It all started with a Pensieve
Chapter Four
Harry wasn't about to waste any time. He ran straight from Snape's chambers to his dormitory and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. He charged back up to the Owlery, wondering what he was going to say. Once there, he sat down at the ledge and spread his parchment out. Dipping his quill in ink, Harry began to write.
Dear Snuffles,
I was wondering about what you used to do at school. Gryffindor and Slytherin are out doing each other for pranking, and I need some more ideas. On that note, Hermione and me were having a little debate yesterday. We were wondering how you got Snape down to the shrieking shack. Don't worry, we're not planning on killing anyone, but we need to get Malfoy to go somewhere. So write as soon as you can, and I hope you're well. Love Harry.
Harry put down his quill and read the letter over. Okay, so most of it was an outright lie, but there was some truth to it. With a sigh of guilt about lying to his Godfather, Harry found Hedwig and tied the letter to his leg, then sent him on his way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, Harry was awakened by Ron shoving him roughly in the side. "Get up, you lazy bum." Harry's eyes slowly opened and focused on where he was. "Hurry up, class starts in ten minutes." Ron warned, throwing Harry's school robes at him.
Harry, groggily, managed to get up and put on his clothes, with much effort and force his way down to Defense Against the Darks.
He took a seat between Ron and Hermione. "Are you sleeping okay?" Hermione whispered, moments into the lesson.
"Yeah. Why?" Harry yawned loudly as he said this.
"You've been tired and late for class for the last week. Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey." She suggested, with a helpful glint in her eyes.
"I'm fine, really." He assured her.
"You aren't having those dreams again, are you? Because if you are, you should go straight to Dumbledore."
This was really starting to get on Harry's nerves. "Listen, I'm fine. Just perfect, now will you lay off, for just five seconds?" Hermione, clearly offended, turned her head in disgust.
"I was just trying to help," She muttered, and those were the last words that she said to him for the remainder of the lesson.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Classes went by normally enough for Harry, but he only could think about the letter he had sent to Sirius, and when he would be getting a response. Hermione remained cold and distant throughout the day, refusing to talk to Harry or even work beside him. Ron, for once being the peacekeeper, attempted to get them to calm down, but it had little effect.
By the end of the day Harry had one plan, to sneak down to Snape's pensieve. When he was there, he had realized he didn't have to deal with his life. He could zone out and pay attention to something that had almost nothing to do with him. Harry was well aware that it had evolved to more then wanting to know why his father would ever hurt him like that, it was bordering on obsession, but Harry knew it was a way for him to forget what was going on.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He wrapped his cloak tighter around his body, trying to block out the cold temperature of the dungeon. He was just a little more then halfway to Snape's chambers, and so far nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It was when he descended down a steep flight of stairs that he heard the yelling.
"Snape, you get back here this second." He heard a voice booming. It was Lucius Malfoy, Harry was sure of it.
"I have papers to grade, Lucius. I'll see you in the morning." Harry heard Snape's voice and turned the corner, being as silent as possible. Snape was standing awkwardly, wanting to leave the scene, but unable to because of Lucius' hand, holding him firmly in place.
"We need to talk!" He demanded, anger humming in his voice. Harry huddled up against the wall, watching as Lucius tightened his grip on Snape's arm, and digs his nails into the bony wrist.
"No! We don't." Severus pulled his arm away in a rough yank, and stormed down in the opposite direction. Lucius wasn't about to give up so easily. He grabbed Severus by the back hood of his robes, and shoved him up against the stonewall.
"Listen to me, now!" Lucius demanded, hitting Severus in the face, causing his head to connect with the stone, and a sickening crush was heard. "Little wimp, can't please anyone." Lucius growled and slammed Severus' frame into the wall harder, earning a weal cry of protest from Severus' lips. Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Snape as he was so ruthlessly beaten. "You'll listen now, won't you?" Lucius kicked Severus hard in his ankle. And Severus nodded.
"Yes," His voice was practically inaudible.
"You haven't been responding to The Mark, recently. Our Lord is not pleased, Severus." Lucius hissed, leaning into whisper it into Snape's ear. "The next time he calls, you will answer, or I will come here and bring you to him personally," Lucius threatened, and Harry was sure he saw Snape shudder. "And believe me, Snape. You don't want me to bring you to him." With that Lucius shoved Severus back into the wall, as a warning, and turned on his heels, heading up the dungeon stairs. He narrowly missed hitting Harry with his arm, but the boy was quick enough to evade him. He disappeared up the stairs and Harry turned his attention back to his professor.
Snape was shaking. Harry watched as he sunk to the ground, and rested his head on his hands, struggling not to cry. His breath was uneven and his face was pale with fright. For a short moment, Harry had the idea to walk over and just wrap his arms around the frightened man, but then he remembered whom he was thinking about.
