Severus was a bit worried when the boy didn't show up for breakfast. With the way he had been looking lately he decided it was probably best that the boy had slept. But when he missed lunch Snape became worried. At dinner-time when there was still no sign of Harry he debated going and checking on him. With Albus's final advice in his head 'the boy needs you around, he needs to think someone cares,' and after careful consideration he walked up the staircases that led to Harry's wing and knocked on the bedroom door before opening it. He was met by a peculiar sight. Harry, hearing the knocking sat up far to quickly and bumped his head on the potion which he had moved so he could watch its progress. He therefore was holding his hand to a small burn he had received. In his other hand lay an old dusty tome. Severus didn't know whether to scold him for making a potion in his bedroom, and not at a proper work table, give him a burn-balm, or see what he was up to. He decided on the latter two. "Harry stay there I'll be right back." He left and ran down to a store room where he grabbed the small vile, and brought it back up. He walked over to Harry's bedside and used his finger to rub on the balm. Harry's forehead felt much better, but the rest of him still ached, and he was absolutely terrified of what Snape would say to his potion. He waited to be chastised. Snape didn't say a word. The two were looking at each other for a reaction. Finally, Snape peered into the cauldron, and saw the potion bubbiling away.
"I had no idea you cared this much about my classes" he began. Harry cringed. He was in fact, always fascinated with potions, but was deterred from the subject by the man that now stood at his bedside. "Though I must say I disapprove of making one's potions while in bed. It could prove to be quite… Eventful." He continued, cautiously. "There is a potions lab at the end of the hall way, I can have it stocked for you if you would like to use it." He continued. "Perhaps we should move this concoction there?" Harry nodded stiffly but didn't get out of bed. "Unless there is a reason you are still in bed, and a reason why you made the potion in the first place?" Severus said as gently as possible. "Is it the fractures? I knew that potion Madam Pomfry gave you wasn't adequate." He said. Harry interrupted.
"I don't think they helped, but it was something that happened in my dream." He said and all of a sudden the dream came flooding back at him. He began to worry. How much was he going to have to tell. Severus carefully sat down on the bed next to him. He wanted to be there for the boy, and he was obviously in pain. Harry thought for a moment as he looked up at the Potions Master. He had changed dramatically over the summer. He looked, almost.. well if Harry were to be honest, he looked good, amazing really. His normally greasy hair was still long, but held back by a cord, and it was clean and silky looking. The pained expression he normally wore was changed, it looked more concerned than angry, his sallow skin was beginning to receive some colour indicating that he went out in daylight, and he didn't quite look like a mortician in the clothes he was wearing. With the dramatic change in his other features the aquiline nose which once made him look like an overgrown bird now set off his features to give him the look of a Roman Emperor. Harry snapped out of this train of thought as he once again looked into the searching obsidian eyes. "Do you know any Slavic languages?" He asked the potions professor. This was the last thing on earth he was expecting Harry to say.
"A bit," he replied thinking, but before he had a chance to deny it Harry rattled something off in perfect Romanian. Harry looked as suprized as Severus did with the delivery.
"What does it mean?" asked Harry. Severus was confused, surely Harry was not fluent in Romanian, but if he weren't how could he have? He responded slowly.
'I apologize for all the wrong I have done as the pain was inflicted. I gave away a great friend. When the time comes and the dark reclaim him help him like you helped me by taking away his pain, that he might at least die in peace. I thank you, boy king of the otherworld.' Severus translated. Surely this was a joke. How could Harry have known how to say that? Harry nodded and sank back into the pillows. God he's turning into Albus' thought Severus 'Wasn't even phased, looks almost like he knew that.'
'That is what I thought I heard him say, but I don't know his language.' Harry thought to himself.
"Harry, what happened in your dream? Is this why you are in bed today?" Severus asked. Albus had warned him that most of Harry's dreams were… insightful, and often caused pain in his scar depending on Voldemort's mood.
Harry considered for a moment. He didn't really understand everything, and maybe the Headmaster would. But telling Snape? Harry reminded himself of all the nice things the Professor had done for him, including rescuing him, without orders, from the Dursleys. And hell, Harry himself believed that he was supposed to be in St. Mungo's so why not? What was the worst that could happen. "Perhaps we should get the headmaster" said Severus, seeing how uncomfortable Harry seemed. "What potion is this exactly?" He had to ask, the Potions Master in him too curious to wait. He stood up and peered into the cauldron.
