Betaed by kateydidnt
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Chapter 6 - Quarrels
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Severus was infuriated as he left the Infirmary. The doors shut with a bang behind him as he crossed them and faced Dumbledore's office.
His almost ran to the Headmaster not noticing the students who tried to avoid him, neither Hermione who looked as she wanted to tell him something important. He waved her aside without saying a word; he saw everything almost in red in his burning rage and he felt an enormous urge to find Figg first, but he knew that it would be all too dangerous if she and him were in the same room alone. So he was heading towards Albus to ask him to take Figg into account.
He couldn't help but clench his hands into fists as he thought of the last hours. It was a mere coincidence that a second year Hufflepuff had made a mistake in her potion which had exploded burning tiny holes into his robes so that he had been compelled to change them before the next lesson, because he hadn't planned to go home for at least six or seven hours. He had been still fuming at the stupid girl as he had entered the room, but in the next moment he had tripped against something and had fallen onto the unconscious Harry.
He didn't know what he had felt precisely. He had been appalled wondering what Harry had been doing at home at that time of the day, then scared, and finally terrified as the boy hadn't seemed to regain his consciousness fast. He had gathered the still too thin body into his arms and had brought him to Poppy as fast as he could without causing more problems.
The way to the Infirmary had seemed an eternity. He had been so terrified to loose Harry that he could barely resist the emerging panic, which would have destroyed the remainders of his composure totally, if he had let it rule over him. But he hadn't. He had resisted and compelled himself to think as clearly as possible. If it had been possible at all.
Harry... In those minutes of terror he had relived the night when he had returned to Hogwarts from Nightmare Manor with the dead boy - and of course Quietus...
Harry... he had felt his heart ripped in two. He had been so careless. He had missed something, it would be his fault if Harry had died. No, Harry couldn't die, Harry had been a professional survivor for his whole life, Harry, Harry...
Poppy had had some difficult moments when she had tried to take the boy from Severus' grip and finally she had to care for the man first giving him a strong calming potion. She had mumbled something about double shock while Severus let the boy go, and she poured the potion into Snape's throat first and just after into the boy's. But Severus hadn't calmed down. He had been sitting next to Harry for three long hours until Harry had opened his eyes, holding his thin, bony hand in his hand horrified by the idea of loosing him.
Those three hours had given him the chance to think about his and Harry's common life, their relationship and he recognised that he wouldn't be able to live without the boy, not any more. The once so hated prat had turned to be his life's light, his last chance to feel, to love, he had become something akin to a... son to him.
A son.
Yes, most definitely his son.
But he would never tell that to Harry. He didn't intend to freak him out with his stupid, ill wish to call him his son, but as he had been sitting at the bedside he had realised that he had considered Harry his son for a while. He had smiled sadly and he had been suddenly jealous of Quietus and even with Potter who both had been his fathers - and he, the stupid, greasy idiot had missed it totally. However... No. Harry had loved him, he had known it for sure, but he had always complained that he had felt alone. Times like that Severus had struggled not to show his disappointment as it had hurt. He hadn't deserved to be anyone's father, most of all Harry's.
So, when Harry finally had opened his eyes and even his mouth and had answered Severus' question (What happened?) Severus had jumped to his feet ready to exterminate Figg and anybody like her once and for all.
And he was now standing in front of the gargoyle struggling to remember the password. He stared blankly at the statue and nothing came to his mind.
He sighed and remembered that Dumbledore had changed it on the day the Aurors had come to do their investigations amongst the students. It was something humorous, Severus was sure, he had even smiled at that... But WHAT?
He had to calm down if he wanted to meet Albus. He took some deep breath and concentrated on the password. It was a name of a sweet again. Not an average name, but something, which had another meaning... another. He suddenly smiled. He leaned to the statue and whispered into its ear intimately: "Fudge."
The gargoyle leapt aside and let he climb the spiral stairs behind itself. Until he arrived at the office's entrance he felt totally calm.
But just as he entered and Albus asked about his reason for coming, his rage overcame him again.
"Albus, call that beloved Figg of yours here NOW!" he yelled at him impatiently tapping with his leg to emphasise the urgency.
The Headmaster, however, didn't seem to hurry, indeed. He cast an investigating gaze to the impatient and fuming Potions Master and asked again.
"Severus, what happened?"
"This is precisely the same question I want to ask her," Severus groaned in fury.
"But..."
"Harry is in the medical wing," Severus added and ran a hand back through his hair. "And he mentioned a very interesting event that happened in his defence class.
Dumbledore didn't answer, but froze for an instant then stood up and stepped to the fireplace. He took a jar from the mantelpiece and threw some of the greenish powder in it into the flames.
"Arabella, I want a word with you, please," he called into the fire.
In one moment Mrs Figg was clambering out of the fireplace. She cast a distasteful glance at Severus then she turned to the old man.
"Yes, Albus?"
The Headmaster ushered her into a chair and even he sat down there, between the two teachers, instead of sitting behind his desk as he usually did. When Severus also lowered himself onto the sofa he turned to his colleague.
"Severus told me that his son is in the Infirmary, and he said he wanted to discuss it with you."
She shrugged.
"I don't think there is anything to discuss. The boy was inept at creating the most simple shield I asked from everybody, not only your son, Snape, and he was unable to block the curses I threw at him," Figg's voice sounded quite annoyed. "And it is NOT my business that he is in the medical wing..."
"NO?" Severus roared in rage. "WHO ON EARTH THREW TORMENTA ON HIM THEN?" Snape jumped to his feet, strode across to her and bellowed to her face. "Or it is some remainder of your Auror's past? To torment people just to confess you everything you want? But my son is NOT a criminal! You had no right to hurt him with it! If you hate me, then throw me that blasted curse, but leave my son alone if you want to survive this year you..."
"SEVERUS!" he could hear Dumbledore snapping at him. "That is enough. Arabella, I want to hear your reasons."
The woman's face was pale as he turned his eyes from Severus to the Headmaster.
"I didn't hurt him," she muttered bewildered. "I didn't cast a full-force curse on him, just what we generally use in teaching shields..." she looked from Dumbledore to Snape pleadingly. "He could have blocked it with the Clipeus, Severus. Surely, you know that..." her voice faded.
"If you are telling the truth, then tell me, what is my son doing in the Infirmary? It took three hours for him to regain his consciousness, I found him after your stupid class unconscious, lying in the living room floor!"
Mrs Figg shook her head exasperated.
"No... I... I'd never cast such a powerful curse on a child, believe me, Severus," she suddenly seemed hurt. Severus crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at her, unbelieving. She stepped to the Headmaster. "Albus, please, believe me..."
Dumbledore turned his attention to the Potions Master.
"What did Poppy say about Quietus' condition?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know. I couldn't pay attention. I thought..."
The Headmaster silenced him with a wave of his hand and stepped to the fireplace again. Throwing a handful of the floo powder on the fire he leaned into the flames.
"Poppy, please... Can you tell me what is the problems with Quietus?" a short silence. "I see. How?... Well, yes... Thank you," he drew his head back and he turned to Severus. "He got a shock, Severus. Nothing more."
"A shock?" Severus' eyes widened. "Oh, no..."
Figg's eyes widened in surprise.
"But... Albus... it means that the boy has already been hit by the curse before!" her expression changed from fearful to confused. "But... you surely didn't hit him, did you, Severus?"
The Potions Master didn't answer just collapsed into the chair.
"It's not your business," he mumbled to the defence professor after a while.
"But..."
"I told you. It. Is. Not. Your. Business. And if I hear again that you use your bloody teaching-tormenta on Quietus again, I swear I..."
