A/N: Alrighty, more explanations. First off, Necro is around 29 but he led a very very sheltered life despite being a Professor, so there was no underage sex in chapter 5, just a very trusting and naïve guy. And he isn't weak magically, just physically, and he's also very trusting of everyone which could be qualified as a weakness, depending on what kind of person you are.
::runs up and hugs Necro:: awwww, don't worry, I'll make everything all better in the other chappies.
And some of you didn't quite get why Sevvie put on the illusion charm then took it off. The reason is because he was DEPRESSED because the dreams were affecting him and he didn't want anyone to bug him because he suddenly looked more attractive. But when he saw his reflection in the mirror he realized just how good looking he had become and decided that the opportunity to shock everyone was to good to pass up. I hope everything else is pretty clear, if not just tell me and I'll straighten it out for you.
That's about it, so REVIEW people. "begins hypnotizing the readers:: you will review, you will review.
Child of Darkness
Chapter 6
A/N: (I know, I know, to many authors notes.) I just want to say that time in this chapter has just skipped ahead 2 weeks, so Harry has been at Hogwarts for awhile
Harry was perched on top of one of the towers overlooking the Quidditch field.
It was a sunny day, not to cold and not to hot, just the right weather for flying. That is what Harry was watching with a longing look on his face, the Gryffindor team practicing their Quidditch strategy's. It seemed like just yesterday he was down there, trying to find the Golden Snitch with his team cheering him on from around him. How time fly's.
A tear slid down his cheek. He missed those day's, even the bad ones. He missed weekends at Hodsmeade, dinners in the Great Hall, and Quidditch, but most of all he missed Ron and Hermione, his two best friends. They had always been there for him, through thick and thin, helping him and all the while making him a better person. He only wished he could return the favor, thank them somehow. But he wasn't ready to face them yet, not yet….. possibly never. But he knew he would have to someday soon. That's why he had come after all.
With a soft sigh, Harry began climbing to his feet when from below him there was a loud up cry as the quaffle had been thrown out of bounds.
Harry barely had time to think, all he could see was a ball and a flash of red hair that, in the sunlight, looked as if it was a mass of dancing flames. He recognized that hair.
"Ron." he thought, not realizing he had spoken those words aloud.
With a confused look, Ron turned his head, wondering how on earth he could have heard his name being called this high up. For a moment he squinted in the sunlight, looking straight at Harry.
His eye's widened in shock and horror.
'No, it couldn't be,' he thought , 'Harry is dead, he's not coming back Ron. Face it.'
But he couldn't deny the truth for long with the evidence literally staring him in the face. Harry Potter was looking at him, Harry was alive and he was just fine.
But how?
"H-Harry? I-is that really you?" asked Ron softly.
The boy nodded slowly. "Ron….." he whispered to himself in disbelief, not quite accepting the fact that he was seeing Ron at last. "I….I'm sorry, Ron. Sorry for making you worry about me." slowly, he began backing away, right near the window he had climbed onto the roof from. "Do me a favor Ron. Get 'Mione and ask Dumbledore to see me, alright."
With that he jumped through the window and sprinted out of the room, unable to stop the sick feeling he was getting, the same feeling he had felt that day when he first returned to Hogwarts. He was so nervous he felt like he was going to be sick as he rushed to his room, using his Dementor abilities to make the area around him cold and joyless so the students would keep far away.
Luckily he made it to the dungeon halls without anyone noticing him. That is until Snape stepped out of his room, just as Harry was rushing by, and got bowled over by 98 pounds of underweight teenager.
"P-P-Professor S-Snape." Harry stuttered, his voice slightly high pitched like he was on the verge of an anxiety attack. "S-sorry."
Snape growled, his pretty face getting a very ugly look on it. "Potter, I'll have you know that attempted murder is not something we normally do around here and is punishable by severe torture and death."
Harry's ruby eye's widened. "I-I didn't mean to Professor. S-sorry."
A thin eyebrow raised in surprise. That was the first time Potter had ever really apologized for one of his Kamikaze stunts. 'He must sick' Snape thought. 'I hope he die's soon so I can dance on his grave.'