Snape slowly stood, resting his weight mostly on the wall, and stumbled, clearly in some pain, down the corridor. Harry grimaced as he saw the back of his head was matted with blood. He supposed it was from when Malfoy had slammed him into the wall. Looking at the wall where Snape's head had been proved to have blood resting on it as well. Harry turned to go back up to his dormitory, knowing there was no point in staying much longer, but just when he was going up the steps he heard a crash, and a weak whimper.
Harry turned back to see Snape collapsed on the floor, not moving. Panic seized Harry and he threw caution to the wind, discarding his invisibility cloak and running over to Snape, bending down to kneel beside him.
Snape's eyes were closed and Harry could feel his pulse. He had fainted. Harry, not knowing what else to do, levitated his limp body with his wand, and floated him down the curling hallways, until he reached Snape's chambers. He spoke the password and the snake slithered up the wall, leaving the door open. Harry levitated Snape through his chambers and into his bedroom, placing him on his stomach, so his bloodied head is showing. Harry went to Snape's cabinet and searched through the many jars and bottles of potions. Finally he found one that he recognized from class that healed wounds. Harry grabbed it off the shelf and went back to where Snape lay. He was groaning softly, and his eyelids began to flick open and shut. Harry quickly retrieved his wand from his robes and shot a spell at him, putting him back to sleep. After Snape had fallen into a more fitful sleep, Harry sat of the bed beside him, and applied the lotion to his head, as gently as he could manage, trying not to think about whether it stung or not, as he was sure it did.
The wound healed itself with the potion, and Harry decided that he should really get going before Snape woke up. He was about to leave when a pained expression came over Snape's face. He wriggled a bit, and let out a pained sob, rolling over and putting himself in the fetal position. He was having a nightmare. Harry sat back down, unable to leave him when he was clearly in some sort of pain.
"It's okay. It's just a nightmare." Harry soothed, putting his hand on Snape's shoulder. The man cried out, louder this time, and buried his head further in the pillow. "Calm down, it's okay." Harry rubbed smooth circles on his back, trying to settle the nightmare before he woke up.
Snape began to cry, tears flowing down his pristine cheeks. Harry watched as the sleep induced man, stopped fidgeting and moaning, and just cried, as though he never cried before. Long minutes passed, and Snape didn't stop, if anything the sobs only increased. Harry couldn't help but stare at Snape's face. The tears made him look even paler, and there was something innocent about it.
Harry pushed himself closer and fondled Snape's face. Snape let out a whimper, but didn't wake. Pain still poured from his eyes, and he let out a choked back sob. Harry found himself laying next to him, and wrapping his arms around him, and bringing Snape's head to rest on his shoulder. "It's okay, professor. I'm here." Harry kissed Snape's sweat drenched hair, only wanting to comfort the distraught man.
Harry was surprised when Snape wrapped his scrawny limbs, both arms and legs around him, and cried even harder. Harry kept rubbing his back and whispering soft words to him. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Snape slowly settled back into sleep, his face still wet with the tears he had shed, and sweat still clinging to his clammy skin and clothing. Harry untangled himself from his professor, and snuck quietly out of the room, wondering briefly if he should check the Pensieve for a while, but decided against it, just incase Snape woke up from his restless sleep.
Harry creped out of Snape's chambers and picked up his cloak from where he left it, and rewrapped himself in it, sneaking back up to his dormitory, wondering what the hell had just happened, and why he had just done what he did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry, once again, woke late the next morning, being dragged up just in time for breakfast, by Ron.
Hermione didn't say a word to Harry, as the three of them made their way down to the Great Hall, but she didn't forget to give Ron a big hug, and smugly link arms with him for the remainder of the trip to breakfast.
Harry scanned the faculty table to see that indeed Snape was there, but he looked far from good. He was just as pale as he had been the night before, and now deep black hollows were below his eyes, showing that he hadn't sleep long after Harry had left. He played with the food on his plate, Harry observed, but didn't eat anything, nor did he talk with anyone around him, even when it was clear that McGonagall wanted to start some sort of conversation.
Harry forced his eyes away from the faculty table and focused on his breakfast. Suddenly he wasn't so hungry anymore. "I'm going upstairs to sleep some more. I'll see you in class," Harry announced to Ron, before he got up and left the Great Hall for his dormitory, only wanting a little more escape.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's getting a little more slashy! I liked this one, pretty well. I hope you all enjoyed to, so whether you did or not please review. I intended for this chapter to some out sooner, and to be longer, but it didn't turn out quite like that. Oh well, it's still good in my opinion. Like I said before, please review and tell me what you think.