"Severus, stop," Dumbledore's voice was stern as he interrupted the fuming man. "It wasn't Arabella's fault, seemingly..."
"Wasn't?" Severus asked sarcastically. "After a dozen of failed attempt to conjure a shield you can't go on with the same method, just with a stronger curse... She should have waited."
Mrs Figg blushed and lowered her head.
"Is it true, Arabella? You know that it's not a good..."
"I know Albus. I was wrong with it. I should have let him go after the third or fourth failed try. But he has been unable to conjure it for two weeks! Everybody has done it by now, even Neville, the only one who is unable to do it is your son, Severus!"
Suddenly Severus and Dumbledore exchanged understanding looks, then the Headmaster turned to the defence professor.
"I think we can leave this topic now. The only thing I ask you, Arabella, is not to throw him anything similar to torturing curses in the future. Anything at all. Am I clear?"
The woman stood up.
"You mean that the boy was already tortured?" And when neither of the men answered she added, "But... by whom?"
"It's not your business, Figg!" Severus spat angrily.
Dumbledore sighed.
"Well, Severus perhaps expressed himself a little bit rude, but he is basically right. Sorry, Arabella, but it's better if you don't know about it."
But she didn't give up.
"It was Voldemort... wasn't it?"
Severus stepped at her and hissed into her face.
"None of your business, woman! Not at all!"
She moved back from the menacing figure.
"I'm teaching him defence. I have to know some details if I want to avoid situation like this in the future..."
"Believe me, you don't need..." Severus unfolded his arms impatiently, but Dumbledore nodded.
"We won't tell you the story, Arabella. Just one thing: the boy has been hit by several curses in his life. He is practically frozen when he has to face them. He was defenceless, you know, and he experienced what it meant to be exposed. It won't be easy to teach him those defence practices because of his fears and phobias..." The Headmaster now was extremely serious. "But... one more thing, Arabella. You can't tell anybody of what I told you now. Anybody. No part of it."
The woman paled again.
"And I don't want you to think about it, or to guess the remainder of it. You are my colleague, we have fought together many times. You know what I'm asking from you."
"Yes," she nodded firmly. "Knowing without realising."
"Precisely."
Severus cast a surprised glance at the woman. So it was an accepted practice. Knowing without realising. He had done the same when he had been one of Voldemort loyal servants and he had wanted to protect his brother. He hadn't allowed to himself to know his own brother's secrets to be able to dodge a possible questioning with Veritaserum.
Then Figg did something Snape hadn't expected.
"I'm sorry, Snape," she apologised. "I didn't intend to hurt him. I want you to know that."
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After Severus had left the Infirmary's room and the doors had shut behind him, Harry leaned back on the pillow in tiredness closing his eyes. He would like Severus to remain, but the man had left so abruptly that Harry didn't have enough time to react. He felt dread. Severus would find Figg and would kill the woman without further thinking about it. But Harry didn't want that. It would send Severus to Azkaban and he would remain alone. Azkaban. Alone. Two words that turned his mood darker than before.
"Quietus, are you alright?"
Harry opened his eyes surprised. Hermione stood next to his bed.
"Yeah," he smiled weakly. "But I'm afraid that Severus will hurt Figg."
Hermione smiled in return.
"I don't think he will," she assured Harry and sat down on the chair Severus had been sitting on before. "When I saw him he was heading to the Headmaster's office."
"Thank God," Harry muttered in relief. "He was very mad..."
Hermione nodded.
"Care to tell me what happened?"
Harry summarised the last hours' events in some sentences. Hermione's reaction to it, however, wasn't clear. She looked confused, and after Harry finished his tale, she was just sitting in silence for a while.
"But she threw only a very easy curse on you! It's not really painful, like a mental slap, nothing more!"
"May I ask you HOW you know this?" Harry snapped angrily.
"I've read about it. This way of using the Tormenta curse is commonly accepted," she answered simply. "I think you just overreacted to it. As if you've already..." she suddenly didn't go on. Instead, she cast a thoughtful glance at Harry.
Harry paled and looked away in embarrassment.
"Quietus, was it your father, who...?" she asked tentatively, but the next moment Harry erupted.
"NO!" he yelled at her. "And don't you dare suspect him any more! He'd never hurt me! Never!"
She didn't seem frightened.
"But, Quietus, who hurt you then?"
Oh no. Lies. He had to face lies again. But now he didn't want to lie.
"Nobody hurt me. And my life isn't your business."
Either the lie was too weak or just Hermione was too smart and assertive, but she didn't let the topic fall.
"No, Quietus. I can see, everybody can see that you were abused. Your reactions..."
"I wasn't abused!" Harry cried at her in fear. Was she about to find...
"Don't lie to me. I can see it."
Harry lowered his head and prayed for Severus' return. He really didn't know how to react to this situation. Hermione leaned closer to him and asked in a soft voice.
"Was it your family?"
Harry didn't dare to lift his eyes. Seemingly even Hermione was able to jump to conclusions, he noticed half-grateful. Hermione sighed believing his embarrassment being shame.
"I'm sorry, Quietus. I didn't intend to pry into your secrets..." she gulped guiltily.
Harry, still staring at his hand in his lap whispered weakly. "No harm done."
Hermione finally abandoned the topic and she changed it to the werewolves. After some minutes they had sunk into a serious conversation about the different kinds of potions used in the healing of werewolf-bitten persons.
Harry's mood became lighter. After a while they were chuckling at some very crazy potion ingredients. Hermione pulled out the book she had just examined for the needed solution and they discussed some parts of it thoroughly.
"We'll never find the solution for Lupin," Harry furrowed his brows in worry. "We have already searched through at least two hundred books and we didn't find any..."
Hermione opened her mouth to react Harry's remark, when the door opened again with a harsh boom.
Harry smiled and lifted his eyes to it waiting for Severus to return.
But it was no Severus.
It was Ron.
An infuriated Ron. Harry paled and slipped his hand under the blanket, to his belt and grabbed his wand tightly.
"What do you think you are here with this filthy Slytherin alone in an empty room?" he bellowed at Hermione. "You must be more careful with him! I've already told you that his Death Eater father..."
"Are you speaking about me, Mr Weasley?" Severus was standing in the door frame with a piercing glare in his eyes.
Ron turned on his heel to face him.
"Yes, I am," he said firmly, trying to keep his courage against the towering and menacing teacher in front of him.
Hermione paled and Harry froze in fear. It was clear that in one moment the two of them would pull out their wands and curse each other vehemently, and Harry knew that Ron's case was lost against Severus. The Potions Master was indeed a well-trained wizard in both light and dark techniques.
Hermione seemed to arrive at the same conclusion because she embraced the opportunity offered by the usual man-like glaring at each other grabbed Ron's arm with full force and dragged him out of the room. Severus was just about to follow them, but Harry called his name.
"Severus, please don't..." he slipped out of the bed into his shoes and strode across to him. "He is just a stupid child. You are the adult. You..."
"He wanted to hurt you."
"He didn't. And even if he had wanted to, I can defend myself."
"Are you sure?" Severus' voice was worried.
"No, of course," Harry smirked. "But let's go home now. I don't like spending the night here... And I'm pretty hungry too."
Severus' jaw fell.
"You're joking!"
"I missed both lunch and dinner. And breakfast was very long ago."
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The next morning Harry was really proud of himself: he could sleep through the night without Severus' help. He had been pretty sure that he would have nightmares, but he hadn't and when he had awoken he had been fresh and totally relaxed.
It was a good news for that day, because it was Saturday and the first Hogsmeade-day of the year.