"It is a potion to take away the effects of the cruatius curse." He said. He was looking at the potion, staring at it. "Don't you remember teaching us the anti-pain serum in third year, it's a variation, with belladonna and lemon grass and several other things in it." he said wondering at the potions master's response.
"There is no such potion, but I am intrigued by its extra ingredients" the professor stated matter-of-factly as he began working through the various reactions in his mind. Harry noticed what the older man was doing and rattled off the list of ingredients and how to make it, in nothing other than a Hermionesqe manner. Snape was dumbfounded. He listened to each ingredient an how it interacted, the spells that had to be placed on the cauldron at various intervals and then returned his stare to Harry. Perhaps this was what Harry said it was.
"Harry I still don't know where you learned this, I have never, in my research, come across this potion, and it definitely isn't third year material." he said quietly.
"Here, its in this book." Harry handed him the dusty potions tome he had taken from the library in his rooms.
"Harry, I think you have the wrong book, unless the potion is related somehow to the Ancient Mesopotaimian Culture and Times. Harry's eyes went wide. Quickly thinking he grabbed the tome on his bed, remembering the warning he had read when finding the book, and handed the book to the Potions Master. "I can honestly say I've never read this book... I do not know any potion that will act as this does to either ease the after-effects of the Cruatius curse, or taken prior, that would protect your nervous system from the curse."
"Well, it explains a lot about the ingredients and their interaction." Harry said, lying, and hopeing that would be a plausible excuse. He wondered how he managed to get himself into these things as he looked up at the Potions Master questioningly.
Severus 'hmmmed' wondering what the boy was hiding but slightly too excited to care, and said "Well, you'll have to explain to me how you figured it out, but more importantly what happened, and why are you attempting such a complex potion?" he asked gently.
Harry closed Merlin's tome thankful his excuse had worked, at least in part, and something in him couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He quickly looked away from his former enemy, not wanting to appear weak. 'I had a couple of horrible dreams, and I was hit with the curse. In the dream I was already shocked that I could feel it, but I was even more surprised when I woke up." That was all he meant to tell, but after he began he couldn't stop. He began with the beating and Voldemort killing Uncle Vernon. He started sobbing at the end of that muttering about how he didn't think his uncle should die, and how he must be evil because he cursed everyone he was in contact with.
"Harry you are not evil." Severus began, but Harry shook his head.
"Then why do I bring pain to everyone. Why didn't I save Cedric? Why did I let Voldemort rise again?" He sniffled. "And why was I happy that Uncle Vernon was dead?" he added in a whisper. Severus put an arm around Harry and Harry cried into the older man's chest.
"Shh… anyone would have been happy at the end of being tortured." He tried to reassure. "You are only fourteen, you can not hold yourself responsible for the actions of that sick bastard." He continued. Yet when he said that he felt a tinge of hypocracy, for he knew he did the same thing. He knew that that was part of the bitterness that had consumed him. 'Harry, I have felt responsible for every person that has been injured by the death eaters, and a part of me always will, but I was wrong. I let it consume me, it took you out of Surrey before I realized I was much more useful focusing on what I could do instead of what I couldn't" Both Severus and Harry reflected on what he had said.
After several minutes Harry wiped away his tears and then began to tell Severus about the old man. When he described the throne room, at Severus' prompting, Severus suppressed a shudder; he remembered that room, that scene, far too well. When Harry got to the end he stopped before he told about the rainbows and the other things, but Severus, lost in his own thoughts didn't make any attempt to move. Harry took this as an indication that he knew there was more, and Harry finished it all. Snape began to laugh when he heard about the sunlight and rainbows. Surely it was just a dream. But then how to explain Harry's condition. And the Romanian? A small timer went off somewhere. Harry looked over at him with his tearstained emerald eyes.
"Is it a swirling light blue yet?" he asked hopefully. Severus stood up and peered into the cauldron. In it was an ice-blue mixture.
"very light blue"
"Perfect" Harry said and the orb dissolved. Severus had been looking at the potion and hadn't noticed Harry hadn't touched his wand. "Do you know any good cooling charms? It is supposed to be drunk at room temperature, but that will take a while if I just leave it." He asked. Severus started to cool the cauldron and then summoned a house elf. He told her to bring a full meal and a goblet. Two minutes later she returned with several large trays of food and a goblet, and left once more. Severus force-fed Harry some soup as he protested.
