Harry Potter and the Betrayal of Snape

Chapter Five —Bloodmark Potion

The three of them ran back to the Gryffindor common room, which didn't seem as cosy as it had normally felt before. Harry just settled himself on the floor as soon as he entered the room. He sat there panting, still unsure of what just happened so early in the morning in the Great Hall. Was it Snape or was it someone else…? Thoughts swirled in his head like a big tornado. Harry knew that Snape was grabbing his dark mark on his arm….Has Voldemort come back?

"Har—" Ron started, but Hermione stuck out her hand, signalling him to stop, but he just ignored her.

"Harry! I knew it! WE knew it! Snape was never on our side! He was about to preform the Cruciatus Curse on you! HE'S TRYING TO GET REVENGE ON YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR DAD!" Ron yelled. "BAD BLOOD?! BAD BLOOD MY ASS!"

"SHUT UP RON!" Hermione yelled. "HARRY NEEDS TIME TO THINK, NOT A CRAZY NUTCASE WHO SCREAMS STUFF THAT WE ALL KNOW!" Hermione continued yelling.

"SHUT IT YOU TWO!" Harry bursted.

"HARRY BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, WE NEED TO—" Ron yelled but Hermione screamed:

"SILENCIO! There Harry, if you need any help, just come and talk to us. I'll take the spell off Ron when he seems ready…" Hermione said, and giving a look to Ron, who was jumping up and down with his mouth moving but no sound coming out. Harry nodded and walked up to the boys' dormitories. He sat on his bed and closed his eyes. What is happening? Why is my scar still stinging a bit, or is it just my head? Why did Snape try to torture me? Harry sat there for about more than five hours, drowning in an ocean of continuous thoughts. Suddenly, he heard Hermione's voice:

"Harry! Come down!" Harry hesitated a bit, but managed to pull himself together and walked down into the common room. There sitting on the comfy and squishy chairs were Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Remus and Snape. As an experienced wizard as Harry, he pulled out his wand right away, as his eyes met Snape. Snape seemed so tired, he face was paler than usual and his hands were still grasping onto his arm, but that still didn't stop him from taking his wand out.

"Put down your wand Harry," Remus said, in a serious tone. Harry hesitated and stood firmly in front of the newly arrived company. "Please Harry," Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who nodded, and put his wand back in his robes.

"Take a seat Harry," Dumbledore said. There were no twinkles in his eyes, but his face looked so exhausted. Harry slowly sat down next to his two best friends and looked down to the floor, still not sure if he was ready to hear the truth. "Professor Snape is here to give you his full apology, even though he's suppose to be in with Madam Pomfrey…"

"Hah….of course he wants to…NOT…he's probably here because of you." Harry fake laughed.

"Yes Potter. Of course I wouldn't want to apologize to you. You quite deserved it…" Snape said.

"Please, Severus, you have to be clear that Harry is Harry, not James. You cannot blame his son for just being his son." Remus said, concerned. Snape turned his head, ignoring Lupin.

"I think you owe him an apology Severus." Remus said calmly, but Snape just pretended not to hear. "Severus, apologize," Remus demanded, and gripped onto Snape's arm. "Apologize." Snape turned around, surprised at how angry Lupin was, since Remus was always the calm one.

"Sorry…" Snape mumbled softly. Lupin gripped Snape's arm even harder, unsatisfied. "SORRY, let go of me Remus!" Snape yelled, flinging Lupin's arm off his. Harry was actually quite surprised at Remus' reaction. He was satisfied that someone so close to his father and Sirius was so serious to help him to get an apology.

"I want to know what happened in the Great Hall." Harry suddenly demanded.

"Harry, I have lied too much to you, and I will know longer keep anything more from you. As you know, Professor Snape was a death eater before but has changed to our side a long time ago. What just happened in the Great Hall was something that we feared would happened to you. Lord Voldemort has not been doing too much, but we know that the few death eaters who have escaped that night had managed to put a very powerful Imperius curse on Professor Snape somehow in link with the Dark Mark burnt onto their arms." Dumbledore said and paused for a bit. Hermione and Ron gasped and Snape winced. "However, Severus, being so experienced in the Dark Arts, he managed to fight it off when Professor McGonagall interrupted."