Aloud he said , "Potter, go the infirmary for heavens sake. If you die right now they'll blame me, I just know it."
Harry snorted.
That wasn't like Snape, normally he would take full credit for killing The Boy-Who-Lived. 'He must be sick'
"No Professor I'm fine, I'll just go to my room now." he mumbled, pushing himself up off of Snape who was staring at his robes with disgust at having been touched by Potter. "Uhm…..sorry about knocking you down like that."
"No problem." Snape said. Harry couldn't believe his ears, Snape wasn't yelling at him, or even being mean. "But I do think that should be about……30 points from Gryffindor, for attempted murder." Yup, to good to be true.
Harry gasped at the sheer unfairness of it all. "But Professor!!! I'm not a student anymore!! You can't do that."
There was a long awkward silence. "…..10 points from Gryffindor, for trying undermine a Professors authority." He said, grinning like the Chesire Cat as he swept off. Apparently very pleased with himself for finding a way to annoy Harry and take points from Gryffindor at the same time. The victory was twice as sweet because Harry didn't even go to school at Hogwarts anymore. Yes, that had just made his day.
Harry felt even sicker than before as Snape strode off down the hall, he had just lost 40 points for Gryffindor in less than 5 minutes….and he wasn't even attending the school anymore.
God, could things get any worse?
Well…..maybe they could.
**************
Ron rushed up to the Gryffindor Tower, bursting into the common room. Hermione wasn't there, only Dean Thomas and some first years he didn't know.
"Dean, where's Hermione?"
"Take three guesses, Ron." Dean said, shaking his head in pity. "Where do you look when you need to find Hermione?"
"Huh?"
"The library, she's always in the library this time of day. Studying for the N.E.W.T's I imagine."
"Oh, of course! Thanks Dean."
Ron tore out of the common room in a redish blur. Making his way straight for the library, which was farther than he had thought, since he was running the whole way. But finally he reached the library and ended up banging into the door in his rush to get in, which was not a pretty sight and caused a big red spot to appear on his forehead.
Once in, he quieted down some, not wanting to get kicked out by Madame Pince (A/N: did I spell that right?), and began scanning the rows of tables until he saw a familiar bushy brown head.
"Pssssst! 'Mione, come here." he said in a hushed voice.
Hermione shot Ron an evil glare for disrupting her studies. "What is it Ron? I'm trying to study."
Ron snorted. "This is a little more important than that. Now come on, we have to find Dumbledore. This is a matter of life and death."
Hermione looked concerned as she followed Ron out of the library. "Ron, is this about You-Know-Who?"
"No. 'Mione, your not going to believe this, but I saw Harry."
"Ron, that's not funny at all. Harry's dead and you know it." She said in a hoarse voice.
"Do I look like I'm joking 'Mione? I'm serious, I saw him. Now we have to find Dumbledore immediately."
Hermione looked like she wanted to protest for a moment, but the serious look on Ron's face was so genuine and sincere that she didn't have the heart to.
"Alright, let's go."
*************
(A/N: I've decided to give you people a rest from the angst and go fluffy for awhile. And I know some of you have been waiting for this, so here it is.)
Dumbledore was standing in Snape's room, looking very pleased with himself, which in Snape's books was never a good sign because the Headmaster had a nasty habit of scheming and plotting behind his back then scaring the hell out of him when he suddenly suggested stuff like 'maybe you should rejoin the Death Eaters and become a spy for the side of good'.
"Well." said Dumbledore looking the picture of innocence, except for that twinkle in his eye.
"Well what?" Asked Snape suspiciously.
"Well, I've noticed a few thing's lately. Like how you seem….troubled all the time." Snape rolled his eye's. Of course he'd been troubled, how could he not be with that damn dream haunting him every waking moment. "I've taken it upon myself to try to make you feel better."
Oh, that did not sound good.
"So, I've decided to put you on paid leave so you can have a well needed vacation." He smiled. "The substitute will be arriving in the morning so you can leave immediately. I happen to have a small cabin built right beside a nice peaceful lake, and it's in a forest that's entirely unoccupied so you won't be disturbed."
