Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot, Saerry Snape, and Aeyr's. Nothing more, nothing less.
MercS – Evil little bugger ain't he? *glares at Draco, who sneers in return and tries to piece his wand back together* Tough luck. NO MORE MAGIC FOR YOOOOOUUUU!!! HAAAAHAHAHAAA!!! ^-^ Ah, yes, it was fun to write Sev mad. Er, no, I had better say really really ticked off. I believe the man actually would use some really painful curses on Draco. *blinks then grins evilly* Oh, the possibilities . . . *sigh* But Sevvie is not evil. Too bad. Maybe I can put that in Locked in With a Madwoman. Ah! More possibilities! : ) I'm rambling aimlessly now. The insanity is high! It is very very high! *runs around in circles babbling nonsense words*
Krista Snape – *bows* Thank you. I like that word. Prat is a good word.
Hippy Flower – *laughs* More coming right up!
Jorsen – I know! Poor Sevvie….
A/N: Whoa. Almost 100 reviews… Sheesh… I'm shocked.
Chapter 44 **In the Hospital Wing**
Four days later Harry opened his eyes groggily. Glancing around he saw his father asleep in a chair by his bed. Saerry was asleep in his lap, her head resting on his shoulder. Harry smiled slightly at them then looked down at something hissed softly, "Harry Ssssnape issss awake?"
Harry smiled and replied, "Yesss Ssssaeln. I am awake. And call me Harry."
"Yesss Harry."
Saeln curled up further and burrowed into Harry's side, making a warm spot there despite the fact that he was a snake. Harry guessed it was the bird half. Or maybe the fact that he could spit fire.
There was a groan from his right and Harry looked to see his father's eyes flickering open. He quickly closed his eyes, not wanting them to know he was awake yet.
Severus opened his eyes and saw Harry lying there, still asleep. It had been four days now, so Harry should have been awake. He sighed and looked down at Saerry, whose head rested against his shoulder. Absently he brushed a finger against her cheek, causing her to shift and mumble something he couldn't hear. Smiling, he picked her up and managed to get to his feet even though they were asleep. Setting Saerry back down in the chair he limped over to Harry bed and leaned on it, his face a few inches from his son's.
He saw the Aeyr, Saeln, curled up against Harry's side. Almost like a faithful dog.
Severus gave a little shiver and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. They were slowly beginning to wake up and pain shot through them. But, of course, it was nothing compared to what he had been through before.
He sighed and absently brushed a lock of Harry's hair back from his face. As he did he felt something slick and moaned inwardly. Harry had not only inherited his hair color but also the fact that it could turn as greasy as hell if not washed.
"You know, I found out what happened last night. Draco Malfoy was posing as me, trying to make you think I hated you." Severus sighed and added softly, "Apparently it worked too."
He paused then continued, "But I don't hate you Harry. I never really did. I disliked you because you were James' son but I treated you the way I did so you wouldn't turn out like Draco." Pausing again, he said, "But the main reason I was hard on you was because I couldn't stand to look at you. When I look at you . . . . I see your mother. Every time. And it hurts every time because the image I see is the one where she's scared half to death of me. It – its not something I like to remember, what I did to your mother, which is why I was so hard on you. I – I'll try not to do that anymore."
Severus sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He muttered, "But you can't hear me can you? Your fast asleep."
"Dad?"
Severus looked up in shock, surprised to hear that word again. His eyes locked onto bright green ones that were watching him from the bed. He gasped, "Harry. How long have you been awake?"
"Since you started talking."
"Oh . . . Dear Merlin . . ."
"Its okay. I understand." Harry shifted slightly, causing a hiss from Saeln, then asked, "What happened to Malfoy?"
Severus frowned and growled, "He was expelled."
"Wand broken and everything?"
Severus nodded.
"Wow. Why did he do it?"
"Draco was a Death Eater."
Harry's eyes widened. He gasped, "Holy shit."
"Don't curse Harry."
"Sorry. But . . . God, I always thought he'd be one of them but I never thought he'd be one while still in school."
