Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor the location their are camping in. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. I'm making no money from this story.
A/N: Please see next chapter for final Author's Note and Special Thanks tribute page if you were a reviewer who had any questions about this story at all.
As a reminder this is a PRE story and is still rated PG-13. Hope you like this last chapter, please review.
Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go
Chapter 14 - Anticipation of Things to Come
Severus, Hermione, Madame Pomfrey and a very weak Harry appeared in the middle of Hogwarts infirmary. Harry stumbled dizzily as soon as everyone settled after the disorienting port.
Waiting for them by Harry's usual bed is the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Ron. Dumbledore took in Harry's condition and frowned at the site of the young wizard. "My dear Harry, are you quite alright? What happened to you?"
Harry looked at Dumbledore for a few seconds while trying to organize an answer. He found the potions he'd been given by Madame Pomfrey have made him somewhat incoherent and unable to form a complete and intelligible answer. Harry turned his head towards Severus to let the professor do the talking for him instead. He winced a bit in the process because of the soreness in his neck.
Severus briefly outlined the events of the morning while he and Madame Pomfrey maneuvered Harry so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed. They then carefully helped to remove the heavy pack from around Harry's shoulders. Severus lifted the pack off the bed and from out of a small opening came the snake who had helped him find Harry. Severus started at the sight, as he watched the snake wound it's way around his wrist.
Everyone else in the room stopped and stared when they heard the hissing sounds. Harry looked at the snake and started talking to it as if in a daze, "Why are you here?"
"To apologizze. It wasss I, that had caussed your acccident," the snake replied. "Are you sssafe, now? The snake looked at these new and familiar surroundings in question.
"I'm sssafe now, yesss. Do you want to sstay with me while I resst? Or do you wisssh to return home?"
"Ssstay with you. Like you. You talk to me in my tongue, I wasss lonely." The snake bobbed his head up and down a few times and then unwrapped itself from Severus as Harry reached out slowly. The snake settled around Harry's upper left arm and placed it's head just past the elbow onto his forearm.
Harry tried to relax into the soft bed from sheer exhaustion from the events of the day, when Madame Pomfrey rushed to his side, "Not yet, you don't. First we need to get you out of those torn clothes and into some clean pajamas, then I need to give you some more medications." She hoisted Harry up gently and once more with Severus' help guided him into a closed off area where he could change in private.
Ron had been asked by Dumbledore to bring some of Harry's pajamas from the dorm and followed after the trio to hand them over. Ron looked at Harry and grinned, "You'll be alright, mate. I've seen you look much worse."
Harry chuckled softly in agreement, "I'm sure I have." Ron left the enclosure to wait with the others.
Severus turned to the medi-witch to offer his assistance in helping Harry change clothes and encouraged her to go gather up up whatever additional medical supplies she would need to finish curing the young man.
"Thank you, Severus. Harry, are you alright with his helping you, dear?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
Harry nodded and she left them to finish preparing. Harry was just too tired, too sore, and too number of mind to care at the moment who helped, just so long as he could lay down soon and sleep.
Severus made short work of the duty. He had gasped a few times at the ugly bruising that was around Harry's rib cage and legs, but otherwise remained silent and gentle. Severus then guided Harry slowly back to his bed and helped him lay down. Everyone present noticed the care and gentleness Severus gave to Harry. Professor McGonagall was surprised at this change in their relation, her eyes widened behind her rectangular glasses. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily and his expression was one of utter contentment. If the old wizard knew how to be smug at his handiwork, he clearly did not show it outwardly. Hermione and Ron also looked slightly put out at this side of their professor they had never seen before.
Madame Pomfrey returned promptly with several vile looking potions for Harry to ingest. Ron grimaced at the sight of them in sympathy for Harry. His face clearly said, *ICK!*
Madame Pomfrey tipped up Harry's face for him to take the remaining necessary medicines, including another pain killer and a dreamless sleeping draught, to speed up his healing. Just before Harry dropped off into a peaceful and much needed sleep, she encouraged the visitors to leave, especially Hermione and Ron, as they were the easier of the two to direct and control.
"Out you two, you can come back later once the sleeping draught has worn off." She looked at the watch pinned to her robes, "He 's young and still in good health so he should be up and about in time for supper this evening in the Great Hall." She pushed them firmly out of the infirmary as they tried to say their good-byes to Harry. Harry, by this time was just shy of oblivion. He could barely keep his eyes open as he looked at Severus, who had taken a seat by Harry's side.
