A New Place To Stay

Chapter 51

A Few Weeks Go By


Three nearly four weeks had gone by in the blink of an eye. October was almost behind them and the weather was steadily getting colder. Which it had been doing already for the past month or so, thankfully Hogwarts was always warm, she must have warming spells woven into her walls. Although when the harsher weather begun, you could tell it wasn't enough to heat anyone up. On Monday Harry had met with Dumbledore, as the Headmaster had once again demanded. Learning more about Voldemort's 'personality' keeping up his Potter persona near Dumbledore was becoming tedious. Severus wasn't any happier with Dumbledore either, especially with what Harry was 'learning' while in the old fool's company. Or it might be to do with the lack of sleep as of late. He'd spent a great deal of his time in the Potions lab, the only time Harry saw him lately had been when they had lessons together. Or according to the entire Hogwarts inhabitants 'Detention' for the smallest thing.

The only thing about the past few weeks was Draco Malfoy; he was quiet, too quiet by far. He was avoiding him like last year all over again, and frankly Harry was worried about what he was up to. He was marked, a Death Eater, just what was he up to? Harry made sure not to eat or drink anything he hadn't checked for potions or spells; he didn't trust the boy as far as he could throw him. Sure people deserved a second chance, but that's only if they changed, learned the errors of their ways (a bit like Hermione and Ron). Unfortunately they hadn't learned, they'd just continued to try and get him to forget about it and move on, and be his friend again. Ron following him everywhere last year and Hermione's jealousy. If he'd wanted to forgive them…he couldn't not when they were being the way they were with him.

Luna and Neville were in the library, planning on going to the ROR for a while later, but Harry had 'detention' with Severus again. He made sure to be seen going to the classroom, before donning his cloak and making his way to his 'dad's' quarters in silence. Zar was out, had been for a week nearly much to his worry, but he knew Zar could take care of himself. He was actually more worried about everyone in Hogwarts; he didn't want the rumours of second year happening all over again. Zar had grown up so fast and so soon, he missed him when he wasn't there, but considering the alternative he was lucky he knew that. If he hadn't found the familiar bonding spell, Zar would have had to go into the chamber. He had been too big to wander around with him anymore.

"Hi," said Harry wandering in surprised to see Severus sitting there, the Marauders map open on his lap. He put his cloak on the peg at the door and sat down. "No training?" Severus shook his head negatively, and Harry couldn't help but feel surprised. Severus was a meticulous man; he liked order in his life, and did the same things every week. He'd realized why though, since he lacked control anywhere else, especially with Voldemort, he liked to create his own elsewhere.

"I have the potion to remove the Horcrux perfected," said Severus, he'd been trying to order Phoenix tears, for weeks but none had been available on the market. Not even the allure of getting five grams of Basilisk skin had tempted anyone he knew to admit they had any. Just when he'd given up all hope to get the second potion started never mind completed when Fawkes appeared in his workroom. Now he had an entire vial of tears, only two drops had been necessary for the second potion. The rest he'd use sparingly, after all, its not often phoenix's willing cried for anyone.

"Okay," said Harry staring at his dad shrewdly, he didn't look the slightest bit happy, and he'd just invented a potion. He might be tired, but Harry somehow didn't think that was the problem. "What's wrong am I going to have to die for it to work?" joked Harry.

"Yes," said Severus staring at Harry with a blank look on his face, hiding the worry he was feeling to such a degree he didn't want to give Harry the potion to remove the soul fragment.

"What?" cried Harry in surprise, that wasn't the response he'd been hoping for! And there wasn't even a note of sarcasm in his voice, he was serious. Harry stared at his dad pale and clammy, not sure about the turn of events today. If there was anyone he trusted it was him…but dying to remove it…well it was only in human nature to protest stubbornly against it.

"Do you trust me Harry?" asked Severus, shifting to the edge of his seat, admittedly apprehensive about Harry's reply. He'd protected Harry, trained him, given him what he wanted more than anything else in the world, would it be enough? Did Harry have enough belief him enough to go through with this?

"You know I do." said Harry bluntly, and it was true. Severus was a father figure, mentor, and psychologist all wrapped into one. He'd still be a clueless idiot today if it hadn't been for his help. Or rather a lost idiot maybe, he'd known about Dumbledore etc… but not about the Prophecy, why he was being targeted. Hell Severus had taught him everything he needed to know to survive…when Dumbledore kept telling him 'love' would save him. Harry was convinced the old fool was completely barmy by this point. On the other hand he wasn't really prepared to 'die' at least without knowing everything. "What happens?"

Severus' lips twitched, yes he could see how Harry was meant to be a Slytherin, whether he trusted him completely or not he wanted answers before they did anything. "Sit down," said Severus it would take a while, perhaps this was the best time to get something in him, who knows what would happen afterwards.