Severus had awoken him and they had breakfast together in the living room instead of the Great Hall.
"I'm glad you're well," Severus said helping himself to a cookie. "I didn't dare to sleep for hours, I thought you would have nightmares."
Harry smiled.
"And what about Mrs Figg?" he asked.
"She said she had cast a light Tormenta on you. To teach you that blasted shield," Severus shook his head nervously. "Your reaction to it was exaggerated because of your previous experiences with the curse."
"Hermione said the same. She suspects something."
"Do you think that she knows who you are?"
"No," Harry smirked weakly. "She suspects that my family abused me."
"And me too, isn't it?"
Harry didn't answer just concentrated on the jam and his toast. Severus sighed and they didn't speak more until Harry left.
"Be careful," Severus said finally. "I don't want you to leave the territory of Hogsmeade."
Harry nodded and looked around searching for Ares. He couldn't see him anywhere. The trip suddenly seemed boring. Going alone wasn't a great prospect. Harry was standing in the front door of the school uncertainly. Perhaps he shouldn't go. He could spend his time in the library in a more efficient way. Searching for Lupin's cure or so... But he was still a boy. He wanted to have some fun, he was bored beyond belief with studying and reading all the time. He would like to walk around the little town, to visit the shops, and perhaps to buy some things: he had money on him, Severus had given him several galleons to waste on stupidities - those were his words.
"Hey, mate, are you going to Hogsmeade too?" a sudden voice snapped behind him. Harry swirled. It was Fred - and, of course, George.
"Well, yes, but... I can't see Ares anywhere. I wanted to go with him," he explained.
"If you want, you can come with us," George offered grinning widely. "I solemnly swear I won't let it know to Ron, alright?"
Harry eyed them cautiously. Since his fight with Ron he had been suspicious, and even the previous day's incident didn't seem to ease the decision.
"Are you serious?" he asked finally.
Fred shrugged.
"We don't plan to beat you, to kill you or to give you over to Ron either. Personally, I think that he is a total git to you and he deserved what he has been given."
"He is a mental if he can't distinguish between you and your father," George added.
"It must be the fact that Snape survived while Harry died," Fred explained quietly.
"His death broke father too," Harry looked at them with an intensive glance. "Sometimes I think he compels himself to remain standing just because of me."
They exchanged understanding looks as they were walking towards the town. They abandoned the topic afterwards and spent their time in the various shops - mostly in the Apothecary where they had bought an immense amount of potions ingredients. Harry laughed at the twins.
"If father knew..."
"I think he suspects something," George smirked in amusement. "He once even helped us when Fred detonated the storeroom we use there, in the school." They laughed.
"It was two years ago when he was always lurking around the school, every night, because of Sirius Black. The Silencing Charm we cast on the room wasn't enough to cover the boom, and he exposed us," George couldn't go on for the laughter.
"But I asked him to help us to find out what caused the explosion. We searched until morning, but he finally spotted it and he was so proud of himself that he let us go without further punishment," Fred finished the tale and they laughed again. "Since then he has been easier on us in Potions."
"We have top marks," George agreed.
Harry smiled in amusement and decided to ask Severus about the story. It would be interesting to listen to his version. After a while he abandoned the twins in the Apothecary and they agreed to meet in the Three Broomstick. Fred and George were really amusing company but their obsession in potions ingredients bored Harry to death so he decided to take a visit in Zonko's shop to have some sweets.
When he left the Apothecary and faced the sweet shop he had to wrap his cloak tighter around himself because of the sharp cold wind blowing on the streets. His eyes filled with tears and he lowered his head against the aggressive wind and strode towards Zonko's. Sometimes he could hear strange voices that were crying somewhere, but when he struggled to hear them they faded. It must be the wind, he thought and left the topic. He was about to enter the shop when he caught them again, but this time they were clearer and he could understand even some words, which made him run towards their direction.
"Leave me alone!" somebody cried and he could hear mad laughter.
Was it Voldemort? Harry stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't want to meet Voldemort, not any more. But somebody was in danger. He had to help him, and he had no time to bring more help. Sighing deeply he pulled his wand out and pointed towards the muffled voices.
It was a narrow and dark street, and there were only two figures. One of them was lying on the ground, the other was standing over him, his wand pointing to the shaking figure.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled aloud. In the next moment the attacker's wand was in his hand. He put it into his pocket and stepped nearer. What he saw confused him. Neville was lying on the cold and wet ground and an evilly glaring boy stood next to him. It was Terry Boot, a fifth year Ravenclaw. Harry gulped in surprise. He knew Terry well, he had sat next to him during Arithmancy classes for weeks. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he managed to stutter after some moments.
"It's not your business, is it, Neville?" he kicked the prone boy who just groaned in return. Harry didn't go on thinking.
"Stupefy!" he shouted and Terry flew to the wall and hit the ground unconscious. Harry, however, didn't pay attention to him. He knelt next to Neville and sneaked his arm underneath his side and lifted him cautiously. "Neville, are you alright?"
Neville shook his head, denying this.
"I think I broke my left arm," he moaned.
Harry helped him to sit up and perched at his side.
"Care to tell me what happened?" he asked as Neville's breathing slowed down.
Neville covered his face with his palms and began to cry. It frightened Harry to shock. Now what was he supposed to do? He felt uncomfortable, and his embarrassment just grew when Neville didn't seem to stop crying in the next minutes. He inhaled heavily and put his arm around his shoulder.
"Hey, mate, what's the problem?" he felt extremely stupid. He suddenly wanted Severus to be there. The situation was just... too much to handle.
"He insulted my parents and he said that my father was a bastard and he hit me with some curses," his words were barely intelligible because of his hiccups, but Harry caught them.
Again, a new turn of events. And he still didn't know what to do. After all Severus told him...
"My grandmother used to say the same and she says that my father turned her daughter as bad as he was finally, and she says that my father deserved his fate..." he began to cry again.
Harry froze and he suddenly thought that nobody knew Neville amongst Gryffindors. Who knew what kind of life he had at home? Perhaps it was worse than Harry's with the Dursleys... He didn't react to his words, just let the boy cry.
"I hate that everybody judges me after my father. I'm not my father. I don't want to become a bloody Auror, I don't want to torture people. I don't..." his cry strengthened again.
Harry nudged him kindly and when Neville lifted his eyes onto him he smiled.
"I guess I can understand it, Neville."
The boy furrowed his eyebrows for an instant then he smiled back.
"It's just wonderful that I'm complaining to you," he mumbled and blushed slightly. Harry chuckled.
"At least I can understand you," he stood up and reaching his hand helped Neville erect. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah, but what should we do with him?" he waved his hand towards Terry.
"I will take care of him, Mr Longbottom."
The sudden voice startled them, but Harry was the first to regain his composure.
"What are you doing here?" he asked the towering figure standing in front of them.
"I was looking for you. I came to join you for a butterbeer and the twins said that you disappeared an hour ago and they didn't know where you went. And... I found you here."
"Was it an hour?" Harry asked in disbelief. It seemed some minutes for him.
Severus nodded.
"You should return to school now. Mr Longbottom needs medical help, I think, urgently. Can you help him?"
"Of course," Harry said. "And... what will happen to Boot?"
Severus' mouth curved into an ugly smile.
"We will remove some points from his house..." He tapped his chin in thought. "And perhaps some months of detention with Mr Filch will be arranged too."
"Won't he be expelled?" Neville's voice was quiet. Severus looked at him for a moment before answering.
"I don't think it would be wise to expel him, I'm sorry. We have to give him one more chance. There wasn't any problem with his behaviour previously. We can't expel him for one fight," he said finally and Neville nodded in understanding. "Oh, and one more thing. Twenty points to Gryffindor for your bravery, Mr Longbottom."