Ron, dragged Hermione off to a side corridor not too far from the infirmary and placed a finger to his lips, when she was about to question him. He pulled out the invisibility cloak he'd snagged from Harry's locker when he'd gone to retrieve Harry's pajamas. Hermione just lifted an eyebrow in question as to why he felt he would need the cloak.
He whispered to her, "What better way to find out what's really going on with Harry and Professor Snape?" Hermione never knew that Ron could be so devious a planner and such a quick thinker. *He certainly thought ahead.* She grinned in acceptance to the plan. They waited in the shadows to see who else will leave the infirmary.
Minerva approached Severus to ask him what was going on, when Dumbledore intervened, "Minerva, perhaps you could talk with Severus later on at supper?"
"But, Albus..." Minerva did not want to be thwarted in finding out all she could.
"Please? Severus looks as if he also needs a moment of rest. You can ask him your questions later when we gather in the Great Hall."
"Yes, Albus." Minerva sighed and would abide by the Headmaster's wishes. She nodded her head to Severus, who still had not taken his eyes off of Harry, and swept out of the infirmary. She passed by Hermione and Ron, who were hidden under the cloak.
"Knowing Dumbledore, he's going to have a nice long chat with Snape about these new development. Now would be a could time to slip in, so we can overhear them." Ron and Hermione walked in step with the other and silently as possible slid through the doors of the infirmary and moved to hide behind the bed closest to Harry's. They watched as the Headmaster settled in a seat between their bed and Harry's. Professor Snape sat on the opposite side, facing the hidden two.
Severus knew what was coming as soon as Albus had settled into the chair across from him. Albus was going to interrogate him, subtly of course, but pry into his well ordered life none the less.
*Might as well take the intiative and head the old wizard off at the pass.*
"Thank you," Severus quietly told the Headmaster, his eyes still firmly glued to the sleeping Harry.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled more, if that were possible, his lips curled into a small pleased smile. "Whatever for, my boy?"
Severus stiffened. *Don't play ignorant with me you old goat!* "You know what for, don't make me spell it out to you."
Dumbledore sighed, but the contented smile remained firmly on his face. He folded his hands across his waist and settled into his chair more comfortably. *Ah, Severus, you've come a long way in such a short time, with a little help from Harry and myself. However, you only have a few more short steps to go, but they will come soon enough. Harry will see to that.*
"Tell me about the camping trip then, how did it go, other than this little mishap with Harry?"
Severus latched onto the last part of Albus' question, just as Dumbledore knew he would. He was upset that the Headmaster was taking Harry's accident as some minor, trivial incident.
"Little mishap with Harry!" Severus bellowed and growled at the Headmaster. He turned his gaze to his mentor and leader and glared. "This was not a little mishap! Harry could have died. I know that trouble seeks the boy, always, whether he wants it to or not. Therefore, I should have watched over him more carefully. I should have made sure he was safe." The last part of Severus' diatribe was whispered and directed solely at himself.
"Why do you feel responsible for Harry? Harry is now officially an adult. He's 17, of legal wizarding age, therefore able to take care of himself."
"Because he's my friend! That's why I care," Severus snapped. His eyes widened briefly at the admission. *You fool! You fell for it, just like he intended you to.*
"Are you happy now? I've admitted it, Harry is my friend." Severus reached out and clasped Harry's hand as he said this. He needed to be reassured that what he said was true. He felt the response from Harry, as even in his sleep, the young man did indeed reassure him by squeezing his hand gently.
"And are you his friend?"
"I'd like to think so." Severus would say no more beyond that. He would not give voice to his thoughts and doubts he felt should no longer intrude.
"And what makes Harry your friend, Severus?" enquired Dumbledore.
"All Harry has asked from me is my respect and trust, and in return he gives me that and more. He gives me laughter and ... a sense of peace." Severus glanced off into the distance and his gaze became unfocused, as if lost in his memories. However, he continued to speak.
"I am at ease in his presence now, there is a comfortable feeling between us that did not exist before. I feel as if I finally know the boy's heart and the person behind the name, Harry Potter, not just the Boy-Who-Lived or the Boy-Who-Triumphed-Once-More, not even just Potter, but Harry. Severus paused in thought, his lips quirked into a grin, which the older wizard delighted in seeing and pleased him no end. *It's so nice to see Severus happy for once and not tormented by his past.*
"You won't believe this Albus, but last night Harry got me to play that muggle game, Poker with him and his friends. I thought I was being so superior and would teach him a lesson. I stated that if I were to play, the others would have to agree that whoever lost a hand would have to perform a chore for the winner. I was smug in thinking my skills at bluffing would win out. I felt sure, however that the others would never agree to the conditions. I just didn't count on Harry wanting me to play so much. He convinced the others to let him take their chores instead if they lost to me." Severus shook his head ruefully as he came back to the present.
