Title: When Harry Left Severus

rating: R for adult themes including male/male relationships.

Chapter 7 - Confronting Black
by: Raven Dancer

disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes, Daniel Murphy and Beryl. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.



Harry Potter stormed into the Headmaster's office. It appeared empty although he knew someone had to be in the rooms since he got into the sanctuary. As a rule the prefects had the simple password that allowed access if someone was already in the Headmaster's rooms. Noting that the bedroom door was ajar he hurried across the room looking for his godfather. He pushed in angrily.

For Merlin's sakes, Sirius! Why the hell did you have to sic that
damned security wizard Murphy on us? He did everything but
arrest me and Vachel for bothering... Harry's voice boomed from the door then immediately diminished.


The Potions Master still looked horrible, bruised and battered. Although his jaw had been healed enough to be released from the binding spell the IV was still in and dripping fluids. Black glared, not very happy to see his godson.

Black was tired and alone. What if Harry was part of the plans to hurt Snape? He loved Harry but Snape was lying there completely vulnerable. Did Harry come alone? He certainly wasn't alone at the manor a few nights back. If Harry became violent could Black stop him? The fear that rose in Black's chest turned quickly to anger.

Why are you here? Black hissed. He gathered Snape closer.

Sirius, what happened to Severus? Harry ignored the palpable anger in his godfather's tone.

Lower your voice, he whispered angrily. After what you and
your friends did to Severus I didn't expect to see you until Murphy
dragged you in. Harry dropped to the floor totally missing the chair he'd been aiming for.

My friends? Vachel and I stopped by to pick up the last of
my things and insist you join us in France. We talked to Severus.
Vachel just detained him for a few moments, Harry said confused and a bit put off by his godfather's ire.

You had several acquaintances, I believe, who followed you to
Snape Manor, Black pointed out. He hoped Harry didn't know. If he didn't then maybe Harry had been duped.

Well, a couple did come along with us, but only to see the
Manor, Harry allowed. Black immediately reacted.

And to beat Severus to a bloody pulp leaving him manacled to
the wall so he couldn't escape! Sirius quelled the shriek, but the effort caused spit to shoot from his mouth. The image of Snape manacled and bleeding on the floor flashed once again in his mind.

Wh, what are you going on about Siri?! Vachel and I spoke
briefly to Severus in the morning room then I spoke with you
and Remus, Harry started. Vachel joined us within a couple
of minutes.

Well, then, Vachel must have been the one who lowered a few
wards in the morning room, then, and your friends joined him, Black seethed.
And this is one part of what they did.

Harry managed to push himself up and into the chair staring at his old lover.

That's bullshit Sirius! Vachel would never hurt anyone! He's been
very supportive of me and has helped me with my anger. Neither
would Iris or Andy. They're my friends! They helped me. I was
trapped by that greasy git for Merlin's sake! You were too, still
are if you'd only think about it! Harry's voice began to raise again and he earned another glare from Black.
We didn't touch him! We just wanted him to feel guilty about
the way he treated me all those months!

Guilt? He always treated you with the greatest respect, Black snorted.
And those letters you sent him were threatening! From
harming him physically to sending him to Azkaban. Murphy said
you didn't write them all, but Harry, you wrote some of them!

Letters? What letters? I sent one or two after I broke it off, Harry complained. Lifting a suspicious eyebrow Black motioned with the wand.

Accio leather valise, he muttered and the leather bag Murphy had given him floated into the room. He rested it atop of Snape for a moment as he riffled through finding the packet of letters.
Here, these are the letters I'm talking about.

a soft whimper arose from Snape. Dropping the valise to the ground, Black motioned to his godson to move back.

+be silent!+ Black mouthed. With a sneer Harry chose to obey and sat quietly.

the plaintive sound welled up.

I'm here Severus. Does your jaw feel better? Dr. James
released it while you were asleep, Black set his wand down and began to gently stroke the waking wizard's face.

where am I Sirius? what's happened? asked the confused exhausted voice.

You're in Albus' bedroom, remember? You've been hurt and
Albus wants you right where he knows you'll be safe, Black reached for a cup on the table next to him.

I'm always hurt and in Albus' bedroom, Snape said softly.

No you're not silly. Here, have a sip of cool juice, Black tucked the straw between Snape's lips and encouraged him to drink. The fruity concoction was heavily laced with a sleeping draught.

That's good, Severus. Dr. James said you needed to sleep,
Do you think you can sleep for me? Black set the cup down and carefully arranged the nearly somnolent man more comfortably against him.

'k Siri, I'll try, Snape murmured, slurring his friend's name. Eyelids fluttered and shut as breathing lengthened. out. After a long moment Black glanced up at his godson. He felt the anger start to drain away.

You love him, Harry said, staring incredulously at Black. Now the younger wizard thought he understood the anger never suspecting his godfather could fear him.

He was in a coma for three days. Dr. James has kept him
mostly asleep while they healed the major problems, Black explained ignoring his godson's sharp comment.

Harry shrugged. The idea that Vachel or his friends had something to do with this was ludicrous. He looked at the packet of letters in his hand. The first one he remembered and admitted as much to Black. The second he somewhat recalled, but it was a hazy memory. He'd had too much to drink that particular night and Vachel, or was it one of Vachel's friends? Someone had helped by dictating large parts to him to write. The final six he had no recollection of at all. The writing certainly looked like his, but Harry tossed them aside and told his godfather they weren't his.

