I know I said I wasn't going to update for a while, but come on, are you
really going to complain?
Disclaimer: come on people, do I really need to tell you this anymore?
Chapter 30:
Severus sat at his desk one night a few days later, his thoughts on his lover and how they were going to get the Weasley twins back. They had decided to wait until later to get their revenge. Let the twins get cocky. Let them think their safe. Now, his thoughts were not on pranks but on his lover's athletic form. Methos had a class right now and would be busy until later. His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Draco walked in.
"Professor?"
"Yes Draco?" Draco bit his lip.
"Can I talk to you?" Severus nodded. "About Harry?" Severus froze, then sighed and nodded.
"Yes Draco. Close the door." Draco complied, then moved to sit at the desk in front of Severus. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about him and I don't know what to do. He hides it well, but he isn't sleeping or eating well. He's lost weight, and you know how small he is already, he can't afford that. He has these terrible bags under his eyes that hare hidden when he wears his glasses, but are there. His eyes are dull, lifeless. Sometimes I see him and it's obvious he's been crying but he wont talk, even when I ask him. He has this haunted look on his face half the time." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I spoke to Ron about it, but he's oblivious, though he did mention that he had noticed the nightmares. He tries to help, but I don't know what good it's doing. Hermione noticed he's not as alive as he used to be. Professor," he paused, "I'm scared for him. I fear that he's either going to waste away into noting or commit suicide. What do I do?" Severus' face was very grave. When he spoke his voice was very serious.
"Have you tried to make him talk about it? Have you tried very hard to get him to talk?"
"Yes. He either doesn't respond or changes the topic." Severus nodded.
"Do you know when this started, what might have caused this?" Draco chewed his lower lip.
"He came back from the summer like this. Either it was something those muggles did to him or a remnant from the Triwizard tournament from last year. I know he was upset about Cedric," he paused then said softly, "we all were." Severus nodded, absorbing the information.
"Have you confronted him? Told him you know something was up and not let him leave until he told? Forced the issue?" Draco shook his head.
"I'm afraid to. I worry that that ill just cause more harm than good. And he means so much to me, I don't want to loose him by pushing too hard." Severus sighed and stood, walking to stand in front of Draco.
"I really think the best course of action is to talk to him. Get him to talk. Once he spills his guts you both will feel a lot better. If you don't want to push him that badly, tell me and either myself or Adam will talk to him." Draco nodded and stood to leave.
"Thank you Professor." He walked to the door, paused, and turned back to him. "Are you happy now, Sir?"
"Pardon?" asked Severus, surprised, Draco hurried on.
"It's just that, well, ever since I met you, I always thought that you were sad. Just a childhood impression." He fell silent waiting for a response. Severus looked at the ground for a moment, thinking.
He thought of all the times they shared, the talks, the walks, sparing and lovemaking, kissing and joking. The trust they had, the understanding, the love they shared. He raised his head finally, looking Draco strait in the eyes.
"Yes. He does. I am happy."
The Gryffindor Common Room
"Alright Ron. You've met with Cassandra every week since your vision. What have you learned?" Ron looked at Hermione, who sat next to him on the couch.
"I can meditate. It stops the visions and, if one does come, it reduces the pain." Hermione raised her eyebrows. "We tried to induce visions but…it didn't work."
"Very good. Can you interpret them yet?"
"Umm…" Ron looked a little sheepish, "No. Not really."
"Ron!" said Hermione exasperated, "You've been meeting for over two months and can't interpret your visions?"
"Well, I need a vision before I can interpret it, and I haven't had one; not since the first, and she refuses to talk about that one." Herm pursed her lips, her brow furrowed.
"That's very odd. I wonder why?" Ron shrugged. Herm looked at him, a gleam in her eye.
"Oh no. Herm, love, what are you thinking?"
"We'll interpret the vision ourselves to find out what it is that's upsetting her so. Come on, we're going to the library." She grabbed his arm and dragged him from the Common Room.
The Quidditch Field
Harry sat in the Gryffindor bleachers, all alone save for the few birds overhead. He stared out, not looking at anything, lost in his own dark thoughts. Images played like film from a projector on the backs of his eyelids. Over and over he saw the green flash, and the staring faces of Cedric and his mother. He heard the high-pitched laughter and felt the pain of the knife on his arm. He felt the blood drip down his arm and the tears running down his face, not realizing the tears were real.
An idea formed in his mind. Voldemort needed him alive to return to his full power. If Harry wasn't alive, then he couldn't return. It wasn't as if anybody would really miss him. Sure they would miss the 'Boy Who Lived,' but Harry wasn't a boy anymore. Not really. Not since last year. Sirius might miss him, and Remus, but they lived without him for 12 years, they would get over it. Ron and Hermione? They had each other now. Draco? He didn't want to think of that now.