"I did win several hands, but I got over confident and then Harry beat me two hands straight. I will admit in that moment, I was proud of him. He was not cowed by my attitude and he even accepted his losses gracefully. He even suggested letting me bow out of owing him two chores, not wanting to place me in a role of servitude."
"He first requested that I help him research career opportunities as his chore, but I told him that I would have done that anyway if he'd asked. Then because I'd also offered to help tutor him in Potions, so he would do well on his NEWTs, he asked for the same for his friends. So now, instead of owing him two chores for himself, I will now help tutor Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley in Potions in preparation for their NEWTs. I don't think Harry has told them yet."
The two hidden and up-to-now, silent students heard this statement and they gasped in surprise. Severus jerked in surprise. He looked at Dumbledore, who coughed to cover for the students. Dumbledore had known from the beginning that Harry's friends were there. "Sorry about that, dear boy, you caught me by surprise. I didn't expect you to be so agreeable." Severus, settled back into his chair. Now however, he was back to his former and distant self.
"There is one thing I do wish to discuss with you, Albus. I'm thinking of resigning as Potions professor."
Hermione reached up and covered her own and Ron's mouth quickly before another gasp could escape.
"Resigning? Are you sure? You are an excellent Potions Master and the knowledge you have and share with your students is invaluable."
"Albus, you know as well as I, that I'm not cut out to be a teacher. I only took this position in the first place to spy on you for the Dark Lord, and then once I'd changed sides, for a place of safety. Now that he's gone, I can move on."
"Are you sure this has nothing to do with Harry also leaving?"
"What are you implying, Albus?" Severus was affronted by the Headmaster's suggestion. "This decision has nothing whatsoever to do with Harry. I think I just need a change now. I'm thinking about opening my own potions shop, maybe finding a nice quiet place to live."
*Whatever you say, dear boy. I know better. You've made no mention before now of leaving and Tom has been gone now these past several months. Harry must have said something to you, to contemplate this change. I wonder what it was he said to you.*
"Well, you are always welcome to continue on here, Severus. I will not force you to stay. You still have several weeks in which to give it some thought. I know you won't rush into anything." On that note, Dumbledore stood. "I will see you later on in the Great Hall. And, Severus, you should rest as well."
Dumbledore turned and looked straight at Hermione and Ron as he passed by. He winked at them in understanding. Hermione and Ron took this as a sign that it was also time for them to leave. They quietly followed after Dumbledore and went back to the Gryffindor common room.
Severus continued to sit quietly by Harry's side for several more hours as the young man slept.The only movement from within the infirmary besides Madame Pomfrey occasionally checking in, was from the snake wrapped around Harry's arm. The snake would occasionally stir and look up Severus and then back at Harry and then fall back to sleep.
By late afternoon, Harry finally began to stir around and Severus was jerked from his thoughts. Severus had been contemplating Harry's offer of sharing a house together. Severus had played out several scenarios in his mind as to how things would go between then. If they had a big enough place, he felt that neither person would feel cramped and confined and could enjoy their privacy when needed. So he saw the distinct advantages to such an arrangement, but had not come to a full decision as yet. *I want to see what Harry will do to convince me and to see if he is still sincere in his offer when it comes closer to the time when he'll be leaving.*
Harry opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He needed his glasses and reached to the side table for them, where they would normally be placed. When he reached out with his left hand and felt the weight of the snake wrapped around his arm, he remembered finally where he was and what had happened.
Harry looked closely at the snake, who had also woken up when Harry did. The snake voiced a quiet hello to the young man and settled back down quietly. Harry reached out and rubbed the snakes head affectionately. Harry then pushed himself up in bed to settle himself more comfortably.
Harry saw the fuzzy outline of Severus and blinked a few more times. Severus realized that Harry needed his glasses and that they had yet to be fixed after this accident. Severus picked up the glasses from the far end of the side table and cast the reparo spell on them. Once mended he placed them in Harry's hands.
"Thank you, Professor." Harry slipped the glasses on over and watched as the world once more came into focus. "Ah, much better."
Severus smiled, "You sound much better. You also look much better. The bruises have faded a bit now and the scratches are nicely on the mend. How do you feel though?"
"Indeed, much better. That nap did me loads of good."
"So you will feel up to going down to the Great Hall for supper then?"
"Yes, sir. I'm feeling very hungry, like I could eat three helpings of whatever they serve, plus several desserts." Harry patted his now quite audible stomach. They both chuckled.