"You have to eat it otherwise the potion will hurt your stomach. I thought you said you paid attention in my class" he said, somewhat jokingly. Harry finally gave up his useless protest and ate. His stomach was appreciating it. When he was done Severus handed him a goblet full of the potion. Harry drank it. It wasn't nearly as bad as most of Madam Pomfry's potions, but it was by no means pleasant. He finished the goblet and could feel it coursing through his body. He sat up feeling a lot better. Severus watched the boy as the colour returned to his face. He then handed Harry two more vials. Harry recognized them. He took them both, and then looked over at the rest of the food on the trays. Severus moved and sat on the other side of the bed. They ate their meal in silence, but this time it was different, It wasn't icy or uncertain, it was companionable. When they finished Severus moved their trays off and put them on a table. "I'll get Albus, I think he'd like to know." Harry looked up at him.
"Do we have to?" he thought to himself but nodded. "Alright, let me get dressed and we can go over there." Harry said.
'No, we will have him come here, you are not going to be running here and there with your injuries and the after-effects of the cruatius.'
"No he's really buisy, and I'm feeling a lot better. I actually wont need this cane much longer." Said Harry. "While I'm getting dressed I could you put the rest of the potion into vials? It could come in handy." Harry then got out of bed, grabbed the cane and went over to the closet before Severus could protest. Severus watched, he was right, the limp was almost imperceptible. Harry came back a little while later, he was dressed in a pair of jeans, and a black and green Armani button down shirt that Severus had bought Harry. Over that, like a jacket, he wore the outer layer of his green robes, clasped at the chest, and flowing down. It was a good look for the teenager. Severus had finished bottling the potion and looked up. "Ready?" they asked each other at the same time, they both nodded. Severus pulled out his wand and tapped the leather band around his wrist. Harry touched the ring and they both disappeared. Severus found himself in his office. He quickly undid the locking charms on his door, and left for the Headmasters office. Harry looked around for a second confused. He was in a really luxurious bedroom, it took him a second to realize where he was, then wordlessly he closed his eyes and imagined himself up at the Headmaster's office. He arrived just before Snape, who had wasted no time. Harry stood looking at the gargoyle and attempting to get it to let him in. When he ran out of candy he tried 'Tongue tied toffee' and the gargoyle nodded. Snape looked at Harry curiously and the two stepped onto the staircase.
The headmaster looked up from his desk as the two entered. "Back so soon! I hoped it would last more than a couple days!" said the Headmaster a little sternly. The two looked at each other and smirked. 'How odd.' Thought the headmaster. Then he chuckled too. It appeared they were getting along. "Well then, if neither of you is planning on murdering the other, take a seat and let's see what can I help you with." The two took their seats. "Lemon Drop?" Harry accepted, unwrapped the candy and began to suck on it as he told the tale. Albus listened patiently nodding at the right places. He saw that it discomforted Harry to tell about the killing of his Uncle, and Albus suspected the reason. When Harry told him about changing things in the dream though he was quite curious. "And you are sure this wasn't just a nightmare?" he asked.
"He woke up with the symptoms of being under the Cruatus curse, and I don't think that they can be faked.." sad Severus with a tone of finality. Albus nodded 'these two are becoming closer than they'd ever let on.'
"It takes several days to get over the effects, especially for someone so small." Albus responded. Harry looked slightly offended. "And he looks well." Severus put a small vial on Albus' desk. It had a swirling ice blue potion in it. The headmaster looked over it carefully, then tapped his wand on the bottle, and some ice blue word floated through the air in an ancient language Albus recognized. Harry was watching the word intently and looked over at the other two.
"Where did you get this?" Asked the headmaster.
"Harry made it." Responded the Potions Master.
"What does it do?" He asked, with a pretty good idea.
"Exactly what it says it does" said Harry looking at the Headmaster curiously. The Headmaster nodded, twinkle in his eye.
"I didn't know you took Ancient Ruins." Severus said with curiosity. "I studied it when I was working for my Potions
Mastery, but never learned that particular set."
"That was written in English." Said Harry confused. Severus looked at the Headmaster who gave him a 'don't question it' look. "I take divination."
"With Trelawyney?" Severus said and snorted. The Headmaster gave him another look before laughing a bit himself
"Ah, like you did not enjoy her class?" he said to Snape.
