Chapter 38: Confidant

The other man was silent, and Harry turned back around. Severus was staring at him, face unreadable. Harry pressed on. "It's been happening since my fifth year. I have these dreams, and they happen, I…I gave a prophecy about Voldemort dying…it happened, I get these feelings, and I'm always…" Harry bowed his head. "Not many people know." He whispered.

Severus sighed, holding him close. "It's okay. This…this is just another thing to deal with. Is…it bad?"

Harry shook his head. "I've been lucky. It's only helped me so far mostly, of course I See some awful things sometimes, but it wasn't any worse than Voldemort's things…there's something here I need to…find out. I don't know."

"What is it?"

"I don't know yet. When I find it, I'll know." Harry said simply, looking around the room.

Severus looked around as well, going to the desk and looking through the papers. They spent some time searching. They found a large collection of astronomy charts, and layouts for the school, some notes on the wards built around it…

Harry paused as he skimmed the bookshelves, blinking as he saw a scroll and journal bundled together. He grabbed them and went to the desk, unfurling the scroll.

The priestess resides on the Mount of Parnassus

That was it. Nothing else was written on the scroll. He frowned slightly. He knew this was what he was to find here. But…

"Did you find something?"

"Just this." Harry said with a slight frown. Severus leant over his shoulder, and Harry glanced over at the man.

"Looks like a fidelis charm perhaps."

"This is what I was supposed to find. But what priestess? And where the hell is the Mount of Parnassus?"

Severus sighed. "It's in Greece. There's a colony of nymphs nearby, and its one of the largest supply of olive trees that are harvested for wand wood and potions ingredients."

"Oh. But this priestess has to be dead by now…"

"The fidelis is still active, or the parchment would have been destroyed. It probably transferred over to whomever became priestess after her… No, if it is a priestess, they're usually in some sort of temple…" Severus trailed off.

"No, it couldn't be." He whispered.

"What?" Harry asked, biting his lip.

Severus sighed, sitting on the bed, looking thoughtful. "There's this old legend about the Oracle of Delphi, but they were never able to find the place where she was rumored to be. I heard it was hidden away back in 300's when the Christians overran all the temples over there. No one knew where the place went off to, the magical world just assumed it went under Fidelis, but no one ever found it."

"Well…this could be it then." Harry said quietly. "But why would she have this slip then?" He sat down next to Severus on the bed and handed it over to the man.

"Don't know." He glanced towards Harry. "You want to go, don't you?"

Harry didn't answer. He took the slip away from Severus' hand carefully, kissing him soundly. He didn't know why he wanted to kiss the man right now, it seemed so urgent all of a sudden, in this old room…Severus closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Harry's form, mind going haywire, running a hand through his hair. Severus took dominance of the kiss, cradling Harry's head, pushing the boy slowly down on the bed.

Harry wrapped his arms around Severus neck, feeling a hand push his robes open, unbuttoning his shirt quickly. Harry bit his lip as lips trailed down his neck, and he felt Severus unbutton his pants and pull them off, yanking his shirt off quickly.

Harry watched the man pull off his own robes, kneeling on the bed, their eyes locked, his heart pounding. Severus got on top of him and Harry groaned into a harsh kiss. Hands ran all over his skin and felt him self being swept away by the sensations, he'd wanted this so much…

He cried out as he felt himself being prepared and entered gently, and Harry gripped Severus' shoulders tightly as they steadied their selves. He looked into Severus' eyes. The man had such a look of concentration on his face, and his eyes were shining…

Harry threw his head back as Severus began to move, hands biting into his thighs. Harry moved up to kiss him deeply, and Harry felt Severus move, hands sliding to his back, holding him up slightly. Harry arched his back and groaned as Severus started to go faster, grabbing him and moving in time.

Harry cried out as he came, and Severus continued to move inside Harry, lowering his head and kissing his scarred collarbone and shoulder. Severus came after a renewed burst of movement, and he met Harry's eyes, both men panting.

Harry smiled faintly, running a hand through the man's hair. Severus closed his eyes, lowering his head once more on Harry's shoulder while they caught their breath. He pulled away and lied down next to Harry, gathering the boy in his arms. Harry put his head on Severus' shoulder with a sigh.

It was dead silent in the room now, and Harry glanced up slightly to see Severus' eyes closed. "Sleep. Just for a bit." Severus murmured. Harry snuggled in a bit more, closing his eyes.

He woke less than an hour later as light started to fill the room. All the lamps had turned off. Severus was looking at him with a slight smile, running his hand over his hip. "We have to leave soon." Harry sat up reluctantly, feeling very vulnerable and…very naked. He'd lost his virginity last night without a second thought. He glanced over at Severus as the man sat up as well. What on earth had they done? Oh Merlin, was Severus going to regret this?

"This cant happen again while you're still my student Harry." Severus said quietly, kissing his forehead.

"I know. I just…I don't know what I was thinking. It…just felt right, I love you so much, and I just..." Harry murmured, heart pounding, wanting to make the man believe him.

Severus ran a hand through Harry's hair, their eyes meeting. "I know. It did feel right." He pulled Harry close and hugged him tightly. "I love you." Severus murmured softly. Harry looked up, smile growing. "But we cannot do this again while you are my student. I mean it." Severus said. Harry nodded, pulling away.

"I understand." He watched the man dress quickly. Severus glanced around. "Where's the slip?"