"B-but-"
"I won't take no for an answer Severus. You need a vacation and I will give you one." The word's 'even if it kills you' hung menacingly in the air. Snape gulped.
Well, you never know, maybe it won't be so bad.
"Fine. I'll start packing."
Dumbledore's face lit up and he placed a large red button on the coffee table. "Excellent, this is a Portkey. It will take you right there as soon as your ready."
The old wizard left the room, grinning from ear to ear and no matter how Snape tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that Dumbledore was plotting. Sometimes Snape thought that was all he ever did, scheme and plot, plot and scheme. But maybe he was just being paranoid.
Of course he didn't see Dumbledore leaving his room and heading straight for Harry's, otherwise he would have know his suspicions were correct. Dumbledore was going to get Harry and Snape to like each other if it killed him.
***************
"Harry my boy, how are you doing? You look rather pale."
Harry shrugged. "It's nothing really."
"Hmmm. I don't know Harry, you've been looking sick for sometime now. I've been thinking that maybe you need a small vacation." He looked thoughtful, than brightened up as though he had just been struck with a marvelous idea. "You know, I have a small cabin near a lake that's very secluded, I go there sometimes when I need to unwind. Would you like to use it? You look as though you need a good unwinding." He gave an encouraging smile.
The boy looked at Dumbledore in surprise, then gave a small smile of his own. "I think your right, you know. Maybe all I need is a little time to unwind. I'm sure I'll feel much better afterwards. That is if it wouldn't be to much trouble."
"Nonsense my boy. It was my idea after all. I'll just give you time to pack, when your ready to go just touch this button," he said, putting down a button that looked identical to the one he had given to Snape, "It's a Portkey and will take you directly to the cabin."
"Thank you, sir." Harry said gratefully as Dumbledore left the room.
It didn't occur for him to wonder why on earth Dumbledore had the Portkey ready to go when he supposedly had just come up with the idea a few minutes ago. He also had forgotten completely about Ron and Hermione, the idea of a vacation was just to good to pass up and overrode any other thought's he may have had as he began rushing around his room gathering his robes, wand, and some other stuff that was purely for his own enjoyment, like the bag full of sweet's that was hidden under his bed.
This week was going to be all about him, no worries, no Voldemort and especially no Snape to make his life miserable.
Things were finally beginning to look up for him.
*************
Snape double checked, making sure he had left nothing behind.
Finally, after so much checking and double checking he had gotten all of his thing's together, shrunk it all, and put it in one of his many pockets.
"Why do I feel like I've just signed my own death contract?"
He slowly reached out and touched the button, bracing himself for the familiar pull on his navel that sent him spinning out of control for an instant before his feet slammed into the hard dirt ground, sending a painful shock up his leg's.
"Ow." He groaned in pain, rubbing his long leg's to try to get rid of that strange pins and needles feeling. "I hate Portkeys. Why on earth did I agree to this? This is the stupidest idea Dumbledore had ever had." He snarled, fully ready to turn around and go straight back to Hogwart's just for the pleasure of telling the Headmaster where he could shove his idea.
That was until he saw the cabin and the lake.
It was absolutely beautiful, the place where he was to stay was a cute little log cabin that was a nice redish brown color and sat, half buried, in a dense pine forest. The lake was large and blue, sparkling in the bright sunlight that was beaming down over the forest.
It was no wonder Dumbledore liked this place. Hell, he even liked this place, it was already beginning to relax him, the air, no noise save for the wind in the trees and the gentle sound of trickling water (there must have been a river around there).
'Hmmm. Maybe Dumbledore isn't completely hopeless.' he thought, walking into the small cabin, just in time to miss Harry as he suddenly landed right beside where he had been standing a few seconds ago.
***************
Dumbledore smiled mischievously.
Excellent, they were both there. Now to set up the anti- magic and apparition wards.
Those two were going to be trapped there until they got along, he only hoped it didn't take years.
*************
Harry admired the place. Dumbledore really knew how to relax. This place was perfect, he was going to go for a swim as soon as he finished looking around.
With a broad grin on his face, Harry made his way up to the cabin and slowly opened the door.