With sudden determination he got to his feet and climbed to the top of the bleachers. He stood on the top rail, balancing precariously in the wind. He looked down at the fatal drop and had to swallow back tears.
"Here goes "The Boy Who Lived." He whispered to himself, his voice ruff. He leaned forward and images flashed in his brain. The Christmases of the past few years, Ron's enthusiasm for life, winning the house cup, winning the Quidditch games, seeing his parents, Hermione just being Herm, and Ron being his own loveable self. He righted himself, as he was suddenly assuaged with doubt. Would they miss him? Yes, but they would get over it. He leaned forward again.
Draco's face flashed in front of his eyes. He stood strait so suddenly he almost fell backwards. He saw Draco in the Library, face flushed and glowing in the candlelight. Draco laughing in the sunshine, Draco arching that eyebrow, Draco dressed to kill as an elf, Draco looking at him with love, Draco's voice saying,
"I love you Harry." Somehow Harry was already off the railing and sunk down to the ground. He curled up and let the tears of grief flow.
The Dungeons
Draco left the Potion's Master's classroom determined to help Harry. He had gotten no more than three feet from the door when images of Harry flashed through his brain. Harry, looking like death warmed over due to nightmares he wouldn't discuss, Harry, in the Quidditch bleachers, staring vacantly, Harry, standing ready to jump, Harry, breaking down all alone. His vision cleared.
"Harry…" he called weakly and raced to the Quidditch Pitch.
The Quidditch field
Draco jogged to a stop in the middle of the field. He bent down, hands on knees, gasping for breath. He scanned the bleachers, looking for his boyfriend. There!
He took off again, racing for the Gryffindor bleachers. He came to a stop at the top, dropping to the floor next to his sobbing love. He reached out and pulled Harry to him, holding him and offering him strength. Harry gripped back, holding on for dear life as the tears fell and cleansed his soul.
The Library
Ron sat staring at the lights as Herm poured over book after book. They had dealt with the obvious first. The riders were the horsemen and the one who rode off was "Methos." He had been many things, hence the changing costumes and had left the Horsemen behind, which was why he was walking away. The last outfit he had was his latest lifestyle. They were now working on the animals at the end.
"Well, it's obvious that the animals represent people. The wolf and the dog are easy; they're Remus and Sirius. The Dragon is most probably Draco and I bet the Phoenix is Dumbledore. That leaves-"
"The Raven, the Hawk, the Owl, the Lion and Lioness, and the Panther." Herm chewed her lip.
"Well, it can't be that obscure. My guess is the Lion and Lioness are Gryffindors, but who?" Ron smiled tiredly.
"Lets get back to them. I have an idea who the others are." Herm looked at him surprised. "Hey! It is my vision and I did have a while to think about this." Herm nodded in agreement.
"So what do you think."
"Well, I think the Panther is Harry. Black hair, black fur, green eyes, and he's very graceful. The birds, the hawk the raven and the owl are all related in some way. It makes sense when I think about it, but I don't know how it will sound when I explain it.
"They Pierson, Snape, and Cassandra. Think, they're all birds, so they have something in common, something that we haven't found out yet. We know Cassandra has a history with Pierson and Snape and Pierson are definitely up to something. They're all connected through Pierson.
"The owl is Cassandra. She's wise, always on the lookout, looking for everything, and definitely a hunter." At Herm's skeptical look he went on, "Hey! You haven't been spending as much time with her as I have, you don't know how ruthless she can be!
"Pierson, I'm thinking, is the hawk. Again, he's a predator. Watch him closely, the way he moves, not what is moving," He grinned at Hermione's glare and continued, "He watches everything, all the time. He looks at a classroom like I look at a chessboard." He paused, and then said to himself, "I wonder is he plays chess?" he shook himself and returned to the topic at hand. "And I mean, come on, with that nose? How can he be anything else?" Herm snorted.
"And the Raven?"
"Snape, of course. Shady reputation, dark looking, that cape that he wears is defiantly similar to Raven's wings, and again, the nose. Come on." Hermione shook her head and rolled his eyes at him.
"That does make sense, but what about the Lion and the Lioness?" Ron grinned a toothy lopsided grin.
"I think that would be the most obvious, Herm. It's us."
TBC
I had this chapter 90% done when I posted the others. I figure, why not just get ip up there, so here I did. Is this too much of a cliffhanger? Expect the next installment in a few days. I have to write the thing first. Only 13 chapters left in this story! (Don't worry then I start on the sequels and spin-offs.)