"Harry, there's no one else around, so it's quite okay for you to call me Severus."
"Okay. I wasn't sure, since we're now back at school," replied Harry.
"You can call me Severus, as long as we're not in the classroom and when there are no other students or professors around to overhear."
Harry shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
"Also, remember, I will be calling you Potter in those same situations. It would not do to appear overly friendly with a student."
"Fine." Harry rolled his eyes, but smiled. Harry's smile slipped briefly as the memories of the morning came back to him.
"I just want to thank you, again, Severus. I really am glad that you were there with me today."
Before Severus can tell Harry it was nothing, Madame Pomfrey appears after hearing Harry's voice from her office."Well, Harry, feeling better now? Let's do a quick check shall we." She held her wand up and cast an examination spell, "Dissero Corpus Corpori."
"Well then, you seem to be mending up just fine. You are well enough to leave, but you should still take it easy for the next few days and to get a good nights rest. If something is troubling you, don't hesitate to come back. Your friends will probably be returning soon and hopefully with a change of clothes." The medi-witch nodded her head to Severus as she took her leave.
Severus waited until she was completely gone before speaking to Harry, "I was just thinking, you and I need to figure out a schedule for your extra tutoring, of course we'd also need to coordinate the schedule with your friends. Have you told them yet about the favour?"
"No, not yet. I was going to wait until we got back and settled in a bit. Maybe when they arrive to escort me back to the Gryffindor tower, we could sit down and plan it out. So what times are best for you anyway?"
"Evenings, of course, since I have no classes then. Of course, I will still need to find time to grade papers and potions. You and Mr. Weasley have pretty much identical schedules, what about for you two?"
"Well, we no longer have Quidditch practices, so any evening is fine. Hermione has probably already set up our study schedules for the NEWTs, so it would probably be best to just ask her what times are good."
Severus smiled at this, he knew that Ms. Granger was prepared well in advance, more so than any of the other students, but she would continue to study up until the last minute.
"There's also my chores to consider. I suppose you'll expect me to wait now until I've healed properly to deal with them." Harry looked at Severus as he sat there. Harry finally noticed that Severus was still wearing his muggle clothes. "Hey, you've not left since I arrived?"
Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I... I really didn't have time to leave. Soon after you fell asleep, the Headmaster wanted to talk about the trip."
"Surely that didn't take 3 hours?" Harry couldn't resist putting Severus under a little scrutiny. He was enjoying watching the older man squirm a bit.
"No, but after the Headmaster left, I ... I lost track of time thinking about what I'm going to be doing after school is done for the year."
"Oh, and have you decided yet, whether you will stay or leave?" Harry enquired.
"Not quite yet. As I told the Headmaster, I still have a few weeks left before I need to inform him of my decision."
"So that means, I won't know any sooner, as to whether or not you will take me up on my offer of sharing a house."
"That's correct. I believe I also warned you not to nag, otherwise, I will be deducting house points for your being a nuisance."
"Okay, I won't nag. That doesn't mean I can't highlight the advantages of such a situation from time to time, right?"
"Fine. You may 'highlight' the advantages, as you call it." Severus grinned at his young companion. Harry grinned back, pleased with himself and Severus.
Before Harry could continue on with the conversation, Ron and Hermione entered the infirmary. "Hi Harry, feeling better?" Hermione asked as the two sat down next to each other on the closest bed.
"Yes, Madame Pomfrey says I'm free to leave. Ron, did you bring me a change of clothes?"
"Sure did." Ron swung a bag over his shoulder and drew out Harry's clothes and robes and then handed them over to Harry.
Harry took the clothes and scooted off the bed, "Be right back. Don't go anywhere, there's something I need to tell you two."
Harry went into the bathroom nearby and changed clothes as fast as he could since his body was still slightly sore. He had to ask the snake to move first before he could get the pajama top off and once he was finished changing, the snake once more curled himself around Harry's arm underneath the lightweight robes, this time at the wrist. He washed his face and hands and then returned with the folded pajamas tucked underneath his right arm.
Harry settled himself once more on the bed, so that he could see Hermione and Ron, plus Severus. "Well, I talked with Professor Snape last night about the two chores he owed me and I asked him if instead of him doing a chore for me, the could do some extra tutoring for the three of us in Potions, to help with the NEWTs. That's if you want to?" Harry waited anxiously to see if they would be up to it or not.
Ron turned to Hermione and she nodded her head and he shrugged his shoulders in response. Hermione turned to Harry and to Professor Snape, "That would be excellent Harry. Any extra help can only be a benefit at this point."
"Okay, so what evenings would be best then?" asked Harry.