"Is there a wa..way t..to stop it?" Ron stuttered, scared at the thought of Snape torturing him.

"Actually there might be one, Ron." Lupin answered. Everyone turned around and looked at Lupin with their undivided attention. "There is a potion that was brewed only once in Magical History. It's a potion so mysterious, and not much is known about it except for its general function. It might not work….it creates such a powerful protection…it's…" Lupin said but Hermione interrupted.

"It can't…it can't be….but you need the blood….Professor Lupin, is it uh…the Bloodmark potion?" Hermione whispered.

"Should've guessed that you would already know, Hermione. Yes, it's the Bloodmark potion." Lupin said. Ron and Harry both had a confused look on their face. "Hermione, would you mind explaining to your friends?" Lupin asked.

"No I..uh…I wouldn't mind professor…" Hermione said but hesitated a bit before she started to explain. "Well the Bloodmark potion, like Professor Lupin said before, was only brewed once in Magical History. This mysterious potion requires the blood of one of the drinker's most hated person. It gives the drinker an almost invincible shield, able to protect the drinker from curse such as the Cruciatus and Imperius Curse; however not the killing curse. In order for it to function properly, the blood to whomever it belongs to must be alive. In this case…I believe that uh…you wish to use Harry's blo..blood because Harry holds his father's blood…." Stuttered Hermione. "But however, there are many unknown side effects, and it has been said that it may harm…"

"Yes, yes, that's the problem. It may hurt Harry." Lupin said.

"But then if we don't stop Snape….uh…Professor Snape," Ron said and corrected himself when Snape curled his lips, "then maybe Harry will get hurt too…but if we use that Blood…bloody potion,"

"Bloodmark Potion…." Hermione hissed.

"Yes, if we use that Bloodmark potion, then Harry might get hurt too?!" Ron said, getting really irritated.

"Exactly Ron, that is why we need to discuss. Harry, what is your opinion?" Dumbledore said, as everyone turned towards Harry, waiting for an answer. Harry looked up and stared into Remus' eyes.

"Moony, I will not allow him to drink or touch a bit of my blood, my father's blood. I don't know what happened between the both of them, but I know that my father and Si…" Harry hesitated but decided to say it. "and Sirius wouldn't want me to let him drink a part of me."

"POTTER, do you think that I want to drink YOUR blood? THE BLOOD THAT BELONGED TO YOUR SHOW-OFF FATHER?!" Snape yelled. Harry stood up and pulled his wand out, unable to bear those hurting words.

"DON'T YOU DARE MENTION MY FATHER, OR TALK ABOUT HIM WITH YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!" Harry screamed.

"STOP!" Dumbledore yelled. Everyone jumped, surprised at Dumbledore. No one ever saw him like that.

"Harry, sit down! Severus, haven't I told you more than once?! HE IS NOT JAMES. HE IS HARRY." Remus said loudly, pulling Harry back down on to his seat. Harry tried to resist but wasn't strong enough.

"Fine, Harry, I gave you the choice and you made it. I will in no way, make you give blood to make this potion. I will put a spell on Professor Snape, which notifies me when he is being controlled again. However, if you decide to change your mind, just appeal to me." Dumbledore said, sternly. "We will be going now, and you three should go downstairs and have dinner, it's already seven. Goodbye, and Harry, take some rest and empty your mind before you sleep." Dumbledore added as he and Snape turned around and walked towards the door.

"Bye Harry, I hope you feel better." Lupin said and then lowered his voice. "I'm very proud of you, I think that Padfoot and Prongs would never allow that neither." Lupin whispered and followed Dumbledore out. Harry just stood there, unable to say anything; but Ron, like usual, broke the awkward silence.