Harry plopped down on the seat arranging himself comfortably on it. "So?" enquired Harry curiously, just how was this going to play out?

"Dobby?" called Severus.

"Yes sir?" asked the house elf making an appearance, his eyes wide with excitement; he loved serving Master Severus and Harry. There was never a dull moment for the house elf, he'd had most fun watching Umbridge squirm. A tad bit more watching Dumbledore get his dues.

"Bring us some coffee, juice and something to eat," said Severus without pause or wasting time.

"Dobby will be doing that right now," said the house elf before disappearing, happy that someone was taking care of his Master Harry Potter.

"It's not as simple as our last attempt," admitted Severus, "I think I know why it's not working, it's not just stuck to your magical core, but your life as well. The potion has Basilisk venom in it, which will do what the venom always does. The second your heart stops beating the Horcrux should be leached from your core and disappear. As soon as that's happened I will administer the second potion, which has phoenix tears in it, it will heal all the damage that occurred."

"Why didn't it come away in my second year?" asked Harry thoughtfully as he laid his chin on the arm of the chair staring pensively across at Severus. "I came very close to dying."

"I have often wondered that myself, my guess is you didn't die so it didn't work." said Severus. "This time you will, and then I am going to resuscitate you once the second potion is in your system."

"You don't have to sound so calm about it," grumbled Harry moving onto his back, staring at the ceiling.

Severus chuckled "When do you ever see me panicking?" he asked wryly.

Harry just 'pft' from where he lay his stomach in knots, he wanted that piece of Voldemort out of him, but at what cost? What if it all went wrong? What if he really did die? Harry sighed; he knew he had to do this. Not only was it leaching his magic…he couldn't take the risk of Voldemort finding information about Severus. Or worse yet Voldemort actually possessing him through the soul piece.

"If you do not want to do this Harry I understand," said Severus quietly, staring at him, the waves of nervousness was radiating from him. He could understand it; he himself would never go through with what he was asking Harry. The abused part of him was probably rebelling dangerously. The part that had against all odds remained intact, the thirst for survival so strong that he'd defied the Dark Lord as many times as he had.

"It's not an option of whether I want to or not, you know that." murmured Harry resignedly.

Severus didn't respond knowing Harry was correct in that regard.

Dobby returned with their food but Harry's stomach just knotted further just seeing it.

"It will help you if you eat something Harry," said Severus spookily as if he could read Harry's thoughts. Which he knew to be impossible, his shields were always up, even when he was asleep.

"I don't think I can," said Harry turning away from the food unable to look at it.

Severus just left it; it would do no good to force Harry's hand when he was in this kind of mood. If he was honest with himself he wasn't that hungry either. He did however, take the coffee and drink it he needed all the strength he could get. He was quite frankly exhausted, the potion had required near constant supervision for an entire week. It came as no surprise to anyone that the students had paid for it. With the loss of house points only, oddly enough never giving out detentions unless it was to another teacher. Harry was the only exception he'd made, of course.

"Can we just get this over with?" said Harry, before he changed his mind was left unspoken but heard loudly as if it had been screamed.

"Alright," said Severus in agreement, strengthening his resolve before he backed out himself. He'd quadruple checked his results, he knew it would work. Otherwise he wouldn't dare risk Harry's life, he wasn't Dumbledore he'd never set out on a half cocked schemes. Or waste time teaching Harry about the Dark Lord's personality as a young boy, he was insane now that's all Harry needed to know. The potions were lying on the table looking innocent enough if they both didn't already know what was inside one of them. Zar's basilisk venom.

"This one first," said Severus his heartbeat beating through the roof but he gave no indication of his worry.

Harry took the potion and pried the cork out, shivering slightly; if this was anything like second year…he was going to be in agony. He had to do this, he didn't want Voldemort's soul in him, and he didn't want more visions or anything that could come through his shields. Closing his eyes, his mind drifted to Luna, Neville, and Severus…Merlin help him, the things he did for people he cared about. With that he swallowed the potion in one swift motion; the pain started immediately completely incapacitating Harry. He fell to the floor, a tortured moan of agony leaving his lips as he began twitching in anguish.

Severus crouched down next Harry, the other potion right next to him along with his wand. His mask abandoned as he watched Harry suffer in silence. Holding him in place as he tried to futility help his son ride out the pain. He could give nothing to him, nothing that would help in any case. Venom was far too strong for even the strongest pain relief to work; it would just burn out within seconds.