Chapter Four
Harry wasn't about to waste any time. He ran straight from Snape's chambers to his dormitory and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. He charged back up to the Owlery, wondering what he was going to say. Once there, he sat down at the ledge and spread his parchment out. Dipping his quill in ink, Harry began to write.
Dear Snuffles,
I was wondering about what you used to do at school. Gryffindor and Slytherin are out doing each other for pranking, and I need some more ideas. On that note, Hermione and me were having a little debate yesterday. We were wondering how you got Snape down to the shrieking shack. Don't worry, we're not planning on killing anyone, but we need to get Malfoy to go somewhere. So write as soon as you can, and I hope you're well. Love Harry.
Harry put down his quill and read the letter over. Okay, so most of it was an outright lie, but there was some truth to it. With a sigh of guilt about lying to his Godfather, Harry found Hedwig and tied the letter to his leg, then sent him on his way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, Harry was awakened by Ron shoving him roughly in the side. "Get up, you lazy bum." Harry's eyes slowly opened and focused on where he was. "Hurry up, class starts in ten minutes." Ron warned, throwing Harry's school robes at him.
Harry, groggily, managed to get up and put on his clothes, with much effort and force his way down to Defense Against the Darks.
He took a seat between Ron and Hermione. "Are you sleeping okay?" Hermione whispered, moments into the lesson.
"Yeah. Why?" Harry yawned loudly as he said this.
"You've been tired and late for class for the last week. Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey." She suggested, with a helpful glint in her eyes.
"I'm fine, really." He assured her.
"You aren't having those dreams again, are you? Because if you are, you should go straight to Dumbledore."
This was really starting to get on Harry's nerves. "Listen, I'm fine. Just perfect, now will you lay off, for just five seconds?" Hermione, clearly offended, turned her head in disgust.
"I was just trying to help," She muttered, and those were the last words that she said to him for the remainder of the lesson.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Classes went by normally enough for Harry, but he only could think about the letter he had sent to Sirius, and when he would be getting a response. Hermione remained cold and distant throughout the day, refusing to talk to Harry or even work beside him. Ron, for once being the peacekeeper, attempted to get them to calm down, but it had little effect.
By the end of the day Harry had one plan, to sneak down to Snape's pensieve. When he was there, he had realized he didn't have to deal with his life. He could zone out and pay attention to something that had almost nothing to do with him. Harry was well aware that it had evolved to more then wanting to know why his father would ever hurt him like that, it was bordering on obsession, but Harry knew it was a way for him to forget what was going on.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He wrapped his cloak tighter around his body, trying to block out the cold temperature of the dungeon. He was just a little more then halfway to Snape's chambers, and so far nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It was when he descended down a steep flight of stairs that he heard the yelling.
"Snape, you get back here this second." He heard a voice booming. It was Lucius Malfoy, Harry was sure of it.
"I have papers to grade, Lucius. I'll see you in the morning." Harry heard Snape's voice and turned the corner, being as silent as possible. Snape was standing awkwardly, wanting to leave the scene, but unable to because of Lucius' hand, holding him firmly in place.
"We need to talk!" He demanded, anger humming in his voice. Harry huddled up against the wall, watching as Lucius tightened his grip on Snape's arm, and digs his nails into the bony wrist.
"No! We don't." Severus pulled his arm away in a rough yank, and stormed down in the opposite direction. Lucius wasn't about to give up so easily. He grabbed Severus by the back hood of his robes, and shoved him up against the stonewall.
"Listen to me, now!" Lucius demanded, hitting Severus in the face, causing his head to connect with the stone, and a sickening crush was heard. "Little wimp, can't please anyone." Lucius growled and slammed Severus' frame into the wall harder, earning a weal cry of protest from Severus' lips. Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Snape as he was so ruthlessly beaten. "You'll listen now, won't you?" Lucius kicked Severus hard in his ankle. And Severus nodded.
"Yes," His voice was practically inaudible.
"You haven't been responding to The Mark, recently. Our Lord is not pleased, Severus." Lucius hissed, leaning into whisper it into Snape's ear. "The next time he calls, you will answer, or I will come here and bring you to him personally," Lucius threatened, and Harry was sure he saw Snape shudder. "And believe me, Snape. You don't want me to bring you to him." With that Lucius shoved Severus back into the wall, as a warning, and turned on his heels, heading up the dungeon stairs. He narrowly missed hitting Harry with his arm, but the boy was quick enough to evade him. He disappeared up the stairs and Harry turned his attention back to his professor.
Snape was shaking. Harry watched as he sunk to the ground, and rested his head on his hands, struggling not to cry. His breath was uneven and his face was pale with fright. For a short moment, Harry had the idea to walk over and just wrap his arms around the frightened man, but then he remembered whom he was thinking about.