It was all he could do to keep from taking a step backwards. Apparently the cabin was magic because the inside of the cabin as enormous. It was bigger than the Great Hall, lit with hundreds of tiny little lights that flew around the room in a flurry of motion.
"Wow." Harry gasped in amazement. "This place is……wow!"
He just had to check out the rest of this place, it was amazing. No matter how many time's he saw enchanted houses, cabins or tents, it still never ceased to amaze him how it could be a tiny little building on the outside and a huge palace on the inside. In an instant he was racing around the cabin like a little kid, examining everything in sight with a child-like awe.
However, his moment of happiness was destroyed when he decided to visit the bedroom, walking in calmly, totally unexpectedly, only to find none other than Severus Snape unshrinking various books, robes and potions ingredients.
"NO WAY!" Harry yelled, startling Snape. "What are you doing here?"
Snape's mouth fell open in shock. "What the hell are you talking about, you are NOT supposed to be here!"
"What!? I am to, Dumbledore sent me here for a vacation…..ALONE!"
"Listen, Potter! I was here first, Dumbledore has let be borrow his cabin for as long as I need it, so you'd better get out of here now!"
"NO! I'm allowed to be here, and your not."
"I am to!"
"Am not!"
"Am to!"
"Am not!"
"Am TO!"
"Am NOT, damnit!" Harry yelled, pulling out his white wand. "REDUCIO!" He yelled, attempting to shrink Snape.
Nothing happened.
"………..Brilliant, Potter, absolutely brilliant." Said Snape sarcastically, giving him a mocking round of applause. "You can't even cast a simple spell that any second year could do blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back. And to think were counting on you to save us all." He snorted. "May God have mercy on our poor souls."
Harry looked panicked. "B-but I don't understand. It's always worked before. Wh-what's wrong with this stupid wand?" He gasped in horror.
"Honestly Potter, nothing's wrong with it." Snape said, plucking the wand out of Harry's hand. "Lumos."
Nothing happened once again. "Ok, I take that back." He said, giving Harry his wand back and pulling out his own. "Lumos."
"…………….You were saying, Snape." Harry said, smiling smugly.
"Oh, shut up you stupid boy, there's obviously an anti-magic ward around this place. I'll just apparate to Dumbledore and tell him there's been a mistake, and that you shouldn't be here."
Nearly 30 seconds passed. "Well? What are you waiting for, Snape? Afraid I'm right and your wrong?"
Snape looked ready to kill someone. "There is an anti-apparition ward here."
Harry shrugged. "Well…..maybe Dumbledore just liked his privacy."
"Potter, will you just SHUT UP FOR ONE MINUTE!!! Can't you see what has just happened? I knew this was to good to be true, I just knew it." Snape raved.
"What are you talking about? What just happened?"
Snape sighed. "Dumbledore set us up. The anti-magic and apparition wards, the fact that he told us both to go on vacation at the same cabin, and this cabin being placed on an island that's to far away from shore to swim. That crazy old man trapped us here together!!!"
Harry took a moment to digest that information. "…….NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" He screamed. "HE CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!! I HATE YOU, YOU HATE ME!! WERE GOING TO KILL EACH OTHER IF WE STAY HERE!!!"
Snape fully agreed, though he kept it to himself because at that moment the previously unnoticed fireplace burst to life and they could see Dumbledore's head sitting in the flames.
"Hello Harry, Severus."
"Dumbledore," Snarled Snape. "What do you think your doing? Are you out of your mind?"
The old wizard simply smiled. "No. But I'm afraid that this was necessary. You two will stay here until you can get along, I don't care how long it takes, I'll only let you come back when your both friends. The rest of the staff and I agreed on this."
Harry gasped. "The whole staff was in on this?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, they were. Now I'm afraid I must leave you two alone, I've got a lot of matters to attend to. Ta ta!" With that he disappeared.
Snape and Harry were left alone with identical expressions of horror on there faces.
Albus Dumbledore had done it again.
This was going to be a horrible day.
