Disclaimer: See prologue
A/N: Thanks again to all of you who have reviewed. Thank you also for taking an interest in my story. Sorry this chapter took a little longer to post, I promise the next one will be up faster.
Chapter Two
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The halls of Hogwart's were empty, all except for Professors McGonagall and Snape, as well as little Harry Potter. Harry had slid his hand into McGonagall's and was moving his legs rapidly in a meager attempt to keep up with the two teachers. Snape of course led the group, his long strides clearly indicating his desire to separate himself from Potter and McGonagall.
"Harry do try to keep up dear," said McGonagall for probably the fourth time after feeling a slight tug at her arm, caused by Harry's tired legs and weak strides. The boy remained silent but quickened his pace to a slight jog.
"And where, Professor, do you plan on taking Mister Potter," Snape questioned petulantly, not bothering to reduce his pace or turn around.
"The hospital wing," McGonagall said, ignoring Snape's obvious irritation. "Harry has had quite an adventure tonight, I'd like Poppy to make sure no physical damage was done." Snape scoffed loudly at McGonagall's last remark. Of course, he thought, we can't let anything horrible happen to precious Harry Potter. One little scratch and the boy would probably be on the cover of every Wizarding newspaper and magazine in Europe. "Hurry along Harry," McGonagall urged again. But Harry couldn't help his weary feet or his immediate fascination with his strange new surroundings. He had never seen any place so big, so magnificent. For Harry, the whole evening had seemed like a dream. He had, almost magically, disappeared from the Dursley's, and then, somehow unbeknownst to Harry, had appeared outside of this grandiose castle (the only thing he remembered was grabbing hold of a ruddy, old boot). Harry didn't deny the possibility that there was something different about him. All his life he had been able to make things happen when he was frightened or angry, he just didn't know how or why he was able to make those things happen. "Here we are Harry," McGonagall stated as she ushered Harry into a large room with many, many beds. "I'm going to leave you here with Poppy. She's our nurse and she will take excellent care of you. Just do whatever she asks of you and be a good boy," McGonagall released Harry's hand and followed Snape out the door. Harry looked up at the face of the woman in front of him; she seemed friendly enough.
"Hello Harry, how are you doing?" She asked cheerily, Harry chose to remain silent. "Well then..." she mumbled after a moment of silence. "Why don't you go get yourself set up on one of the beds over there," the woman (Poppy, Harry assumed) pointed to a row of at least ten beds. Harry shuffled his feet to the nearest bed and, after much effort, pulled himself up and sat upright on the bed, not sure of what to expect next.
"So how is Harry doing Severus?" Dumbledore asked as the Potions Master entered his office, his lips twisted into a familiar frown. "A bit confused I suppose," Dumbledore added, seeing that Snape had no desire to report on the condition of his enemy's son. "Does he know where he is?" Snape shook his head as he slumped into a chair across from Dumbledore's desk. "Well I suppose someone should tell him..." Dumbledore allowed his gaze to drift from the parchment on his desk to Snape's eyes. Snape stared at Dumbledore for a moment, unwilling to believe that the Headmaster expected him to adopt this task.
"You want me to talk to Potter?" Snape questioned, praying that Dumbledore would come to his senses and say no.
"McGonagall has far too much to do at this time, what with school year preparations and all--"
"As do I Headmaster," Snape insisted. "I do not think it would be wise for me to drop everything to," he paused just long enough for his mouth to curl into a sneer, "tend to Potter," Snape spat out the end of the sentence, most likely due to his disgust for the entire Potter situation. He held absolutely no desire to spend another second with that boy or anyone else from the Potter lineage for that matter. For Snape, the name Potter carried with it memories of embarrassment, ridicule, taunts, and jeers, memories that he did not wish to be reminded of.
"I was under the impression that you had completed your planning for the up-coming year," Dumbledore surmised, knowing full well that Snape had written his lesson plans and prepared his potions months ago. Snape only glared at the old man. He couldn't lie to Dumbledore, not after what he had risked for him. "I only want you to clarify things for Harry," Dumbledore insisted gently after a moment of silence had passed between the two. "Who knows what those relatives of his have told him about his past," Snape's brow furrowed more irately as his irritation grew. He knew that Dumbledore had made his decision and there was nothing he could do to escape his little chat with Potter.
"I'll visit him in the hospital wing once Madam Pomfrey is done with him," Snape said grudgingly, his lips forced into a false smile. Dumbledore nodded contently and continued with his work.
Snape scowled as he strode towards the hospital wing, walking slowly in a meager attempt to prolong his talk with Potter. He reluctantly turned the corner and entered the wing, moving his head from side to side, trying to find Harry, but the boy was nowhere in sight. Snape quickly assumed that Potter had disappeared again. Just like his father, though Snape, never any consideration for others. We go out of our way to find the boy and he repays us by running away, typical Potter behavior.
"Oh Severus, thank goodness," Poppy called as she hurried towards Snape. "He won't come out, I don't know what's wrong with him," she seemed panicked, that much Snape could tell.
"What happened?" Snape asked bitterly, not really caring where Potter was or what had happened to him.
"I only asked him to take off his shirt, so I could check his breathing and all that," Poppy was walking quickly in the direction of one of the beds. "He refused, he just kept shaking his head," Poppy shook her head in imitation of Harry. "So I decided to take out my wand and check him over that way," she shrugged her shoulders. "I guess he'd never seen one before--"
"Where is he Madam Pomfrey?" Snape questioned, tired of hearing her account of the event.
"Under the bed," she stated simply, pointing to where Harry was presumably hiding. Snape rolled his eyes out of sheer irritation as he bent over to get a clearer view of the underside of the bed. Harry was hiding beneath the foot of the bed, his legs clutched to his chest and his eyes clearly displaying his fright.
"Out Potter," Snape growled as he sneered at the boy loathingly. Harry looked at the scowling, dark-haired, long nosed man, deciding whether or not it would be within his best interest to vacate the underside of the bed or to remain where he was. After staring at Snape for some time, attempting to asses the situation, Harry slowly crawled out from under the bed. Snape sighed heavily out of sheer frustration as he stood up off the ground once again. "Well Potter, it's about time," Snape hissed as he prepared to leave.
"Oh Severus," Poppy began, causing Snape to turn around, "did you come in here for something?" Snape cringed as he remembered the little talk he was supposed to have with Harry. He looked at the boy briefly before turning around completely and walking over to the bed Harry was standing by. Harry looked completely confused and more than a little frightened.
"Sit Potter," Snape growled irritably as he pointed to a chair that was next to the bed. Harry sat, afraid of what Snape might do if he did not obey.
"Well then," Poppy started, "I'll leave you two alone." She took a quick glance at Snape, whose lips had curled into their trademark sneer. "We can finish our examination later," she added, looking at Harry. With that, Harry and Professor Snape were alone.