"Well you have to admit, hearing how James Potter would pass away was always interesting, though the amount of times she predicted it, you would have thought one of them would have been right." He said somewhat bemused.
"She did it to my father too?" Harry asked.
"Oh, has she made it a family tradition?" asked Snape, now protective. 'Perhaps I should have a chat with her.' He
thought to himself. "I never understood why James stayed in the course, you'll have to explain it to me sometime."
"Well does anyone have any more questions?" the headmaster asked with a twinkle in his eye. Harry thought for a second and proceeded cautiously.
"What does it mean that my dreams are 'real' and why could I feel the cruatius?"
"Alas my boy, I can not help you with." The Headmaster's eyes had lost their twinkle. "But I will have some people look into it." He added in his mind.
Harry then thought for a moment, unnerved. "Why make your passwords Weasly concoctions?" he then asked to change the subject, and distract everyone
"Ah," he looked around his room and then whispered in Harry's ear. "I hear they are opening a shop when they graduate, I've helped them secure a place in Hogsmead, they said that they received the money from an anonymous benefactor, and all I can say is it will be great for them to put their talents to use. It is going to be wonderful I'm quite excited!" then sat back up and had a twinkle in his eyes. Harry nearly dropped off his stool but smiled nonetheless. Most people would think the Headmaster would be far too delighted to get rid of the twins. "Will you be staying the night?" he looked at the two of them. Harry glanced over at Severus. He actually wanted to go back to the castle to see Ahild. Severus must have noticed something.
"We didn't bring our nightclothes, and Harry seems to have left the books that he has become a part of back at the castle." The headmaster raised his eyebrows. "So I think we'll go back, unless Harry objects." He said. Harry simply smiled at him.
"Very well then, I suppose it is best not to excite Flitwik again, wouldn't want him to set off another fireworks show." Said the Headmaster chuckling to himself. I suppose I'll see you both soon." He smiled.
"Goodbye Headmaster, good to see you" said Harry.
"Goodbye" said Severus almost an afterthought. Then the two port-keyed back to the castle. All of a sudden Harry felt a sharp pain in his forehead. He lifted his hand and rubbed the scar. "I think that someone either got through your security or otherwise is quite angry with me." Harry said quietly. He looked over to see Harry pressing a hand against his forehead. The pain began to subside a bit. "I pity anyone who he calls tonight." Harry said aloud half to himself. Unfortunatly, at that moment Severus had gritted his teeth and become rigid. "Mr. Potter. Please don't ever express that sentiment again." said Snape. Harry looked over and saw that Severus looked like he was in pain.
"He is calling you isn't he?" said Harry quietly, and somewhat fearfully. Then without thinking he grabbed the vial and handed it to Severus. "You'll need this." Harry said "Drink it now, and just pretend to feel the pain." Harry then gave the man a Hug. If he wasn't in so preoccupied, and the events of the summer had not transpired, he might have been sickened at the display. Instead he hugged Harry. 'I'll be back as soon as I can." He said walked over to a dock Harry hadn't seen before, and got into a boat which rowed itself out into the water. Harry watched him as he got more and more distant. When he was little more than a speck Severus put his hand on the dark mark and apparated to Voldemort. Harry stood there a long time looking worried until he felt something nuzzle his neck. He turned around and saw the beautiful horse. He kneeled and Harry got on his back. Harry's tension began to dissolve.
"He will be alright, master. He has survived this many times before." The beautiful animal reassured Harry. Harry knew the horse was alright but he wouldn't calm until he saw the Professor again. "You have done what you can for him, but this is his battle." Ahild said.
"No, I can sleep, and I can change things." Harry thought.
"Young Master, I must protest. You are not fully trained, and it can not be assured that you will be able to help. It could cause worse problems." Harry listened, but hated the useless feeling he had.
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Authors Notes: I have a few chapters done ahead of this, and there is much adventure before The Birthday, but… well Sevvie isn't much of a socialite. Granted even if the party was a disaster it would still be the best that Harry ever had, but Sevvie is also a perfectionist. I think he's going to try and bribe his (nephew…or godson?) favourite student into helping him. Sev's a bit frazzled, so he hasn't come up with a good bribe yet. If you feel you can help him out, please write him a note in your review. He's already stressed, and he really doesn't need the extra tension, especially with the events in the upcoming chapters…
~~~~@ Myrra @~~~~