A/N: how did you all like this chapter? Review and tell me what you think, Come on people, I need lot's of encouragement so shower me with reviews!!! ::begins swimming in the reviews:: god bless all you wonderful reviewers, may your lives be filled with marshmallows and fluffy pink bunnys.
::runs up and hugs Necro:: awwww, don't worry, I'll make everything all better in the other chappies.
And some of you didn't quite get why Sevvie put on the illusion charm then took it off. The reason is because he was DEPRESSED because the dreams were affecting him and he didn't want anyone to bug him because he suddenly looked more attractive. But when he saw his reflection in the mirror he realized just how good looking he had become and decided that the opportunity to shock everyone was to good to pass up. I hope everything else is pretty clear, if not just tell me and I'll straighten it out for you.
That's about it, so REVIEW people. "begins hypnotizing the readers:: you will review, you will review.
Child of Darkness
Chapter 6
A/N: (I know, I know, to many authors notes.) I just want to say that time in this chapter has just skipped ahead 2 weeks, so Harry has been at Hogwarts for awhile
Harry was perched on top of one of the towers overlooking the Quidditch field.
It was a sunny day, not to cold and not to hot, just the right weather for flying. That is what Harry was watching with a longing look on his face, the Gryffindor team practicing their Quidditch strategy's. It seemed like just yesterday he was down there, trying to find the Golden Snitch with his team cheering him on from around him. How time fly's.
A tear slid down his cheek. He missed those day's, even the bad ones. He missed weekends at Hodsmeade, dinners in the Great Hall, and Quidditch, but most of all he missed Ron and Hermione, his two best friends. They had always been there for him, through thick and thin, helping him and all the while making him a better person. He only wished he could return the favor, thank them somehow. But he wasn't ready to face them yet, not yet….. possibly never. But he knew he would have to someday soon. That's why he had come after all.
With a soft sigh, Harry began climbing to his feet when from below him there was a loud up cry as the quaffle had been thrown out of bounds.
Harry barely had time to think, all he could see was a ball and a flash of red hair that, in the sunlight, looked as if it was a mass of dancing flames. He recognized that hair.
"Ron." he thought, not realizing he had spoken those words aloud.
With a confused look, Ron turned his head, wondering how on earth he could have heard his name being called this high up. For a moment he squinted in the sunlight, looking straight at Harry.
His eye's widened in shock and horror.
'No, it couldn't be,' he thought , 'Harry is dead, he's not coming back Ron. Face it.'
But he couldn't deny the truth for long with the evidence literally staring him in the face. Harry Potter was looking at him, Harry was alive and he was just fine.
But how?
"H-Harry? I-is that really you?" asked Ron softly.
The boy nodded slowly. "Ron….." he whispered to himself in disbelief, not quite accepting the fact that he was seeing Ron at last. "I….I'm sorry, Ron. Sorry for making you worry about me." slowly, he began backing away, right near the window he had climbed onto the roof from. "Do me a favor Ron. Get 'Mione and ask Dumbledore to see me, alright."
With that he jumped through the window and sprinted out of the room, unable to stop the sick feeling he was getting, the same feeling he had felt that day when he first returned to Hogwarts. He was so nervous he felt like he was going to be sick as he rushed to his room, using his Dementor abilities to make the area around him cold and joyless so the students would keep far away.
Luckily he made it to the dungeon halls without anyone noticing him. That is until Snape stepped out of his room, just as Harry was rushing by, and got bowled over by 98 pounds of underweight teenager.
"P-P-Professor S-Snape." Harry stuttered, his voice slightly high pitched like he was on the verge of an anxiety attack. "S-sorry."
Snape growled, his pretty face getting a very ugly look on it. "Potter, I'll have you know that attempted murder is not something we normally do around here and is punishable by severe torture and death."
Harry's ruby eye's widened. "I-I didn't mean to Professor. S-sorry."
A thin eyebrow raised in surprise. That was the first time Potter had ever really apologized for one of his Kamikaze stunts. 'He must sick' Snape thought. 'I hope he die's soon so I can dance on his grave.'
Aloud he said , "Potter, go the infirmary for heavens sake. If you die right now they'll blame me, I just know it."
Harry snorted.