I suppose those two little visits to the Manor harassing Severus
weren't you, either? Black asked sarcastically.

I only went to the manor once after I left. You and Remus had
gone into town to shop, Harry countered. At first the younger wizard was confused. But his godfather's accusations drew him back to righteous anger and shock.

Black snorted. Something was going on but he couldn't decide if Harry were lying to protect his friends or if he were under the Imperious curse. From Black's limited knowledge he wasn't sure.

I find it hard to believe you, Black drawled in a perfect imitation of the sleeping Potions Master, deciding to push Harry.
You sit there telling me you had no knowledge of those
letters or screaming at Severus? What next, you're going to
tell me you didn't know his home was destroyed, either?

Harry stared in disbelief at Black.

Oh, come off it Harry, the place is a total loss. Remus has gone
out to sift through the rubble with half the Hogwarts staff and
most of the seventh year students, Black said. With a jerk Harry snapped up out of the chair.

You are lying! Harry nearly yelled.
You have to be! Vachel and I have done nothing wrong!

Black just shook his head.

No, Harry. When you and Vachel left we had to blast the
morning room door open because it was spelled shut. Severus
had been beaten and manacled to the wall. We brought him to
the clinic and found out several hours later that his home was
destroyed. The Dark mark had been cast above it, Black briefly explained.
Dobby survived only because we sent him to Albus to bring
him to the clinic.

Vachel said he only yelled at Severus, Harry said a little softer.
I am going to go see for myself!

Well, then, go. But if you apparate be sure to go to the
gardens and not the house. It's totaled, Black said with a sinking heart. Harry was confused. His Harry would never had hurt Snape.
You really didn't know, did you?

I have to go Sirius, Harry responded and ran from the room.



The young wizard apparated in the garden. He could hear the bees mumbling in the flowers. Before him was the Manor.

Or the remains of it.

Anything wooden was charred, much falling into ashes. He simply stared at the blackened stone arch numbly. He was aware of voices, perhaps heard his name called out. A hand touched his shoulder.

He found himself on his knees. At some point his arms had wrapped around his body. The house was gone and Albus Dumbledore was sitting next to him.

That was an interesting sight. Dumbledore with his hair tightly braided back and beard wrapped in cloth. In trousers!

Ah, Mr. Potter, I see you've decided to recognize me, the Headmaster said firmly. Harry managed to nod vaguely then looked over the ruins. There was Remus Lupin and Hermione Granger working with several students he supposed. Wands out and moving over a pile of debris.

Not everything was totally destroyed. Several areas had been
carefully charmed. His personal brewing logs, for instance,
seemed to have survived, Dumbledore said almost casually. In fact the Headmaster had to tamp down his anger at this former student and officially recognized savior of the wizarding world.
Severus has a tendency to change protection charms often
enough over those. But I'm afraid he's lost most everything else.
Did he ever mention his protections to you?

Of course Snape had. Snape had shared practically everything with the curious Harry. He'd made no secret of the disarming spells over his books and curios. The Potions Master had, over the course of six month convalescing, shown him nearly every nook and cranny of the manor. Harry simply looked at Dumbledore as tears started to flow.

I didn't believe Sirius, the young man managed to get out of his tight throat.

You seem to have some friends that do not care for
Severus at all, Dumbledore said a bit more callously than he meant to. Maybe. Harry startled.

There are always a few people hanging about Vachel's place.
Ben, Iris, Andy, and others. Vachel's home is open most of the
time, Harry murmured. The shock was wrapping around him like a cold blanket of snow.

Dumbledore said more kindly than he felt,
Harry, you are going to Hogwarts and stay there for now. We'll
send for Vachel. I don't think you are very safe around these
friends' now that they've destroyed Severus.

But I saw Severus, he's alive, Harry protested.

And everything he's ever had or done had been completely
wiped out by either the ministry or the remnants of Voldemort's
followers, Dumbledore pronounced coldly. How in the name of all things holy were they going to tell Snape his home was gone?

But Sirius was furious when I came into your rooms, Harry felt the small ball of panic growing inside him.
He doesn't want me at Hogwarts.

You can have run of the castle except for my office and rooms, Dumbledore said.
You will leave Severus alone. If you want, Ms. Granger might need
some help in the potion labs.

Harry looked over at his friend.

I doubt that very much. I, I wasn't very good to her, Harry murmured.

Perhaps not, but she has a great capacity for understanding
and forgiveness, the Headmaster said. We'd better leave
now Harry.


And soon Harry was back in Hogwarts treading down stairs and hallways to the staff wing. A door opened into a small sitting room, windows open letting in the breeze.

Dumbledore made him sit in a stuffed chair as he seated himself nearby. Reaching for a small bell he summoned a house elf.

Beryl will assist you Harry. He will bring you some robes and
personal toiletries. When we owl Vachel this evening you can
have him bring you your own things. Meals are at the same time
as when you attended. Is there anything else I can do for you? the Headmaster asked. Harry gave a vague shake of his head.

Then I will see you at dinner in three hours. Please stay on
the grounds. With that pronouncement Dumbledore swept out of the room.