Severus sighed and leaned heavily against the bed. "Voldemort is gathering his followers as fast as he can. He doesn't care if they're young." He ran a hand through his hair and continued, "In fact, he doesn't care about them at all. They could all die for all he cares."
Harry absorbed that information then gasped. He looked wide-eyed at Severus and hissed, "What about your . . ."
"Finished. Albus told me to ignore the next summons. Said it could get me killed if I go."
"It would."
"I know."
"Your not going are you?"
"I don't know."
"Don't. I – I don't think Saerry and . . . and . . . and me would survive without you around."
Harry ducked his head after saying that while Severus stared at him.
There was silence between them until Severus asked, "What do you remember about that night?"
"I remember you – I mean, Draco – yelling at me and then me running outside. Then I was in Hogsmeade and saw the Death Eaters. I got up and ran and they came after me. One got me with the Cruciatus Curse." Harry paused, as if the memory eluded him.
"Oh, then Saeln came and drove them off. He went to get help and then the last thing I remember is you picking me up."
Severus nodded.
"Do you remember what you said?"
Harry froze for a moment then nodded. "Yea."
"I presume you'll be calling me that from now on?"
"I – I don't know."
Severus nodded again. "I see."
"I could try to . . ."
"No, call me what you wish Harry. I'm fine with practically anything. Even some of the things your friend Ron calls me."
Harry blinked. "Y – you heard that?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't take points?"
"I only took points because I had to keep the Slytherins believing I was who I pretended to be." Severus sighed and said, "But as that is done, I think my attitude towards other Houses will change."
Harry grinned.
"Not much though. So don't get your hopes up."
Harry laughed and said, "I had a feeling you were going to say that."
"Oh, did you?"
"Yep."
"Are you just saying that or were you reading my mind?"
Harry chuckled. "I can't say."
Severus arched a thin eyebrow and said, "Dancing around the subject are we?"
"Yes Professor."
"Professor only applies in class."
"I know."
"Mmmhmmm."
"I do!"
"Ah, yes. And Voldemort is a bright pink bunny."
Harry nearly choked. His father had just told a joke!
"That was a joke!"
"Your point?"
"I've never heard you tell a joke."
Severus grinned and said, "That's because you've never met the real me."
Harry smiled and said, "Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"And who, may I ask, is the real Severus Snape?"
"He's a young boy who doesn't care what anyone else thinks of him because he doesn't think that highly of himself, who has a certain knack for disobeying the rules, and has no friends except one. He hates his family and wishes he could get away from them as soon as possible but that's impossible because he was nowhere else to go. He is also a Parselmouth."
Harry gaped at his father. "S – sounds kind of like me."
"Yea, I know."
"S – so, you're a Parselmouth? That's where I got it from?"
Severus nodded. "Its an old trait of the Snape's. There's a legend that says we're descended directly from Salazar Slytherin."
"Oh, that would please Voldemort."
"Yes. Which is the reason no one knows of that legend but the Snape's and the only Snape's left are you, Saerry, and me. We are a sad little group."
"Actually we're quite happy."
Severus laughed and said, "Quite right Harry, quite right. I don't know what I was thinking."
"That we are a sad little group of people."
The two of them laughed and grinned at each other.
"Hey, what's so funny?"
Turning, they saw Saerry sitting up. She spotted Harry and beamed.
"Harry! Your awake!"
"Yep. Did I have you worried?"
"Worried? I was beside myself!"
Harry chuckled and said, "Well I'm okay now so you can get back to being yourself."
Saerry smiled and rose, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. As she pulled back she held his face in both hands and said, "Don't ever do that again. I nearly had a heartache when Albus told me."
Harry smiled at her. "I'll try."
Severus laughed and said, "You had better do more than try Harry. Or Saerry here'll have your head."
"And I'll have yours if you ever cause me to worry myself sick dear brother."
"I shall keep that in mind."
The three of them grinned at each other and set about to talking about something else.
A/N: Dang, that was four pages? O_o I didn't know I'd written that much. Ah well. Moving on…..