That wasn't like Snape, normally he would take full credit for killing The Boy-Who-Lived. 'He must be sick'
"No Professor I'm fine, I'll just go to my room now." he mumbled, pushing himself up off of Snape who was staring at his robes with disgust at having been touched by Potter. "Uhm…..sorry about knocking you down like that."
"No problem." Snape said. Harry couldn't believe his ears, Snape wasn't yelling at him, or even being mean. "But I do think that should be about……30 points from Gryffindor, for attempted murder." Yup, to good to be true.
Harry gasped at the sheer unfairness of it all. "But Professor!!! I'm not a student anymore!! You can't do that."
There was a long awkward silence. "…..10 points from Gryffindor, for trying undermine a Professors authority." He said, grinning like the Chesire Cat as he swept off. Apparently very pleased with himself for finding a way to annoy Harry and take points from Gryffindor at the same time. The victory was twice as sweet because Harry didn't even go to school at Hogwarts anymore. Yes, that had just made his day.
Harry felt even sicker than before as Snape strode off down the hall, he had just lost 40 points for Gryffindor in less than 5 minutes….and he wasn't even attending the school anymore.
God, could things get any worse?
Well…..maybe they could.
**************
Ron rushed up to the Gryffindor Tower, bursting into the common room. Hermione wasn't there, only Dean Thomas and some first years he didn't know.
"Dean, where's Hermione?"
"Take three guesses, Ron." Dean said, shaking his head in pity. "Where do you look when you need to find Hermione?"
"Huh?"
"The library, she's always in the library this time of day. Studying for the N.E.W.T's I imagine."
"Oh, of course! Thanks Dean."
Ron tore out of the common room in a redish blur. Making his way straight for the library, which was farther than he had thought, since he was running the whole way. But finally he reached the library and ended up banging into the door in his rush to get in, which was not a pretty sight and caused a big red spot to appear on his forehead.
Once in, he quieted down some, not wanting to get kicked out by Madame Pince (A/N: did I spell that right?), and began scanning the rows of tables until he saw a familiar bushy brown head.
"Pssssst! 'Mione, come here." he said in a hushed voice.
Hermione shot Ron an evil glare for disrupting her studies. "What is it Ron? I'm trying to study."
Ron snorted. "This is a little more important than that. Now come on, we have to find Dumbledore. This is a matter of life and death."
Hermione looked concerned as she followed Ron out of the library. "Ron, is this about You-Know-Who?"
"No. 'Mione, your not going to believe this, but I saw Harry."
"Ron, that's not funny at all. Harry's dead and you know it." She said in a hoarse voice.
"Do I look like I'm joking 'Mione? I'm serious, I saw him. Now we have to find Dumbledore immediately."
Hermione looked like she wanted to protest for a moment, but the serious look on Ron's face was so genuine and sincere that she didn't have the heart to.
"Alright, let's go."
*************
(A/N: I've decided to give you people a rest from the angst and go fluffy for awhile. And I know some of you have been waiting for this, so here it is.)
Dumbledore was standing in Snape's room, looking very pleased with himself, which in Snape's books was never a good sign because the Headmaster had a nasty habit of scheming and plotting behind his back then scaring the hell out of him when he suddenly suggested stuff like 'maybe you should rejoin the Death Eaters and become a spy for the side of good'.
"Well." said Dumbledore looking the picture of innocence, except for that twinkle in his eye.
"Well what?" Asked Snape suspiciously.
"Well, I've noticed a few thing's lately. Like how you seem….troubled all the time." Snape rolled his eye's. Of course he'd been troubled, how could he not be with that damn dream haunting him every waking moment. "I've taken it upon myself to try to make you feel better."
Oh, that did not sound good.
"So, I've decided to put you on paid leave so you can have a well needed vacation." He smiled. "The substitute will be arriving in the morning so you can leave immediately. I happen to have a small cabin built right beside a nice peaceful lake, and it's in a forest that's entirely unoccupied so you won't be disturbed."
"B-but-"
"I won't take no for an answer Severus. You need a vacation and I will give you one." The word's 'even if it kills you' hung menacingly in the air. Snape gulped.