Neville's eyes widened in surprise.
"But... but I wasn't brave! It was Quietus who..."
Severus winked at him significantly.
"But you were brave enough to speak with him, weren't you?" and when he saw the two boys standing there dumbfounded he added. "And now - to the Infirmary. Hurry!"
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Later that afternoon when Harry was already sitting at his usual desk in the library Hermione came and questioned him thoroughly about Neville's case.
Harry tried to answer her questions leaving the very personal details out, but after a while he realised that the story he told Hermione was too far from the truth.
"I can't tell you what was all about, Hermione," he concluded finally. "If you want to know, you have to ask Neville. I don't think I'm allowed to let his secrets slip to you."
Hermione cast a fast glance at him, then she gave up.
"Alright, you're right, Quietus. What about this werewolf stuff?" she turned her attention to the book lying on the table.
"Wait a minute, Hermione. First I want to ask a question." Harry waited until the girl's eyes met his. "What about Ron and you? You won't have any problems with him because of me, will you?"
Hermione shrugged.
"I don't care..."
"But you do," Harry resisted. "I won't date you if he leaves!"
Hermione chuckled in amusement.
"You don't need to worry. He won't leave."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. So? Can we go on with our investigation?"
"We can," Harry agreed.
It was a book with a lot of colour pictures. When Harry finished leafing through it his head was full of transforming, killing and dying werewolves and he wasn't able to escape them even at night. His dream was full of them, werewolves, werewolves everywhere around him, barking and howling without a break. They were surrounding a little group of persons, probably muggles, adults and children together, frightened to death.
And... Voldemort was standing next to them and staring as they slaughtered everybody, even the little children and everything was covered by blood, blood, blood and Harry felt a sharp pain on his forehead but he couldn't run away... And Death Eaters arrived at the spot, they joined the werewolves and two of them stepped to the inhuman creature bowing their head.
"Master," one of them said. Harry suddenly recognised him. It was the elder Crabbe. "We couldn't find the girl."
Goyle didn't say anything just nodded.
"Idiots!" Voldemort hissed angrily. "She can become just as dangerous as the young Potter was!"
"But master... He wasn't too dangerous. You killed him so easily..." Goyle said suddenly and Voldemort became even angrier.
"Idiot! Never, NEVER underestimate you enemies!" He cried his eyes burning. "Crucio!"
The two men fell onto the ground jerking and shrieking in pain. The other Death Eaters stopped their fun and stared at the two of them in disbelief.
"I won't tolerate ANY faults!" Voldemort now was speaking to the others. "Do you understand?" When they nodded in fear he turned to a silver-haired Death Eater. "This goes for you and your son too, Lucius." The Death Eater lowered his head. "Your son behaves too arrogantly in the school. Is he aware of your loyalties, Lucius?" Malfoy nodded in silence. "Then DON'T let him behave in this idiotic way! He will uncover you with his irresponsibility! I heard that he is harassing his second cousin too," he smirked at the frozen Malfoy.
"Second cousin?" he asked in return, hoarsely with fear.
"That Snape boy. Your wife's mother was a Noblestone, wasn't she?" Malfoy wasn't able to open his mouth just nodded. "I won't punish you again, Lucius, but know that I didn't forget your little slip. You should inform me about Snape's son."
"But I told you many times, master that I didn't know about him before this summer!" Malfoy cried in protest.
"Severus is your son's godfather and your best friend. Do you want to tell me that he didn't share with you this important thing in his life? What kind of friend were you then?"
"Master... Snape was spying on you since his brother's death. He surely wasn't entirely sincere with me after that!"
Voldemort cast a pondering glance at the shaking man.
"Perhaps you are sincere. Perhaps not. I'll see. Crucio!" he hissed again.
"QUIET!" Severus' voice snapped him out of his nightmare.
Nightmare? Harry clutched his hand to his forehead.
"It... hurts," he hissed in pain.
Severus panicked.
"What happened? You were stirring..."
"Voldemort..." Harry moaned. "We should tell the Headmaster." He sat up.
"It's 2 am. Quiet. We can't wake him up in the middle of the night! Can't it wait until morning?"
Harry moved aside so that Severus could sit on the bed next to him.
"I think it can," he said finally. "Voldemort killed muggles. And cast Cruciatus on Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy."
Severus wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
Harry shrugged.
"I hate it. It's already been two weeks that I didn't have any nightmare, and now I have this bloody vision," he shuddered in distaste. "Seemingly, I can never sleep in peace."
"Fortunately, it's Sunday. You can sleep till lunch if you want."
"How nice of Tom that he organised his first attack on Saturday," Harry croaked bitterly, then he leaned to Severus. "I hope I won't have to witness all of these shows in the future..."
"Perhaps you must..." Severus' voice was thin. "This was only the first attack and you saw it..."
Harry buried his head into his pillow.
"You are soooooo calming, Severus," he mumbled through it.
"Well, I just wanted to be sincere..."
"I don't need your sincerity. I need some comforting lies right now!" he dug his finger into Severus' side.
Severus shrieked and jumped out of the bed.
"What are you doing?"
Harry fell on his back in laughter.
"You're ticklish!"
"I'm not ticklish! You were boring a hole into my side!" he said in a complaining voice.
"ME? You're exaggerating!"
"Wait till I catch you...!"
"Severus! NO!"
"So?"
"Stop... it... ow!"
"What?"
"Don't..."
"What?"
"...tickle ow.... me! PLEASE!"
"Do you give up?"
"YES just leave me alone!"
"Won't you tickle me?"
"I won't!"
"Alright then. Go to sleep."
"I don't dare. You will attack me."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"..."
Harry folded his arms and cast a suspicious glance at the Potions Master in his usual grey night-clothes, tousled hair, his face coloured by the laughter.
"You don't look like you any more, Severus," he assessed finally what he saw.
"It's your fault!" Severus complained. "You compel me to behave like an idiot."
"But you do like it!"
"No, I don't!"
"Liar," Harry dragged the blanket up to his chin and shut his eyes closing the fake quarrel.
"Prat."
"G'night," he sighed and smiled.
Severus saw the smile on Harry's face. He sat next to the boy watching him until he fell asleep. The smile remained on the boyish face, Harry certainly wanted to reassure him... about what? Severus didn't know but he didn't care either.
His world had changed. Was... lighter. Happier. And it was Harry's effect on him. He had never believed it before. He had thought that after the summer events they wouldn't be able to live a normal life. But somehow... they were. And not only a normal life. They lived something more. Severus watched the boy examining his features. Perhaps they weren't father and son, but they were friends. Or even more. They were allies too. Allies against Voldemort's horror. And, perhaps, allies against the whole world that held prejudices against them.
And everything was to Harry's credit.
He told the same to Albus, later that day after Harry left the Headmaster's office.
"I'm happy to hear it, Severus," he smiled a little bit sadly. "You know, your brother always wanted you to find your happiness in this life and he worried that you never would. And I have worried too... during the past fifteen years you seemed to sink into loneliness and depression more and more."
Severus nodded.
"You know, he is very fond of you too," Dumbledore added helping him to some lemon drops.
"He never told me..." Severus whispered painfully.
"But he does. Believe me. But he is just a kid. He doesn't know how to express his feelings in words. But you will see, he surely loves you."
"Are you sure?"
"Perfectly, my dear Severus. Some lemon drops?"
"Yes, thanks," he smiled and in the first time in his life he reached his hand and let Dumbledore give him of those irritating sweets.