Harry's eyes widened and he looked around the bed and sheets, then looking around the floor. "I…I can't find it! I…I'll come back later and look."

Severus nodded, doing the last of his buttons. "Get dressed. I'll leave first, you wait twenty minutes, then you leave. You'll have enough time to get ready for the day and get to breakfast." Harry nodded, grabbing his clothes.

Severus gave him one last once over before kissing him deeply once more. "I'll see you later." Harry nodded dazedly before Severus strode out of the room.

Harry sighed, looking around the bed. "Shit." He murmured. He dressed quickly, then searched for the slip a bit more. He still couldn't find it, and he gave up, hoping he would be able to find it later.

He walked back to his room quickly, glad that the halls were still empty. He went into his room, jumping as he saw two Unspeakables there. He put a hand to his chest. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" He went to his closet, grabbing a set of fresh school robes.

"I don't have much time, I have to get to class soon…"

"There were a slew of prophecies made about the Chosen One again last night."

Harry froze, looking back at them, his heart pounding.

They stared at him calmly. "You've met your Dark Protector."

Harry dropped his robes from his hands, feeling numb. "Please…what did…what did they say?"

"They are quite vague otherwise, but it is a good omen for you." Harry sighed in relief, picking them back up.

"Thank you. Is there anything else?"

"You will be travelling this summer. But none of the seers can say where you are going. Where are you going?"

Harry gulped. "I…cant say. It's protected." He really was unable to say it, and he had a feeling he shouldn't tell them even if he could.

Both Unspeakables sighed. "Very well then. Report your findings to us when you get back-"

Harry frowned. It felt strange that they gave up so quickly…"Hey, now wait just a minute, I might not find anything at all, and I really don't work for you, so I don't have to tell you anything."

They just stared at him. "Of course. If you feel you ought not to, then it is best that you do not tell at this time." They both disappeared, leaving Harry very confused.

--

With everything going on, Harry couldn't find time to go back to the room. Not only was he working on all of his regular homework, he was still continuing with DA, and that was…crazy.

The kids were doing well, it just…was getting to be overwhelming. Not only that, he had to start working on his final projects for his classes, and try to start studying for his NEWTs. Moody kept piling things on him, and Malfoy was acting very oddly towards him. Neville and the others had grown just as busy with class work and things like he did, and it seemed like the only time they could get together was to study.

It was nearly April when he finally had a chance to visit Rowena's chambers again. He looked around the room and sighed. It was mid afternoon, and he'd told everyone he'd gone off to take a nap. He glanced to the bed, remembering about the night he and Severus had… he looked away.

Severus and he hadnt spent hardly any time alone together, and barely talked. Harry knew the man was trying to keep his job, so he could hardly blame him. He walked around the study silently for a moment, then looked back to the bed. He search all around it, looking for the slip. He had this feeling it didn't want to be found. Maybe it was better off that only he and Severus knew where it was.

There had to be a reason for it.

He straightened back up and limped over to the desk. He spotted the book that the slip had been attached to and looked at it thoughtfully. It might provide some answers…he sat down in a chair and opened the book, flipping through the pages, scanning through them.

He stopped, staring for a moment and reread the page.

I left on my sabbatical last night. I know the others were sad to see me go, but I had to. I even left my daughter there at the school. I have this awful feeling something will happen to me on this journey, and I cannot bear for her to be hurt. When I die, my journal will return to my room, in hopes that my daughter may find it one day with Salazar's boy.

I wanted to take Salazar with me, but I feared for him as well, and it would not be proper for us to travel alone together. He is needed there at the school.

--

I've nearly arrived at my destination, I'm in the Valley of Phocis now, it is beautiful. I ran into a group of vampires, who were oddly glad to help me find my way. Mount Parnassus is beautiful in the distance, even at night. I hope the Oracle will see me. When I came into possession of the location when my mother died, I was so surprised. After years of research, I figured out what it must have led to.

I'm scared to see what I'll find there, but I'm hopeful as well.

I miss Salazar, I long for him to be with me.

These long nights and days of traveling make me think of all of them at the school, how they are doing. Are Godric and Salazar still bickering? I know I was the only thing that kept Salazar from cursing the man to bits. Is my daughter continuing her studies? She should be 13 soon, perhaps I can be back before her next birthday.

It makes me nervous to be alone in this journey. I fear the muggle Christians I come across, they look at me strangely. It is strange for a woman to travel alone, especially with the way I look. Muggles are so dirty and uncouth in comparison to us…

--

I've arrived at my destination this morning. I see the temple now. I'm scared. I don't know why. Salazar would have loved this. I'm afraid to enter, but the temple looks marvelous. It was just like I read, the olive trees are everywhere…

I don't know what to ask of her. She will only permit one question…but I am the holder of the location. Surely the temple has not had many visitors…but magic does work in mysterious ways.

Harry flipped to the next page and frowned. It was blank. He flipped through the pages through the rest of the book…completely blank.

His eyes narrowed as he saw something scrawled messily on the back cover, it looked like it was hurriedly written.

Tell Salazar I love him.

The last letter as trailed off jerkily, off the edge of the cover. Harry stared at it for the longest time. She had died. And that was her last words, so to speak. Harry closed the book silently. He was going this summer. He…needed Severus to go with him. He felt it strongly in his gut, the man had to come.

He took a deep shuddering sigh and stood. He would come back another day.

--

Oh, the sappiness. I hope you like the snarry...