Well, you never know, maybe it won't be so bad.
"Fine. I'll start packing."
Dumbledore's face lit up and he placed a large red button on the coffee table. "Excellent, this is a Portkey. It will take you right there as soon as your ready."
The old wizard left the room, grinning from ear to ear and no matter how Snape tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that Dumbledore was plotting. Sometimes Snape thought that was all he ever did, scheme and plot, plot and scheme. But maybe he was just being paranoid.
Of course he didn't see Dumbledore leaving his room and heading straight for Harry's, otherwise he would have know his suspicions were correct. Dumbledore was going to get Harry and Snape to like each other if it killed him.
***************
"Harry my boy, how are you doing? You look rather pale."
Harry shrugged. "It's nothing really."
"Hmmm. I don't know Harry, you've been looking sick for sometime now. I've been thinking that maybe you need a small vacation." He looked thoughtful, than brightened up as though he had just been struck with a marvelous idea. "You know, I have a small cabin near a lake that's very secluded, I go there sometimes when I need to unwind. Would you like to use it? You look as though you need a good unwinding." He gave an encouraging smile.
The boy looked at Dumbledore in surprise, then gave a small smile of his own. "I think your right, you know. Maybe all I need is a little time to unwind. I'm sure I'll feel much better afterwards. That is if it wouldn't be to much trouble."
"Nonsense my boy. It was my idea after all. I'll just give you time to pack, when your ready to go just touch this button," he said, putting down a button that looked identical to the one he had given to Snape, "It's a Portkey and will take you directly to the cabin."
"Thank you, sir." Harry said gratefully as Dumbledore left the room.
It didn't occur for him to wonder why on earth Dumbledore had the Portkey ready to go when he supposedly had just come up with the idea a few minutes ago. He also had forgotten completely about Ron and Hermione, the idea of a vacation was just to good to pass up and overrode any other thought's he may have had as he began rushing around his room gathering his robes, wand, and some other stuff that was purely for his own enjoyment, like the bag full of sweet's that was hidden under his bed.
This week was going to be all about him, no worries, no Voldemort and especially no Snape to make his life miserable.
Things were finally beginning to look up for him.
*************
Snape double checked, making sure he had left nothing behind.
Finally, after so much checking and double checking he had gotten all of his thing's together, shrunk it all, and put it in one of his many pockets.
"Why do I feel like I've just signed my own death contract?"
He slowly reached out and touched the button, bracing himself for the familiar pull on his navel that sent him spinning out of control for an instant before his feet slammed into the hard dirt ground, sending a painful shock up his leg's.
"Ow." He groaned in pain, rubbing his long leg's to try to get rid of that strange pins and needles feeling. "I hate Portkeys. Why on earth did I agree to this? This is the stupidest idea Dumbledore had ever had." He snarled, fully ready to turn around and go straight back to Hogwart's just for the pleasure of telling the Headmaster where he could shove his idea.
That was until he saw the cabin and the lake.
It was absolutely beautiful, the place where he was to stay was a cute little log cabin that was a nice redish brown color and sat, half buried, in a dense pine forest. The lake was large and blue, sparkling in the bright sunlight that was beaming down over the forest.
It was no wonder Dumbledore liked this place. Hell, he even liked this place, it was already beginning to relax him, the air, no noise save for the wind in the trees and the gentle sound of trickling water (there must have been a river around there).
'Hmmm. Maybe Dumbledore isn't completely hopeless.' he thought, walking into the small cabin, just in time to miss Harry as he suddenly landed right beside where he had been standing a few seconds ago.
***************
Dumbledore smiled mischievously.
Excellent, they were both there. Now to set up the anti- magic and apparition wards.
Those two were going to be trapped there until they got along, he only hoped it didn't take years.
*************
Harry admired the place. Dumbledore really knew how to relax. This place was perfect, he was going to go for a swim as soon as he finished looking around.
With a broad grin on his face, Harry made his way up to the cabin and slowly opened the door.
It was all he could do to keep from taking a step backwards. Apparently the cabin was magic because the inside of the cabin as enormous. It was bigger than the Great Hall, lit with hundreds of tiny little lights that flew around the room in a flurry of motion.