Life was worth living.
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Chapter 6 - Quarrels
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Severus was infuriated as he left the Infirmary. The doors shut with a bang behind him as he crossed them and faced Dumbledore's office.
His almost ran to the Headmaster not noticing the students who tried to avoid him, neither Hermione who looked as she wanted to tell him something important. He waved her aside without saying a word; he saw everything almost in red in his burning rage and he felt an enormous urge to find Figg first, but he knew that it would be all too dangerous if she and him were in the same room alone. So he was heading towards Albus to ask him to take Figg into account.
He couldn't help but clench his hands into fists as he thought of the last hours. It was a mere coincidence that a second year Hufflepuff had made a mistake in her potion which had exploded burning tiny holes into his robes so that he had been compelled to change them before the next lesson, because he hadn't planned to go home for at least six or seven hours. He had been still fuming at the stupid girl as he had entered the room, but in the next moment he had tripped against something and had fallen onto the unconscious Harry.
He didn't know what he had felt precisely. He had been appalled wondering what Harry had been doing at home at that time of the day, then scared, and finally terrified as the boy hadn't seemed to regain his consciousness fast. He had gathered the still too thin body into his arms and had brought him to Poppy as fast as he could without causing more problems.
The way to the Infirmary had seemed an eternity. He had been so terrified to loose Harry that he could barely resist the emerging panic, which would have destroyed the remainders of his composure totally, if he had let it rule over him. But he hadn't. He had resisted and compelled himself to think as clearly as possible. If it had been possible at all.
Harry... In those minutes of terror he had relived the night when he had returned to Hogwarts from Nightmare Manor with the dead boy - and of course Quietus...
Harry... he had felt his heart ripped in two. He had been so careless. He had missed something, it would be his fault if Harry had died. No, Harry couldn't die, Harry had been a professional survivor for his whole life, Harry, Harry...
Poppy had had some difficult moments when she had tried to take the boy from Severus' grip and finally she had to care for the man first giving him a strong calming potion. She had mumbled something about double shock while Severus let the boy go, and she poured the potion into Snape's throat first and just after into the boy's. But Severus hadn't calmed down. He had been sitting next to Harry for three long hours until Harry had opened his eyes, holding his thin, bony hand in his hand horrified by the idea of loosing him.
Those three hours had given him the chance to think about his and Harry's common life, their relationship and he recognised that he wouldn't be able to live without the boy, not any more. The once so hated prat had turned to be his life's light, his last chance to feel, to love, he had become something akin to a... son to him.
A son.
Yes, most definitely his son.
But he would never tell that to Harry. He didn't intend to freak him out with his stupid, ill wish to call him his son, but as he had been sitting at the bedside he had realised that he had considered Harry his son for a while. He had smiled sadly and he had been suddenly jealous of Quietus and even with Potter who both had been his fathers - and he, the stupid, greasy idiot had missed it totally. However... No. Harry had loved him, he had known it for sure, but he had always complained that he had felt alone. Times like that Severus had struggled not to show his disappointment as it had hurt. He hadn't deserved to be anyone's father, most of all Harry's.
So, when Harry finally had opened his eyes and even his mouth and had answered Severus' question (What happened?) Severus had jumped to his feet ready to exterminate Figg and anybody like her once and for all.
And he was now standing in front of the gargoyle struggling to remember the password. He stared blankly at the statue and nothing came to his mind.
He sighed and remembered that Dumbledore had changed it on the day the Aurors had come to do their investigations amongst the students. It was something humorous, Severus was sure, he had even smiled at that... But WHAT?
He had to calm down if he wanted to meet Albus. He took some deep breath and concentrated on the password. It was a name of a sweet again. Not an average name, but something, which had another meaning... another. He suddenly smiled. He leaned to the statue and whispered into its ear intimately: "Fudge."
The gargoyle leapt aside and let he climb the spiral stairs behind itself. Until he arrived at the office's entrance he felt totally calm.
But just as he entered and Albus asked about his reason for coming, his rage overcame him again.
"Albus, call that beloved Figg of yours here NOW!" he yelled at him impatiently tapping with his leg to emphasise the urgency.
The Headmaster, however, didn't seem to hurry, indeed. He cast an investigating gaze to the impatient and fuming Potions Master and asked again.
"Severus, what happened?"
"This is precisely the same question I want to ask her," Severus groaned in fury.
"But..."
"Harry is in the medical wing," Severus added and ran a hand back through his hair. "And he mentioned a very interesting event that happened in his defence class.
Dumbledore didn't answer, but froze for an instant then stood up and stepped to the fireplace. He took a jar from the mantelpiece and threw some of the greenish powder in it into the flames.
"Arabella, I want a word with you, please," he called into the fire.
In one moment Mrs Figg was clambering out of the fireplace. She cast a distasteful glance at Severus then she turned to the old man.
"Yes, Albus?"
The Headmaster ushered her into a chair and even he sat down there, between the two teachers, instead of sitting behind his desk as he usually did. When Severus also lowered himself onto the sofa he turned to his colleague.
"Severus told me that his son is in the Infirmary, and he said he wanted to discuss it with you."
She shrugged.
"I don't think there is anything to discuss. The boy was inept at creating the most simple shield I asked from everybody, not only your son, Snape, and he was unable to block the curses I threw at him," Figg's voice sounded quite annoyed. "And it is NOT my business that he is in the medical wing..."
"NO?" Severus roared in rage. "WHO ON EARTH THREW TORMENTA ON HIM THEN?" Snape jumped to his feet, strode across to her and bellowed to her face. "Or it is some remainder of your Auror's past? To torment people just to confess you everything you want? But my son is NOT a criminal! You had no right to hurt him with it! If you hate me, then throw me that blasted curse, but leave my son alone if you want to survive this year you..."
"SEVERUS!" he could hear Dumbledore snapping at him. "That is enough. Arabella, I want to hear your reasons."
The woman's face was pale as he turned his eyes from Severus to the Headmaster.
"I didn't hurt him," she muttered bewildered. "I didn't cast a full-force curse on him, just what we generally use in teaching shields..." she looked from Dumbledore to Snape pleadingly. "He could have blocked it with the Clipeus, Severus. Surely, you know that..." her voice faded.
"If you are telling the truth, then tell me, what is my son doing in the Infirmary? It took three hours for him to regain his consciousness, I found him after your stupid class unconscious, lying in the living room floor!"
Mrs Figg shook her head exasperated.
"No... I... I'd never cast such a powerful curse on a child, believe me, Severus," she suddenly seemed hurt. Severus crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at her, unbelieving. She stepped to the Headmaster. "Albus, please, believe me..."
Dumbledore turned his attention to the Potions Master.
"What did Poppy say about Quietus' condition?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know. I couldn't pay attention. I thought..."
The Headmaster silenced him with a wave of his hand and stepped to the fireplace again. Throwing a handful of the floo powder on the fire he leaned into the flames.
"Poppy, please... Can you tell me what is the problems with Quietus?" a short silence. "I see. How?... Well, yes... Thank you," he drew his head back and he turned to Severus. "He got a shock, Severus. Nothing more."
"A shock?" Severus' eyes widened. "Oh, no..."
Figg's eyes widened in surprise.
"But... Albus... it means that the boy has already been hit by the curse before!" her expression changed from fearful to confused. "But... you surely didn't hit him, did you, Severus?"
The Potions Master didn't answer just collapsed into the chair.
"It's not your business," he mumbled to the defence professor after a while.
"But..."
"I told you. It. Is. Not. Your. Business. And if I hear again that you use your bloody teaching-tormenta on Quietus again, I swear I..."