"Harry! That was a good one mate! Snape was shaking in anger!" Ron said, but Hermione nudged Ron really hard with her elbow. "OW!" Ron screamed, but Hermione ignored him.

"Harry, we should get some food…" Hermione said, a bit afraid. "I mean, you shouldn't starve yourself because of Snape…it's not worth it…." Said Hermione, looking for a reason to convince Harry to go.

"Ya! Come on…." Ron said, pulling Harry by the arm. Millions of thoughts filled Harry's head. He was so drowned in his thinking, that he barely noticed that Ron had already dragged him all the way into the Great Hall, to the Gryffindor table, which was covered by their delicious dinner. Hermione and Ron started eating but Harry just stared into open space.

"Harry…" Hermione started to say, but Harry just continued staring at nothing. Hermione couldn't take it anymore. "HARRY POTTER!" Hermione screamed, causing both Harry and Ron to jump.

"Herm—" Harry replied, but was interrupted.

"HARRY, IF YOU CONTINUE TO ACT THIS…STUPID AND CHILDISH, YOU'LL NEVER EVER BE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN WHAT THE PROPH…I MEAN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR MISSION EVEN WITH EVERYONE HELPING YOU! YOU CAN CHERISH YOUR LOST ONES, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY, YOU HAVE TO THE CHERISH THE ONES IN FRONT OF YOU WHO WILL STILL BE WITH YOU ON EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!" Hermione said, and bursted into tears. She was about to run away, but Harry grabbed her arm.

"Hermione…" Harry whispered. "I'm sorry…" Harry wiped away Hermione's tears and gave her a hug. The hug lasted for so long; Harry could feel the pressure and stress ebbing away, like the ocean consuming the sand.

"Awwww…." Ron said and joined Harry and Hermione in a bear hug. The rest of the days staying at Hogwarts earlier were a blast. They spent endless hours playing wizards chess, hanging around in the Gryffindor room and a lot more. Harry had let his stress and worries go after what happened to Hermione, but he didn't know if he could keep it for the whole year. After many days of fun, the last day had finally arrived.

"Augh…one more day left only till school starts….ugh…" Ron grumbled.

"Come on Ron, it can't be that bad…." Hermione said. "You guys have other stuff to look forward too….like Quidditch…" Hermione said.

"Oh no! Quidditch….I forgot to organize the team….uh…thank God there's one last day left!" Harry said, as he took out a piece of parchment, a quill and some ink. "I've gotta hand this in to Professor McGonagall soon…" Harry started writing.

Gryffindor Quidditch Team

Chasers

Alicia Spinnet

___________

___________

Beaters

___________

___________

Goal Keeper

Ron

Seeker and Captain

Harry Potter

"Uh Harry…your missing four players!" Hermione pointed out.

"Ya…I guess I have to have tryouts. And Alicia is now in her seventh year…but why isn't she captain?" Harry asked.

"Oh…haven't you heard? She's Head Girl this year; she says that she doesn't have enough time to be captain, but she can still manage to play." Hermione replied. "And uh…you didn't ask Ron yet if he still wanted to play…"

"Of course Ron would like to play…don't you?" Harry asked, with a little uncertainty in his voice.

"Uh…." Ron mumbled.

"It's my first year ever to be Quidditch Captain…and my best friend…." Harry sighed. "Uh…okay Ron…I won't force you…but I know you've got the potential in you…you do so well when no one's looking. All we have to do now is train your confidence." Harry said, a bit sad.

"Augh, okay mate. How can I let my best bud down?" Ron said and smiled.

"Thanks!" Harry said and grinned. "I think it's settled. I'll just find a date for Quidditch tryouts…and I think Ginny wants to be Chaser. I'm sure we'll be seeing her. Oh well….let's do something else. Last day…we can't waste it like this!" Harry said. They spent the rest of the day hanging around and having a blast, and forgetting that there will be more worries than they would ever expect to be coming in their way.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY! I'm so sorry that I couldn't update sooner…it's just that I didn't have anytime during my trip to send it….and once again…thanks for the reviews and sorry about the delay!