeling of pain in his joints that seemed to seep into his very bones. He felt horrible, and he knew Harry fared no better. Harry ... he wanted to check on Harry before he started off to the lab again.
Harry had been tossing and turning, moaning even in his sleep, clutching at his head. His sleep was disturbed by pain that couldn't be helped. He had cried out for Severus many times, but there was nothing Severus could do but hold him. Harry had finally fell into a deep sleep, but even then, his whimpers hurt the very core of Severus' soul.
Shaking his head clear of the many nights before, Severus made his way to Harry's room, and opened the door. At first sight, he saw the rumpled covers on the bed, but after moving closer, he found that Harry was not underneath them. Panic set in, and his wand was in his hand instantly, a locator spell on the tip of his tongue. The only thing that stopped him was a very distraught Gertrude popping into the room.
Severus didn't need to be told the house elf knew something. He lowered his wand, and with a fearful look asked, "Where is he?"
Gertrude was wringing her hands, over and over, and Severus could see the traces of burn marks on them.
"You must tell me, Gertrude! He cannot be alone right now. He is vulnerable to everyone."
Severus was livid with the house elf who was still silent, and yet he knew that she would never purposely harm Harry. Severus knelt down so that he was closer to eye level.
"You must tell me where Harry has gone. I am not angry with you, but I must find him."
Gertrude could see the intense fear in her Master's eyes. He had never appeared scared before, and she couldn't keep what she knew from him.
"Gertrude is seeing Master Harry going to the floo."
Severus ran from the room and down the hall to the sitting room, but he stopped in his tracks. He realized he had no idea where Harry had gone. His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Gertrude tapped him on the arm, her own hand full of floo powder. Severus looked at her questioning, but he didn't have to wonder long as Gertrude threw in the floo powder and called out Surrey, before pushing him into the floo.
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Harry stumbled out of the floo, his knees buckling as he tried to stand. He had to get to the bookstore, but it was at the end of the street, and right now, that seemed like such a long walk. Harry got to his feet, hoping that he could find some strength as his vision was blurring even with his glasses on. It was then he saw the little boy standing by the window, his hand in his Dad's, and Harry began the long walk down the street.
Severus, on the other hand, was disoriented for a second, until he fell forward from the floo and realized where he was. Standing up, he tried to compose himself enough to not startle anyone, but truly, he didn't care at this point. Harry was his only concern, but once he stepped out into the street, he realized he had no idea where Harry was going.
Harry knew exactly where he was going, and he knew he would get there no matter what. He was never more relieved when he saw the bookstore in front of him, and the cool breeze that hit him when he went through the door felt wonderful on his fever ravaged skin. It didn't take him long to find the shelf, but now the book seemed so far away. Normally it wouldn't have been a problem to climb the shelf as he had done before, but every muscle in his body hurt. He took a deep breath and grabbed onto the lower shelf, pulling himself onto the next one till, at last, his fingertips grazed the edge of the book. Once his hands were around it, his heart began to beat faster. This was the answer to helping him and Severus.
Harry climbed back down the shelf and went to the counter. He didn't want to steal the book, but he didn't want to wait in the line either, as his head began to swim, making him feel as if he would sick up soon. He knew he wasn't long for this world, and the faster he got back to Severus, the better off they would be.
Sucking in a breath, Harry opened the door to the bookstore. He felt guilty, but there wasn't enough guilt to keep him from trying to get back to Severus as fast as he could. His legs began to move with some new found strength. Harry was running now, though he was no longer focusing on anything but getting back to the floo. That is why he didn't notice he was about to run into someone, and not someone he would want to.
Harry was jolted to a stop as he collided with the beggar. The man was shabbily dressed, his clothes in need of repair, and his face and hands dirty. This would have made anyone else struggle to get far away, but for a second, Harry felt sorry for the man, knowing how it felt to be cast aside. That is, until he saw who was staring back at him: the shopkeeper!
Harry began to struggle as the grip on his arm became firmer.
"You ... you are the one that cost me my shop! I lost everything because of you," he ranted at Harry.
Harry was trying to pry his arm free from the man, but he couldn't. He did, however, grip the book closer to him, holding it close to his chest.
"I didn't mean to, honest! I never wanted to make you lose your shop. It was all a mistake, sir. Please, let me go. I have somewhere I need to be."
The shopkeeper smiled, showing teeth that had turned a ghastly yellow tinge from lack of brushing. A sense of calm came over him, it seemed, and that frightened Harry more than the shouting. People were beginning to stare at them, but this did nothing to deter him. Harry was scared, and he felt the small amount of energy draining from him and darkness calling. This made him struggle even more, trying to break free, trying to get the book back to Severus.
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Severus wandered into the third store, but still no sight of Harry. His heart was pounding, his grip on his wand growing firmer. If any harm had come to the boy, he would never forgive himself for his lack of attention. Severus realized more and more how important Harry had become to him. Before Harry, he would have not bothered to spend countless hours explaining in detail the inner workings of how dragons were raised, and how their eggs were used in potions. Before, he wouldn't have ever been caught dead in a toy store, much less picking out stuffed animals according to how cuddly they were. Severus knew he had changed, and hopefully for the better. There was still much to learn, but he would learn with Harry's help.
As he rounded the corner, he saw a scuffle going on, but what caught his attention was the small pair of shoes; the shoes he had helped pick out because the dragons on them lit up when you walked.
Severus forgot about being tired, forgot about the headache flaring to the point that he thought his head would implode on itself. His only thoughts were that someone was hurting Harry. Before he could give himself time to rethink the idea and the repercussions, Severus had his wand out and pointed at the shopkeeper.