"Severus, stop," Dumbledore's voice was stern as he interrupted the fuming man. "It wasn't Arabella's fault, seemingly..."
"Wasn't?" Severus asked sarcastically. "After a dozen of failed attempt to conjure a shield you can't go on with the same method, just with a stronger curse... She should have waited."
Mrs Figg blushed and lowered her head.
"Is it true, Arabella? You know that it's not a good..."
"I know Albus. I was wrong with it. I should have let him go after the third or fourth failed try. But he has been unable to conjure it for two weeks! Everybody has done it by now, even Neville, the only one who is unable to do it is your son, Severus!"
Suddenly Severus and Dumbledore exchanged understanding looks, then the Headmaster turned to the defence professor.
"I think we can leave this topic now. The only thing I ask you, Arabella, is not to throw him anything similar to torturing curses in the future. Anything at all. Am I clear?"
The woman stood up.
"You mean that the boy was already tortured?" And when neither of the men answered she added, "But... by whom?"
"It's not your business, Figg!" Severus spat angrily.
Dumbledore sighed.
"Well, Severus perhaps expressed himself a little bit rude, but he is basically right. Sorry, Arabella, but it's better if you don't know about it."
But she didn't give up.
"It was Voldemort... wasn't it?"
Severus stepped at her and hissed into her face.
"None of your business, woman! Not at all!"
She moved back from the menacing figure.
"I'm teaching him defence. I have to know some details if I want to avoid situation like this in the future..."
"Believe me, you don't need..." Severus unfolded his arms impatiently, but Dumbledore nodded.
"We won't tell you the story, Arabella. Just one thing: the boy has been hit by several curses in his life. He is practically frozen when he has to face them. He was defenceless, you know, and he experienced what it meant to be exposed. It won't be easy to teach him those defence practices because of his fears and phobias..." The Headmaster now was extremely serious. "But... one more thing, Arabella. You can't tell anybody of what I told you now. Anybody. No part of it."
The woman paled again.
"And I don't want you to think about it, or to guess the remainder of it. You are my colleague, we have fought together many times. You know what I'm asking from you."
"Yes," she nodded firmly. "Knowing without realising."
"Precisely."
Severus cast a surprised glance at the woman. So it was an accepted practice. Knowing without realising. He had done the same when he had been one of Voldemort loyal servants and he had wanted to protect his brother. He hadn't allowed to himself to know his own brother's secrets to be able to dodge a possible questioning with Veritaserum.
Then Figg did something Snape hadn't expected.
"I'm sorry, Snape," she apologised. "I didn't intend to hurt him. I want you to know that."
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After Severus had left the Infirmary's room and the doors had shut behind him, Harry leaned back on the pillow in tiredness closing his eyes. He would like Severus to remain, but the man had left so abruptly that Harry didn't have enough time to react. He felt dread. Severus would find Figg and would kill the woman without further thinking about it. But Harry didn't want that. It would send Severus to Azkaban and he would remain alone. Azkaban. Alone. Two words that turned his mood darker than before.
"Quietus, are you alright?"
Harry opened his eyes surprised. Hermione stood next to his bed.
"Yeah," he smiled weakly. "But I'm afraid that Severus will hurt Figg."
Hermione smiled in return.
"I don't think he will," she assured Harry and sat down on the chair Severus had been sitting on before. "When I saw him he was heading to the Headmaster's office."
"Thank God," Harry muttered in relief. "He was very mad..."
Hermione nodded.
"Care to tell me what happened?"
Harry summarised the last hours' events in some sentences. Hermione's reaction to it, however, wasn't clear. She looked confused, and after Harry finished his tale, she was just sitting in silence for a while.
"But she threw only a very easy curse on you! It's not really painful, like a mental slap, nothing more!"
"May I ask you HOW you know this?" Harry snapped angrily.
"I've read about it. This way of using the Tormenta curse is commonly accepted," she answered simply. "I think you just overreacted to it. As if you've already..." she suddenly didn't go on. Instead, she cast a thoughtful glance at Harry.
Harry paled and looked away in embarrassment.
"Quietus, was it your father, who...?" she asked tentatively, but the next moment Harry erupted.
"NO!" he yelled at her. "And don't you dare suspect him any more! He'd never hurt me! Never!"
She didn't seem frightened.
"But, Quietus, who hurt you then?"
Oh no. Lies. He had to face lies again. But now he didn't want to lie.
"Nobody hurt me. And my life isn't your business."
Either the lie was too weak or just Hermione was too smart and assertive, but she didn't let the topic fall.
"No, Quietus. I can see, everybody can see that you were abused. Your reactions..."
"I wasn't abused!" Harry cried at her in fear. Was she about to find...
"Don't lie to me. I can see it."
Harry lowered his head and prayed for Severus' return. He really didn't know how to react to this situation. Hermione leaned closer to him and asked in a soft voice.
"Was it your family?"
Harry didn't dare to lift his eyes. Seemingly even Hermione was able to jump to conclusions, he noticed half-grateful. Hermione sighed believing his embarrassment being shame.
"I'm sorry, Quietus. I didn't intend to pry into your secrets..." she gulped guiltily.
Harry, still staring at his hand in his lap whispered weakly. "No harm done."
Hermione finally abandoned the topic and she changed it to the werewolves. After some minutes they had sunk into a serious conversation about the different kinds of potions used in the healing of werewolf-bitten persons.
Harry's mood became lighter. After a while they were chuckling at some very crazy potion ingredients. Hermione pulled out the book she had just examined for the needed solution and they discussed some parts of it thoroughly.
"We'll never find the solution for Lupin," Harry furrowed his brows in worry. "We have already searched through at least two hundred books and we didn't find any..."
Hermione opened her mouth to react Harry's remark, when the door opened again with a harsh boom.
Harry smiled and lifted his eyes to it waiting for Severus to return.
But it was no Severus.
It was Ron.
An infuriated Ron. Harry paled and slipped his hand under the blanket, to his belt and grabbed his wand tightly.
"What do you think you are here with this filthy Slytherin alone in an empty room?" he bellowed at Hermione. "You must be more careful with him! I've already told you that his Death Eater father..."
"Are you speaking about me, Mr Weasley?" Severus was standing in the door frame with a piercing glare in his eyes.
Ron turned on his heel to face him.
"Yes, I am," he said firmly, trying to keep his courage against the towering and menacing teacher in front of him.
Hermione paled and Harry froze in fear. It was clear that in one moment the two of them would pull out their wands and curse each other vehemently, and Harry knew that Ron's case was lost against Severus. The Potions Master was indeed a well-trained wizard in both light and dark techniques.
Hermione seemed to arrive at the same conclusion because she embraced the opportunity offered by the usual man-like glaring at each other grabbed Ron's arm with full force and dragged him out of the room. Severus was just about to follow them, but Harry called his name.
"Severus, please don't..." he slipped out of the bed into his shoes and strode across to him. "He is just a stupid child. You are the adult. You..."
"He wanted to hurt you."
"He didn't. And even if he had wanted to, I can defend myself."
"Are you sure?" Severus' voice was worried.
"No, of course," Harry smirked. "But let's go home now. I don't like spending the night here... And I'm pretty hungry too."
Severus' jaw fell.
"You're joking!"
"I missed both lunch and dinner. And breakfast was very long ago."
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The next morning Harry was really proud of himself: he could sleep through the night without Severus' help. He had been pretty sure that he would have nightmares, but he hadn't and when he had awoken he had been fresh and totally relaxed.
It was a good news for that day, because it was Saturday and the first Hogsmeade-day of the year.