Hermione turned to the Professor, "Sir, how many hours are you willing to spend?"
Severus, had not really given much thought as to how much time he was willing to give up for the cause. "I can spare six hours each week for the next two weeks. So three evenings this week and three the next? That way we can cover each year in one night."
"That's sounds splendid, sir. How about Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings then?" She looked at Ron and Harry in her excitement. Harry seemed to accept the suggestion well enough, but it was Ron who was ambivalent. Hermione gave him a slight nudge. They had discussed it earlier after they had heard Snape mention it to the Headmaster and they had agreed that it would benefit them both. Ron had said that he really did want to do well so that he could continue on to University, along with Hermione. So, Ron nodded his head in agreement as well to the suggest plans.
"Alright then, everything is settled. I will not only see you three in my classroom tomorrow, but also Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock sharp. Do not be late." With that, Severus rose from his seat and walked stiffly from the infirmary. The poor man had indeed spent too many hours sitting upright in the chair watching over Harry.
Harry got up from the bed and went to pick up his backpack when Ron leapt from up and reached for it as well. "Let me carry it, Harry. Give yourself a bit of a break for the time being, okay?"
Harry nodded, "Sure, Ron, thanks." Harry and his friends leave the infirmary behind. Harry thinks to himself, *hopefully I won't be in the infirmary again anytime soon or at all for that matter before I leave.*
Ron and Hermione, ask Harry about the snake and his plans for it. Harry really didn't know. He told them it was really up to the snake, if it wanted to stay or not.
Harry lifted his wrist up and peered beneath the edge of his sleeves. He rubbed the snakes head to get it's attention.
"Yessss?" it asked.
"My friends want to know what you want. Do you wisssh to stay with me for now or would you like to return to the woodsss?"
"Ssstay with you. You are warm and friendly. You pet me. 'Sniccce."
"Good, what ssshould I call you?" asked Harry as he continued to pet the snakes head, and scratch underneath it's chin.
"Ssliver. And you are called?"
"I am Hharry. It isss nicce to finally meet you, Ssliver."
"And you Hharry." The snake's tongue came out and tickled Harry's wrist in greeting and what appeared to be affection.
Harry grinned in return and petted the snake once more. Harry then look up at his friends, who were waiting for a translation of the conversation, patiently.
"His name is Sliver, and he says that he would like to stay for now. He says I'm warm and friendly. Hmm, I wonder what I'd need to do to take care of him. I'll ask him later after dinner. I'm starved you guys, let's hurry up and drop my stuff off and head down the Great Hall." With that, Harry sped up his walk as fast as he could without overdoing it.
They arrive at the tower and dash in after giving the Pink Fat Lady the password and dashed in up to their room and dropped all of Harry's stuff off and returned to where Hermione was waiting in the hallway.
The rushed off to the Great Hall before Harry could complain anymore about his growling stomach. When they entered, several of the students heads turned when they realized who had arrived and the noise level dropped a bit as conversations lulled. Harry and his friends ignored it and went to their usual spots at the Gryffindor table. The other seventh years who were already there asked Harry how he was doing and to find out what happened. He gave them the abbreviated version of the events and settled down to eating as much as he possibly could. Every so often he would glance up at the head table and look at Severus to see how the other man was fairing. Once Severus caught his glance and gave Harry a quick smile and a nod before turning away again to talk to Professor McGonagall. The Headmaster, as well as Ron and Hermione intercept the exchange between the two. Dumbledore thinks to himself, *just a few more steps indeed before Severus is where he should be. Harry is certainly helping matters along.*
Ron and Hermione exchange speaking glances behind Harry's back. They had discussed quite a number of things after overhearing their Potions professor and the Headmaster earlier today. They would definitely support Harry in his friendship with their professor and they would be friendly and kind to the Potions Master in return. After all, it was what best friends did.
The evening progressed rapidly for Harry, who was starting to feel sluggish again after the full meal. He and the others returned to the common room in the tower and sat down in front of the fire. Even though it was mid May, the castle still got chilly late at night. Harry took a comfy chair next to the sofa on which Ron and Hermione was snuggling together.
Harry took to absently stroking Sliver's head, while he was lost in thoughts of all that had happened this weekend and the changes that had occurred. Harry couldn't wait for the next few weeks to come. He was really looking forward to getting to know Severus better and to proving to his professor that he did indeed know what he was doing in Potions, if given half a chance.
*I'll take each day as it comes and make it something special.* Harry smiled to himself, because starting tomorrow morning his first class was Potions, with Professor Snape.
-Finis-
For now! Read special author's note that follows for more details.