"You will release my son, now!"
"This little shite caused me to lose everything! I will have my justice on him."
The shopkeeper held Harry tighter against him, making it harder and harder to breathe.
Severus was without any remorse at the moment. He had nothing to lose, as he and Harry were dying, but it would not be by this man's hand. He would not have the last thing he saw be the fear in his son's eyes.
"Release him now, and your life shall be spared. Continue, and I will have no choice but to curse you."
Harry started clawing at the man's arm now, knowing his father would do just as he promised. Even though he never feared Severus now, he also knew that the man could and would kill if he had no other choice or felt as if he didn't. His service to the Dark Lord had proven this.
"Please sir, just let me go. I never meant any harm to you."
The man looked as if he would relent for a second or two, but the pure malice of his heart was too much. Severus raised his wand again, aiming for the man, and the words of the curse were on the edge of his tongue. The man seemed to realize it as well, and his grip on Harry lessened a bit.
"How can you help me? How can you ever think to undo the damage you have caused?"
Before Severus could say anything, the man who he had given money to the orphanage stepped forward from the crowd. His hand came to rest on the arm of the shopkeeper. Everyone else in the crowd cringed, hoping that the man had not made a fatal mistake, but the look in his eyes sent a message that he intended no harm.
As the man pried the shopkeeper's hands free, Harry slowly crept away, then lunged towards his father, who was still standing with his wand ready to kill. Severus felt every muscle in his body go numb, knowing what he had just about done in front of Harry, no less. It wasn't till he felt the small arms wrap around his waist that he snapped from his stupor. Severus blinked twice and then picked Harry up and ran towards the shop with the floo.
Harry didn't have time to tell his father anything before he was shoved inside the fireplace and fell out the other end. Gertrude was hopping up and down at the sight of them both. He had only moments before been manhandled, and was still reeling from that, when Severus turned on him.
"What were you thinking? Have you no idea how hard it is to keep the magical world from finding out your whereabouts?"
When Harry didn't answer, Severus went on as he paced back and forth in front of Harry.
"It is not enough I have Lucius trying to kill us both, but if Albus Dumbledore ever finds out that you are not at Number four Privet Drive, then I will wish Lucius had killed me sooner. The quiet old headmaster is quite a dueler when provoked, and I believe he would find my transgression to be the last straw."
"Wouldn't he be happy that I am safe now?" Harry questioned, forgetting that he was holding the book.
Severus peered down at Harry, his head pounding more and more with each thought of the consequences of crossing Albus.
"He thinks you safe there. Your mother's blood protects you from those who wish you harm, and since I removed you, now ... now Lucius...I have killed you! My decision shall be the end for us both. How could I be so naive as to think I could protect you? Why didn't I kill him years ago?! Why did I let him ruin my life again?!" Severus screamed, thinking of the traitor, Lucius.
Harry was scared now, but he ventured closer to Severus, even though Gertrude was shaking her head no. Harry wondered for a split second if Gertrude would protect him if Severus hurt him, but one look into those onyx eyes told him his father would rather die than harm him.
"Everything will work out," he said before collapsing to his knees, the adrenalin wearing off, and the hex coursing through his veins, draining his energy.
Severus wanted to scream, to yell to the heavens if they would listen. This was not fair, it couldn't be. He was trying to do something good, and all he had done was mess things up.
"Harry, I never meant for your life to turn out this way. I only wanted to bring you some happiness, to show you that there is someone who would care and love you."
Harry turned bleary eyes to him. "You have given me that. There is no need to worry. I have the answer, or at least I think I do."
At the questioning look from Severus, Harry pushed the book towards him. There was no need to tell him where to look, for the page was bookmarked, from the last time he had perused it.
Severus didn't know what foolish nonsense his son was spouting, but he looked down nonetheless and gasped at what he saw. The book was tarnished, the pages brittle with age, but the writing was clear, and it told him that there was a chance left for him and Harry. A sense of urgency flooded him, and he began barking orders to Gertrude.
"Go to my lab and set up my cauldrons, not the regular ones, the stainless steel ones I have in the cupboard. Fetch me also my dragonhide gloves, and the ingredients listed on this page. I shall be there in a few minutes."
Gertrude left to follow her Master's orders and Severus knelt down next to Harry, who by this time was almost asleep.
"I think I will get you to bed, and see if I can't fix this problem that I started."
He gathered Harry in his arms with the little strength he had left, knowing he would need a Pepper Up potion just to stay on his feet to brew.
As carefully as he could, he placed Harry on the bed, knowing Harry's joints and muscles hurt as much as his. Even though Harry had been eating as of late, his frame was almost skeletal from the curse, and it was a sight that made Severus' heart clinch in his chest. So much pain, so much suffering and yet the boy was still smiling up at him.
"How is it that you can smile through all of this?" Severus had to know how one could keep their spirits up through all of this.
Harry curled up underneath the covers, knowing they would bring no heat to him, but doing it more from habit than anything else.
"Because I am happy."
"How?" Severus implored.
"You gave me things I have never had. I've never seen a Christmas tree before, or had new clothes. You even didn't yell when you found out I took all the spoons out and made tunnels for my cars in the ditch. You're my Dad, and that was all I ever wanted."
Severus leaned over and kissed Harry lightly on the forehead, knowing if he stayed any longer, he may not be able to hold back the flood of tears. He had a potion to brew, and while he was working on it, he would be thinking of how to eradicate Lucius Malfoy and lie to Albus Dumbledore.
A/N: See you next week!