Severus had awoken him and they had breakfast together in the living room instead of the Great Hall.
"I'm glad you're well," Severus said helping himself to a cookie. "I didn't dare to sleep for hours, I thought you would have nightmares."
Harry smiled.
"And what about Mrs Figg?" he asked.
"She said she had cast a light Tormenta on you. To teach you that blasted shield," Severus shook his head nervously. "Your reaction to it was exaggerated because of your previous experiences with the curse."
"Hermione said the same. She suspects something."
"Do you think that she knows who you are?"
"No," Harry smirked weakly. "She suspects that my family abused me."
"And me too, isn't it?"
Harry didn't answer just concentrated on the jam and his toast. Severus sighed and they didn't speak more until Harry left.
"Be careful," Severus said finally. "I don't want you to leave the territory of Hogsmeade."
Harry nodded and looked around searching for Ares. He couldn't see him anywhere. The trip suddenly seemed boring. Going alone wasn't a great prospect. Harry was standing in the front door of the school uncertainly. Perhaps he shouldn't go. He could spend his time in the library in a more efficient way. Searching for Lupin's cure or so... But he was still a boy. He wanted to have some fun, he was bored beyond belief with studying and reading all the time. He would like to walk around the little town, to visit the shops, and perhaps to buy some things: he had money on him, Severus had given him several galleons to waste on stupidities - those were his words.
"Hey, mate, are you going to Hogsmeade too?" a sudden voice snapped behind him. Harry swirled. It was Fred - and, of course, George.
"Well, yes, but... I can't see Ares anywhere. I wanted to go with him," he explained.
"If you want, you can come with us," George offered grinning widely. "I solemnly swear I won't let it know to Ron, alright?"
Harry eyed them cautiously. Since his fight with Ron he had been suspicious, and even the previous day's incident didn't seem to ease the decision.
"Are you serious?" he asked finally.
Fred shrugged.
"We don't plan to beat you, to kill you or to give you over to Ron either. Personally, I think that he is a total git to you and he deserved what he has been given."
"He is a mental if he can't distinguish between you and your father," George added.
"It must be the fact that Snape survived while Harry died," Fred explained quietly.
"His death broke father too," Harry looked at them with an intensive glance. "Sometimes I think he compels himself to remain standing just because of me."
They exchanged understanding looks as they were walking towards the town. They abandoned the topic afterwards and spent their time in the various shops - mostly in the Apothecary where they had bought an immense amount of potions ingredients. Harry laughed at the twins.
"If father knew..."
"I think he suspects something," George smirked in amusement. "He once even helped us when Fred detonated the storeroom we use there, in the school." They laughed.
"It was two years ago when he was always lurking around the school, every night, because of Sirius Black. The Silencing Charm we cast on the room wasn't enough to cover the boom, and he exposed us," George couldn't go on for the laughter.
"But I asked him to help us to find out what caused the explosion. We searched until morning, but he finally spotted it and he was so proud of himself that he let us go without further punishment," Fred finished the tale and they laughed again. "Since then he has been easier on us in Potions."
"We have top marks," George agreed.
Harry smiled in amusement and decided to ask Severus about the story. It would be interesting to listen to his version. After a while he abandoned the twins in the Apothecary and they agreed to meet in the Three Broomstick. Fred and George were really amusing company but their obsession in potions ingredients bored Harry to death so he decided to take a visit in Zonko's shop to have some sweets.
When he left the Apothecary and faced the sweet shop he had to wrap his cloak tighter around himself because of the sharp cold wind blowing on the streets. His eyes filled with tears and he lowered his head against the aggressive wind and strode towards Zonko's. Sometimes he could hear strange voices that were crying somewhere, but when he struggled to hear them they faded. It must be the wind, he thought and left the topic. He was about to enter the shop when he caught them again, but this time they were clearer and he could understand even some words, which made him run towards their direction.
"Leave me alone!" somebody cried and he could hear mad laughter.
Was it Voldemort? Harry stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't want to meet Voldemort, not any more. But somebody was in danger. He had to help him, and he had no time to bring more help. Sighing deeply he pulled his wand out and pointed towards the muffled voices.
It was a narrow and dark street, and there were only two figures. One of them was lying on the ground, the other was standing over him, his wand pointing to the shaking figure.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled aloud. In the next moment the attacker's wand was in his hand. He put it into his pocket and stepped nearer. What he saw confused him. Neville was lying on the cold and wet ground and an evilly glaring boy stood next to him. It was Terry Boot, a fifth year Ravenclaw. Harry gulped in surprise. He knew Terry well, he had sat next to him during Arithmancy classes for weeks. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he managed to stutter after some moments.
"It's not your business, is it, Neville?" he kicked the prone boy who just groaned in return. Harry didn't go on thinking.
"Stupefy!" he shouted and Terry flew to the wall and hit the ground unconscious. Harry, however, didn't pay attention to him. He knelt next to Neville and sneaked his arm underneath his side and lifted him cautiously. "Neville, are you alright?"
Neville shook his head, denying this.
"I think I broke my left arm," he moaned.
Harry helped him to sit up and perched at his side.
"Care to tell me what happened?" he asked as Neville's breathing slowed down.
Neville covered his face with his palms and began to cry. It frightened Harry to shock. Now what was he supposed to do? He felt uncomfortable, and his embarrassment just grew when Neville didn't seem to stop crying in the next minutes. He inhaled heavily and put his arm around his shoulder.
"Hey, mate, what's the problem?" he felt extremely stupid. He suddenly wanted Severus to be there. The situation was just... too much to handle.
"He insulted my parents and he said that my father was a bastard and he hit me with some curses," his words were barely intelligible because of his hiccups, but Harry caught them.
Again, a new turn of events. And he still didn't know what to do. After all Severus told him...
"My grandmother used to say the same and she says that my father turned her daughter as bad as he was finally, and she says that my father deserved his fate..." he began to cry again.
Harry froze and he suddenly thought that nobody knew Neville amongst Gryffindors. Who knew what kind of life he had at home? Perhaps it was worse than Harry's with the Dursleys... He didn't react to his words, just let the boy cry.
"I hate that everybody judges me after my father. I'm not my father. I don't want to become a bloody Auror, I don't want to torture people. I don't..." his cry strengthened again.
Harry nudged him kindly and when Neville lifted his eyes onto him he smiled.
"I guess I can understand it, Neville."
The boy furrowed his eyebrows for an instant then he smiled back.
"It's just wonderful that I'm complaining to you," he mumbled and blushed slightly. Harry chuckled.
"At least I can understand you," he stood up and reaching his hand helped Neville erect. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah, but what should we do with him?" he waved his hand towards Terry.
"I will take care of him, Mr Longbottom."
The sudden voice startled them, but Harry was the first to regain his composure.
"What are you doing here?" he asked the towering figure standing in front of them.
"I was looking for you. I came to join you for a butterbeer and the twins said that you disappeared an hour ago and they didn't know where you went. And... I found you here."
"Was it an hour?" Harry asked in disbelief. It seemed some minutes for him.
Severus nodded.
"You should return to school now. Mr Longbottom needs medical help, I think, urgently. Can you help him?"
"Of course," Harry said. "And... what will happen to Boot?"
Severus' mouth curved into an ugly smile.
"We will remove some points from his house..." He tapped his chin in thought. "And perhaps some months of detention with Mr Filch will be arranged too."
"Won't he be expelled?" Neville's voice was quiet. Severus looked at him for a moment before answering.
"I don't think it would be wise to expel him, I'm sorry. We have to give him one more chance. There wasn't any problem with his behaviour previously. We can't expel him for one fight," he said finally and Neville nodded in understanding. "Oh, and one more thing. Twenty points to Gryffindor for your bravery, Mr Longbottom."
