Harry stood, once again, facing a large gargoyle, wondering why Dumbledore had summoned him this time. Probably discovered yet another attempt on my life, he thought wearily. It was getting to the point where he thought that if Voldemort was going to kill him in the end, which was highly likely, he might as well hurry up and bloody get on with it. All this waiting and circling and prancing about was getting boring. He sighed.
"Jelly worms," he intoned, wondering briefly if they actually wriggled, before pushing that distasteful thought to the back of his mind, and ascending, with some trepidation, up the newly revealed staircase.
He hadn't realised he had reached the door, and that he had been standing there for some time, until he heard Dumbledore's voice.
"Come in Harry."
Here we go, taking a deep breath, Harry stepped into the room. There was someone else already there.
"Snape?" His voice was surprised. Snape curled his lip
"Professor Snape, Harry." Dumbledore chastised gently, emphasising the first word.
"Sorry. Professor Snape, I was just er surprised that's all." He stuttered. Damn, Snape hasn't even said anything and I am already making a complete prat of myself.
"Mr Potter," Snape sneered. "How kind of you to join us." At last. The words weren't spoken, but they hung in the air, belittling Harry and making him clench his hands at his side to keep calm.
"Well, I will leave you two to it." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he rose to leave.
WHAT? Snape and Harry's thoughts screamed together. You can't leave me alone with… with HIM!
"As I understand it Severus, my services are not required for this plan of yours. Harry, you will be spending your spare time assisting Professor Snape in his research" Oh yes, this could turn out rather well, all things considered. The old man suppressed a chuckle and left the room before either of them stopped gaping in horror and had a chance to say something.
As the door closed behind him, Snape slumped in his chair. "That man will be the death of me." Probably very literally.
"So er Professor, why am I here?"
A good question indeed. "I need you," bad phrasing Severus. Oh shut up you! He supposed it wasn't a good sign when his head started arguing with itself, it hadn't done that since… Harry flinched as Snape's face started twitching unpleasantly. "I mean Potter, that I believe I have come up with a way to defeat Voldemort once and for all and I need your help."
"Oh." Eloquent as always I see. For a moment, Harry thought that Snape had spoken, and was about to retort when he realised it had been his mind, it had just sounded like Snape. Now that WAS a worrying thought. "Ok, what do I have to do." Can't be anything too unpleasant or Dumbledore wouldn't have agreed to it. Right?
"I need you to tell me all you know about why Voldemort couldn't kill you. Also I need to know about the ritual he invoked, when he was resurrected. I know it will be painful for you to relate all these memories but believe me, it is very, very necessary. I may also need a sample of your blood." God, the boy looks terrified. Not that I am surprised. If it were me, I'd rather forget. Unfortunately, I need to know. Would have tried to ask gently but tact never was my strong suit. Snape was surprised to find, for the first time he could ever remember, that that actually bothered him.
"Oh." Harry had lost track of how many times he had said that in the last few minutes. Snape's eyes were burning into his but they didn't terrify him as they usually did. And he hadn't said anything too nasty. Yet. "I guess I can do that, but you already know most of it."
"I need to be sure I haven't missed anything, the smallest little detail could be crucial to our success."
Our success? Harry thought It sounds almost like we are going to be working together on this. He just spoke to me like a partner, an equal. But this is Snape. Although, he is looking almost human. Actually, he looks dead tired and depressed. Harry was surprised at such thoughts, and wondered, not for the first time, what exactly Dumbledore had asked him to do at the end of the last term.
"Um, ok then, when do you want to start." And I had been complaining about having nothing to do…
"As soon as possible, we're working in a time-frame here." One month, one month… the words kept spinning in his head. "Tomorrow morning if possible, I have some preparations to begin tonight, and it is late. Come down to my office, 10am, that should give you plenty of time to eat breakfast."
"See you then." Harry turned to leave, then added as an afterthought, "Good night Professor."
Snape looked almost shocked for a moment, before recovering his composure and replying. "Good night Potter."