Harry wanted to die, he couldn't take it anymore, it hadn't been this painful back in his second year. Each breath was a struggle to get into his lungs as his heart began to slow beat by beat. He wanted to shout to Severus, to tell him to put him out of his misery; he just couldn't do it, that he was sorry he wasn't strong enough. Unfortunately his mouth just didn't want to cooperate, it was clenched so tightly shut he couldn't scream like he wanted to. It seemed as though it had gone on for hours, then to his sweet relief he could feel the pain stopping, had it worked? Had he died? Then with one last thump of his heart it gave out, and Harry was lost to oblivion…his thoughts ceased.

Fear he'd never experienced before, not even on that faithful Halloween night coursed through him, when Harry abruptly stopped breathing. There was no flash of light, no nothing to indicate a soul fragment was coming away. Praying he hadn't put Harry though this for nothing, he poured the potion down Harry's unresisting throat before continuous casting a spell to restart Harry's heart. Each second was like minutes as he worked frantically to get Harry breathing again.

Then a threatening hissing sound emanated from the corner of the room, where the opening was for Zar to come and go. His teeth were bared in an evil sadistic manner, as he came further into the room, its yellow eyes piercing Severus with what could only be described as betrayal and fury.

"Stop!" said Severus his voice strangely hoarse, "He will be fine, I promise." he was more than grateful that Zar could understand English right now; otherwise he knew the basilisk would have bitten him. He was so very loyal to Harry, and it was no wonder - Harry spoiled him.

Zar stopped coming forward, his large tongue flickering out before he declared Severus' statement as truthful. He lay there, tail swishing impatiently, breaking a table in the process - waiting on Severus bringing back his Harry.

Severus went back to Harry, doing CPR on him, not wanting to use the spell too much knowing how hard it was on the heart. Five compressions at a time, before he breathed into Harry's mouth, not allowing himself to think on anything else at the moment. He refused to, because he knew if he did he'd lose concentration and start berating himself for not finding an alternative manner to deal with the Horcrux. He knew deep down he'd exhausted all and every means he had at his disposal. Just as he began to fear Harry wouldn't respond to anything, after all it was taking too long, any longer he'd have permanent brain damage, a big shuddering breathe left Harry's lips. Severus could have laughed if he wasn't such a composed man. He was alive, that's all that mattered right now.

"Harry? Can you hear me?" asked Severus staring straight into Harry's eyes but they were glassy, which didn't surprise him he'd just technically died. "Squeeze my hand if you can understand me Harry, now." he had to know he'd not caused any permanent damage. His hand was in Harry's waiting with bated breath for some sign…anything.

Harry felt as though a truck had landed on his chest, his body was weaker than it had ever felt before. He could hear someone speaking to him…who was it? What had happened? Had he almost died again? The voice was familiar, he repeated what he was saying and finally the words finally penetrated the fog around his mind. His hand…squeeze it, surely he could do that? Harry tried he really did, but all he managed was to weakly grab onto it for a few seconds before it fell limp at his side again.

He was there, he'd squeezed his hand, good, and he breathed a sigh of relief so profoundly that he almost just lay down there next to Harry to regain his lost composure. He wanted to check if the Horcrux was gone, but he couldn't do that, not right now. Harry's mind was probably very fragile, standing up he levitated Harry onto the couch.

"Accio pain reliever," murmured Severus, grabbing it from mid air and feeding it to his barely conscious son. If he wasn't recovered by tonight they were going to have some explaining to do. At least it was the weekend; he didn't have class to worry about or teachers. Neville Longbottom wasn't one to go to the teachers; in fact all the years there he'd never once gone to one. Not even to tell the teachers that Harry, Ron and Hermione were planning on sneaking out at night. Neville kept himself to himself, trying not to draw attention to himself. Although these days it was hard not to do, since he had the limelight that came with being Harry Potter's friend, and the weight he'd lost, he was becoming a young man, one that Frank Longbottom would be proud to call his son. When he wasn't near Neville was brilliant in his class, Patronus, non-verbal magic, it was as though Harry was instilling confidence that even he couldn't shake from the boy. Not that he did, he mostly left him alone, preferring to 'target' Harry as they thought.

"Better?" enquired Severus feeling his own emotions return to normal.

Harry unable to talk, merely nodded his head, he did feel better…the pain was fading away leaving him even more lethargic than ever. Then Harry heard it, hissing…actual hissing, it broke his heart and he was unable to help the tear that ran down his face…he'd lost his ability to talk to snakes…he'd lost Zar. Then oblivion claimed him taking with it his chaotic and panicked emotions.


oh dear poor Harry :( will he still be a parseltongue? or will he have lost it completely? will using the slytherin wand give him the ability all over again? or just bring it back out after days of agonizing of unable to hear his beloved familiar? christmas is coming up...does anyone know when dumbledore actually told severus that Harry was supposed to die? will severus reveal that harry doesnt need to becuase he removed the horcrux? or will he keep quiet vowing to watch dumbledore more closely? R&R PLEASE!