Neville's eyes widened in surprise.
"But... but I wasn't brave! It was Quietus who..."
Severus winked at him significantly.
"But you were brave enough to speak with him, weren't you?" and when he saw the two boys standing there dumbfounded he added. "And now - to the Infirmary. Hurry!"
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Later that afternoon when Harry was already sitting at his usual desk in the library Hermione came and questioned him thoroughly about Neville's case.
Harry tried to answer her questions leaving the very personal details out, but after a while he realised that the story he told Hermione was too far from the truth.
"I can't tell you what was all about, Hermione," he concluded finally. "If you want to know, you have to ask Neville. I don't think I'm allowed to let his secrets slip to you."
Hermione cast a fast glance at him, then she gave up.
"Alright, you're right, Quietus. What about this werewolf stuff?" she turned her attention to the book lying on the table.
"Wait a minute, Hermione. First I want to ask a question." Harry waited until the girl's eyes met his. "What about Ron and you? You won't have any problems with him because of me, will you?"
Hermione shrugged.
"I don't care..."
"But you do," Harry resisted. "I won't date you if he leaves!"
Hermione chuckled in amusement.
"You don't need to worry. He won't leave."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. So? Can we go on with our investigation?"
"We can," Harry agreed.
It was a book with a lot of colour pictures. When Harry finished leafing through it his head was full of transforming, killing and dying werewolves and he wasn't able to escape them even at night. His dream was full of them, werewolves, werewolves everywhere around him, barking and howling without a break. They were surrounding a little group of persons, probably muggles, adults and children together, frightened to death.
And... Voldemort was standing next to them and staring as they slaughtered everybody, even the little children and everything was covered by blood, blood, blood and Harry felt a sharp pain on his forehead but he couldn't run away... And Death Eaters arrived at the spot, they joined the werewolves and two of them stepped to the inhuman creature bowing their head.
"Master," one of them said. Harry suddenly recognised him. It was the elder Crabbe. "We couldn't find the girl."
Goyle didn't say anything just nodded.
"Idiots!" Voldemort hissed angrily. "She can become just as dangerous as the young Potter was!"
"But master... He wasn't too dangerous. You killed him so easily..." Goyle said suddenly and Voldemort became even angrier.
"Idiot! Never, NEVER underestimate you enemies!" He cried his eyes burning. "Crucio!"
The two men fell onto the ground jerking and shrieking in pain. The other Death Eaters stopped their fun and stared at the two of them in disbelief.
"I won't tolerate ANY faults!" Voldemort now was speaking to the others. "Do you understand?" When they nodded in fear he turned to a silver-haired Death Eater. "This goes for you and your son too, Lucius." The Death Eater lowered his head. "Your son behaves too arrogantly in the school. Is he aware of your loyalties, Lucius?" Malfoy nodded in silence. "Then DON'T let him behave in this idiotic way! He will uncover you with his irresponsibility! I heard that he is harassing his second cousin too," he smirked at the frozen Malfoy.
"Second cousin?" he asked in return, hoarsely with fear.
"That Snape boy. Your wife's mother was a Noblestone, wasn't she?" Malfoy wasn't able to open his mouth just nodded. "I won't punish you again, Lucius, but know that I didn't forget your little slip. You should inform me about Snape's son."
"But I told you many times, master that I didn't know about him before this summer!" Malfoy cried in protest.
"Severus is your son's godfather and your best friend. Do you want to tell me that he didn't share with you this important thing in his life? What kind of friend were you then?"
"Master... Snape was spying on you since his brother's death. He surely wasn't entirely sincere with me after that!"
Voldemort cast a pondering glance at the shaking man.
"Perhaps you are sincere. Perhaps not. I'll see. Crucio!" he hissed again.
"QUIET!" Severus' voice snapped him out of his nightmare.
Nightmare? Harry clutched his hand to his forehead.
"It... hurts," he hissed in pain.
Severus panicked.
"What happened? You were stirring..."
"Voldemort..." Harry moaned. "We should tell the Headmaster." He sat up.
"It's 2 am. Quiet. We can't wake him up in the middle of the night! Can't it wait until morning?"
Harry moved aside so that Severus could sit on the bed next to him.
"I think it can," he said finally. "Voldemort killed muggles. And cast Cruciatus on Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy."
Severus wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
Harry shrugged.
"I hate it. It's already been two weeks that I didn't have any nightmare, and now I have this bloody vision," he shuddered in distaste. "Seemingly, I can never sleep in peace."
"Fortunately, it's Sunday. You can sleep till lunch if you want."
"How nice of Tom that he organised his first attack on Saturday," Harry croaked bitterly, then he leaned to Severus. "I hope I won't have to witness all of these shows in the future..."
"Perhaps you must..." Severus' voice was thin. "This was only the first attack and you saw it..."
Harry buried his head into his pillow.
"You are soooooo calming, Severus," he mumbled through it.
"Well, I just wanted to be sincere..."
"I don't need your sincerity. I need some comforting lies right now!" he dug his finger into Severus' side.
Severus shrieked and jumped out of the bed.
"What are you doing?"
Harry fell on his back in laughter.
"You're ticklish!"
"I'm not ticklish! You were boring a hole into my side!" he said in a complaining voice.
"ME? You're exaggerating!"
"Wait till I catch you...!"
"Severus! NO!"
"So?"
"Stop... it... ow!"
"What?"
"Don't..."
"What?"
"...tickle ow.... me! PLEASE!"
"Do you give up?"
"YES just leave me alone!"
"Won't you tickle me?"
"I won't!"
"Alright then. Go to sleep."
"I don't dare. You will attack me."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"..."
Harry folded his arms and cast a suspicious glance at the Potions Master in his usual grey night-clothes, tousled hair, his face coloured by the laughter.
"You don't look like you any more, Severus," he assessed finally what he saw.
"It's your fault!" Severus complained. "You compel me to behave like an idiot."
"But you do like it!"
"No, I don't!"
"Liar," Harry dragged the blanket up to his chin and shut his eyes closing the fake quarrel.
"Prat."
"G'night," he sighed and smiled.
Severus saw the smile on Harry's face. He sat next to the boy watching him until he fell asleep. The smile remained on the boyish face, Harry certainly wanted to reassure him... about what? Severus didn't know but he didn't care either.
His world had changed. Was... lighter. Happier. And it was Harry's effect on him. He had never believed it before. He had thought that after the summer events they wouldn't be able to live a normal life. But somehow... they were. And not only a normal life. They lived something more. Severus watched the boy examining his features. Perhaps they weren't father and son, but they were friends. Or even more. They were allies too. Allies against Voldemort's horror. And, perhaps, allies against the whole world that held prejudices against them.
And everything was to Harry's credit.
He told the same to Albus, later that day after Harry left the Headmaster's office.
"I'm happy to hear it, Severus," he smiled a little bit sadly. "You know, your brother always wanted you to find your happiness in this life and he worried that you never would. And I have worried too... during the past fifteen years you seemed to sink into loneliness and depression more and more."
Severus nodded.
"You know, he is very fond of you too," Dumbledore added helping him to some lemon drops.
"He never told me..." Severus whispered painfully.
"But he does. Believe me. But he is just a kid. He doesn't know how to express his feelings in words. But you will see, he surely loves you."
"Are you sure?"
"Perfectly, my dear Severus. Some lemon drops?"
"Yes, thanks," he smiled and in the first time in his life he reached his hand and let Dumbledore give him of those irritating sweets.
Life was worth living.