Until next time…I will forever be, Immortaljedi
Disclaimer: come on people, do I really need to tell you this anymore?
Chapter 30:
Severus sat at his desk one night a few days later, his thoughts on his lover and how they were going to get the Weasley twins back. They had decided to wait until later to get their revenge. Let the twins get cocky. Let them think their safe. Now, his thoughts were not on pranks but on his lover's athletic form. Methos had a class right now and would be busy until later. His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Draco walked in.
"Professor?"
"Yes Draco?" Draco bit his lip.
"Can I talk to you?" Severus nodded. "About Harry?" Severus froze, then sighed and nodded.
"Yes Draco. Close the door." Draco complied, then moved to sit at the desk in front of Severus. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about him and I don't know what to do. He hides it well, but he isn't sleeping or eating well. He's lost weight, and you know how small he is already, he can't afford that. He has these terrible bags under his eyes that hare hidden when he wears his glasses, but are there. His eyes are dull, lifeless. Sometimes I see him and it's obvious he's been crying but he wont talk, even when I ask him. He has this haunted look on his face half the time." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I spoke to Ron about it, but he's oblivious, though he did mention that he had noticed the nightmares. He tries to help, but I don't know what good it's doing. Hermione noticed he's not as alive as he used to be. Professor," he paused, "I'm scared for him. I fear that he's either going to waste away into noting or commit suicide. What do I do?" Severus' face was very grave. When he spoke his voice was very serious.
"Have you tried to make him talk about it? Have you tried very hard to get him to talk?"
"Yes. He either doesn't respond or changes the topic." Severus nodded.
"Do you know when this started, what might have caused this?" Draco chewed his lower lip.
"He came back from the summer like this. Either it was something those muggles did to him or a remnant from the Triwizard tournament from last year. I know he was upset about Cedric," he paused then said softly, "we all were." Severus nodded, absorbing the information.
"Have you confronted him? Told him you know something was up and not let him leave until he told? Forced the issue?" Draco shook his head.
"I'm afraid to. I worry that that ill just cause more harm than good. And he means so much to me, I don't want to loose him by pushing too hard." Severus sighed and stood, walking to stand in front of Draco.
"I really think the best course of action is to talk to him. Get him to talk. Once he spills his guts you both will feel a lot better. If you don't want to push him that badly, tell me and either myself or Adam will talk to him." Draco nodded and stood to leave.
"Thank you Professor." He walked to the door, paused, and turned back to him. "Are you happy now, Sir?"
"Pardon?" asked Severus, surprised, Draco hurried on.
"It's just that, well, ever since I met you, I always thought that you were sad. Just a childhood impression." He fell silent waiting for a response. Severus looked at the ground for a moment, thinking.
He thought of all the times they shared, the talks, the walks, sparing and lovemaking, kissing and joking. The trust they had, the understanding, the love they shared. He raised his head finally, looking Draco strait in the eyes.
"Yes. He does. I am happy."
The Gryffindor Common Room
"Alright Ron. You've met with Cassandra every week since your vision. What have you learned?" Ron looked at Hermione, who sat next to him on the couch.
"I can meditate. It stops the visions and, if one does come, it reduces the pain." Hermione raised her eyebrows. "We tried to induce visions but…it didn't work."
"Very good. Can you interpret them yet?"
"Umm…" Ron looked a little sheepish, "No. Not really."
"Ron!" said Hermione exasperated, "You've been meeting for over two months and can't interpret your visions?"
"Well, I need a vision before I can interpret it, and I haven't had one; not since the first, and she refuses to talk about that one." Herm pursed her lips, her brow furrowed.
"That's very odd. I wonder why?" Ron shrugged. Herm looked at him, a gleam in her eye.
"Oh no. Herm, love, what are you thinking?"
"We'll interpret the vision ourselves to find out what it is that's upsetting her so. Come on, we're going to the library." She grabbed his arm and dragged him from the Common Room.
The Quidditch Field
Harry sat in the Gryffindor bleachers, all alone save for the few birds overhead. He stared out, not looking at anything, lost in his own dark thoughts. Images played like film from a projector on the backs of his eyelids. Over and over he saw the green flash, and the staring faces of Cedric and his mother. He heard the high-pitched laughter and felt the pain of the knife on his arm. He felt the blood drip down his arm and the tears running down his face, not realizing the tears were real.
An idea formed in his mind. Voldemort needed him alive to return to his full power. If Harry wasn't alive, then he couldn't return. It wasn't as if anybody would really miss him. Sure they would miss the 'Boy Who Lived,' but Harry wasn't a boy anymore. Not really. Not since last year. Sirius might miss him, and Remus, but they lived without him for 12 years, they would get over it. Ron and Hermione? They had each other now. Draco? He didn't want to think of that now.