"Wow." Harry gasped in amazement. "This place is……wow!"
He just had to check out the rest of this place, it was amazing. No matter how many time's he saw enchanted houses, cabins or tents, it still never ceased to amaze him how it could be a tiny little building on the outside and a huge palace on the inside. In an instant he was racing around the cabin like a little kid, examining everything in sight with a child-like awe.
However, his moment of happiness was destroyed when he decided to visit the bedroom, walking in calmly, totally unexpectedly, only to find none other than Severus Snape unshrinking various books, robes and potions ingredients.
"NO WAY!" Harry yelled, startling Snape. "What are you doing here?"
Snape's mouth fell open in shock. "What the hell are you talking about, you are NOT supposed to be here!"
"What!? I am to, Dumbledore sent me here for a vacation…..ALONE!"
"Listen, Potter! I was here first, Dumbledore has let be borrow his cabin for as long as I need it, so you'd better get out of here now!"
"NO! I'm allowed to be here, and your not."
"I am to!"
"Am not!"
"Am to!"
"Am not!"
"Am TO!"
"Am NOT, damnit!" Harry yelled, pulling out his white wand. "REDUCIO!" He yelled, attempting to shrink Snape.
Nothing happened.
"………..Brilliant, Potter, absolutely brilliant." Said Snape sarcastically, giving him a mocking round of applause. "You can't even cast a simple spell that any second year could do blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back. And to think were counting on you to save us all." He snorted. "May God have mercy on our poor souls."
Harry looked panicked. "B-but I don't understand. It's always worked before. Wh-what's wrong with this stupid wand?" He gasped in horror.
"Honestly Potter, nothing's wrong with it." Snape said, plucking the wand out of Harry's hand. "Lumos."
Nothing happened once again. "Ok, I take that back." He said, giving Harry his wand back and pulling out his own. "Lumos."
"…………….You were saying, Snape." Harry said, smiling smugly.
"Oh, shut up you stupid boy, there's obviously an anti-magic ward around this place. I'll just apparate to Dumbledore and tell him there's been a mistake, and that you shouldn't be here."
Nearly 30 seconds passed. "Well? What are you waiting for, Snape? Afraid I'm right and your wrong?"
Snape looked ready to kill someone. "There is an anti-apparition ward here."
Harry shrugged. "Well…..maybe Dumbledore just liked his privacy."
"Potter, will you just SHUT UP FOR ONE MINUTE!!! Can't you see what has just happened? I knew this was to good to be true, I just knew it." Snape raved.
"What are you talking about? What just happened?"
Snape sighed. "Dumbledore set us up. The anti-magic and apparition wards, the fact that he told us both to go on vacation at the same cabin, and this cabin being placed on an island that's to far away from shore to swim. That crazy old man trapped us here together!!!"
Harry took a moment to digest that information. "…….NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" He screamed. "HE CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!! I HATE YOU, YOU HATE ME!! WERE GOING TO KILL EACH OTHER IF WE STAY HERE!!!"
Snape fully agreed, though he kept it to himself because at that moment the previously unnoticed fireplace burst to life and they could see Dumbledore's head sitting in the flames.
"Hello Harry, Severus."
"Dumbledore," Snarled Snape. "What do you think your doing? Are you out of your mind?"
The old wizard simply smiled. "No. But I'm afraid that this was necessary. You two will stay here until you can get along, I don't care how long it takes, I'll only let you come back when your both friends. The rest of the staff and I agreed on this."
Harry gasped. "The whole staff was in on this?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, they were. Now I'm afraid I must leave you two alone, I've got a lot of matters to attend to. Ta ta!" With that he disappeared.
Snape and Harry were left alone with identical expressions of horror on there faces.
Albus Dumbledore had done it again.
This was going to be a horrible day.
A/N: how did you all like this chapter? Review and tell me what you think, Come on people, I need lot's of encouragement so shower me with reviews!!! ::begins swimming in the reviews:: god bless all you wonderful reviewers, may your lives be filled with marshmallows and fluffy pink bunnys.