Snape slowly stood, resting his weight mostly on the wall, and stumbled, clearly in some pain, down the corridor. Harry grimaced as he saw the back of his head was matted with blood. He supposed it was from when Malfoy had slammed him into the wall. Looking at the wall where Snape's head had been proved to have blood resting on it as well. Harry turned to go back up to his dormitory, knowing there was no point in staying much longer, but just when he was going up the steps he heard a crash, and a weak whimper.
Harry turned back to see Snape collapsed on the floor, not moving. Panic seized Harry and he threw caution to the wind, discarding his invisibility cloak and running over to Snape, bending down to kneel beside him.
Snape's eyes were closed and Harry could feel his pulse. He had fainted. Harry, not knowing what else to do, levitated his limp body with his wand, and floated him down the curling hallways, until he reached Snape's chambers. He spoke the password and the snake slithered up the wall, leaving the door open. Harry levitated Snape through his chambers and into his bedroom, placing him on his stomach, so his bloodied head is showing. Harry went to Snape's cabinet and searched through the many jars and bottles of potions. Finally he found one that he recognized from class that healed wounds. Harry grabbed it off the shelf and went back to where Snape lay. He was groaning softly, and his eyelids began to flick open and shut. Harry quickly retrieved his wand from his robes and shot a spell at him, putting him back to sleep. After Snape had fallen into a more fitful sleep, Harry sat of the bed beside him, and applied the lotion to his head, as gently as he could manage, trying not to think about whether it stung or not, as he was sure it did.
The wound healed itself with the potion, and Harry decided that he should really get going before Snape woke up. He was about to leave when a pained expression came over Snape's face. He wriggled a bit, and let out a pained sob, rolling over and putting himself in the fetal position. He was having a nightmare. Harry sat back down, unable to leave him when he was clearly in some sort of pain.
"It's okay. It's just a nightmare." Harry soothed, putting his hand on Snape's shoulder. The man cried out, louder this time, and buried his head further in the pillow. "Calm down, it's okay." Harry rubbed smooth circles on his back, trying to settle the nightmare before he woke up.
Snape began to cry, tears flowing down his pristine cheeks. Harry watched as the sleep induced man, stopped fidgeting and moaning, and just cried, as though he never cried before. Long minutes passed, and Snape didn't stop, if anything the sobs only increased. Harry couldn't help but stare at Snape's face. The tears made him look even paler, and there was something innocent about it.
Harry pushed himself closer and fondled Snape's face. Snape let out a whimper, but didn't wake. Pain still poured from his eyes, and he let out a choked back sob. Harry found himself laying next to him, and wrapping his arms around him, and bringing Snape's head to rest on his shoulder. "It's okay, professor. I'm here." Harry kissed Snape's sweat drenched hair, only wanting to comfort the distraught man.
Harry was surprised when Snape wrapped his scrawny limbs, both arms and legs around him, and cried even harder. Harry kept rubbing his back and whispering soft words to him. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Snape slowly settled back into sleep, his face still wet with the tears he had shed, and sweat still clinging to his clammy skin and clothing. Harry untangled himself from his professor, and snuck quietly out of the room, wondering briefly if he should check the Pensieve for a while, but decided against it, just incase Snape woke up from his restless sleep.
Harry creped out of Snape's chambers and picked up his cloak from where he left it, and rewrapped himself in it, sneaking back up to his dormitory, wondering what the hell had just happened, and why he had just done what he did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry, once again, woke late the next morning, being dragged up just in time for breakfast, by Ron.
Hermione didn't say a word to Harry, as the three of them made their way down to the Great Hall, but she didn't forget to give Ron a big hug, and smugly link arms with him for the remainder of the trip to breakfast.
Harry scanned the faculty table to see that indeed Snape was there, but he looked far from good. He was just as pale as he had been the night before, and now deep black hollows were below his eyes, showing that he hadn't sleep long after Harry had left. He played with the food on his plate, Harry observed, but didn't eat anything, nor did he talk with anyone around him, even when it was clear that McGonagall wanted to start some sort of conversation.
Harry forced his eyes away from the faculty table and focused on his breakfast. Suddenly he wasn't so hungry anymore. "I'm going upstairs to sleep some more. I'll see you in class," Harry announced to Ron, before he got up and left the Great Hall for his dormitory, only wanting a little more escape.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's getting a little more slashy! I liked this one, pretty well. I hope you all enjoyed to, so whether you did or not please review. I intended for this chapter to some out sooner, and to be longer, but it didn't turn out quite like that. Oh well, it's still good in my opinion. Like I said before, please review and tell me what you think.