With sudden determination he got to his feet and climbed to the top of the bleachers. He stood on the top rail, balancing precariously in the wind. He looked down at the fatal drop and had to swallow back tears.
"Here goes "The Boy Who Lived." He whispered to himself, his voice ruff. He leaned forward and images flashed in his brain. The Christmases of the past few years, Ron's enthusiasm for life, winning the house cup, winning the Quidditch games, seeing his parents, Hermione just being Herm, and Ron being his own loveable self. He righted himself, as he was suddenly assuaged with doubt. Would they miss him? Yes, but they would get over it. He leaned forward again.
Draco's face flashed in front of his eyes. He stood strait so suddenly he almost fell backwards. He saw Draco in the Library, face flushed and glowing in the candlelight. Draco laughing in the sunshine, Draco arching that eyebrow, Draco dressed to kill as an elf, Draco looking at him with love, Draco's voice saying,
"I love you Harry." Somehow Harry was already off the railing and sunk down to the ground. He curled up and let the tears of grief flow.
The Dungeons
Draco left the Potion's Master's classroom determined to help Harry. He had gotten no more than three feet from the door when images of Harry flashed through his brain. Harry, looking like death warmed over due to nightmares he wouldn't discuss, Harry, in the Quidditch bleachers, staring vacantly, Harry, standing ready to jump, Harry, breaking down all alone. His vision cleared.
"Harry…" he called weakly and raced to the Quidditch Pitch.
The Quidditch field
Draco jogged to a stop in the middle of the field. He bent down, hands on knees, gasping for breath. He scanned the bleachers, looking for his boyfriend. There!
He took off again, racing for the Gryffindor bleachers. He came to a stop at the top, dropping to the floor next to his sobbing love. He reached out and pulled Harry to him, holding him and offering him strength. Harry gripped back, holding on for dear life as the tears fell and cleansed his soul.
The Library
Ron sat staring at the lights as Herm poured over book after book. They had dealt with the obvious first. The riders were the horsemen and the one who rode off was "Methos." He had been many things, hence the changing costumes and had left the Horsemen behind, which was why he was walking away. The last outfit he had was his latest lifestyle. They were now working on the animals at the end.
"Well, it's obvious that the animals represent people. The wolf and the dog are easy; they're Remus and Sirius. The Dragon is most probably Draco and I bet the Phoenix is Dumbledore. That leaves-"
"The Raven, the Hawk, the Owl, the Lion and Lioness, and the Panther." Herm chewed her lip.
"Well, it can't be that obscure. My guess is the Lion and Lioness are Gryffindors, but who?" Ron smiled tiredly.
"Lets get back to them. I have an idea who the others are." Herm looked at him surprised. "Hey! It is my vision and I did have a while to think about this." Herm nodded in agreement.
"So what do you think."
"Well, I think the Panther is Harry. Black hair, black fur, green eyes, and he's very graceful. The birds, the hawk the raven and the owl are all related in some way. It makes sense when I think about it, but I don't know how it will sound when I explain it.
"They Pierson, Snape, and Cassandra. Think, they're all birds, so they have something in common, something that we haven't found out yet. We know Cassandra has a history with Pierson and Snape and Pierson are definitely up to something. They're all connected through Pierson.
"The owl is Cassandra. She's wise, always on the lookout, looking for everything, and definitely a hunter." At Herm's skeptical look he went on, "Hey! You haven't been spending as much time with her as I have, you don't know how ruthless she can be!
"Pierson, I'm thinking, is the hawk. Again, he's a predator. Watch him closely, the way he moves, not what is moving," He grinned at Hermione's glare and continued, "He watches everything, all the time. He looks at a classroom like I look at a chessboard." He paused, and then said to himself, "I wonder is he plays chess?" he shook himself and returned to the topic at hand. "And I mean, come on, with that nose? How can he be anything else?" Herm snorted.
"And the Raven?"
"Snape, of course. Shady reputation, dark looking, that cape that he wears is defiantly similar to Raven's wings, and again, the nose. Come on." Hermione shook her head and rolled his eyes at him.
"That does make sense, but what about the Lion and the Lioness?" Ron grinned a toothy lopsided grin.
"I think that would be the most obvious, Herm. It's us."
TBC
I had this chapter 90% done when I posted the others. I figure, why not just get ip up there, so here I did. Is this too much of a cliffhanger? Expect the next installment in a few days. I have to write the thing first. Only 13 chapters left in this story! (Don't worry then I start on the sequels and spin-offs.)
Until next time…I will forever be, Immortaljedi