Tried to make this chapter a little longer, and sorry it took so long to get up- I was out all day and wasn't allowed to go back on the internet. Oh well, thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter- Sorry, I don't have the time to write u guys all in- but u all kno who u r, and u rock! =^-^=
I will be working for the next few days but I will TRY to update- if I don't chances are I will soon, k.
Anyways, on with the story- enjoy.
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Harry woke up the next morning to find himself tucked firmly into a bed in the hospital wing of Hogwarts. He sat up, and looked around to his left.
"How did I get here?" He muttered to himself. He stopped short when he saw Professor McGonnagal asleep in the chair by his bed and the whole lot came flooding back to him like a flush of water. He remembered Dumbledore and Snape come up to his room at 4 Private Drive, Dumbledore asking him if he REALLY had wanted to leave. He remembered how ashamed he had been about the letter he had been forced to send- it had been short and snappy, not informative.
He remembered Dumbledore sitting with him after he had almost been sick- and he would have, if he had had anything in his stomach to bring up-, And the sickening feeling he had been unable to hide when Snape had been shot, relievement when the Professor had said he could stand.
He also remembered the tired, worn look on Professor Dumbledore's face, and he stopped short.
Dumbledore! He checked his watch. He would be in the great hall right about now- then why was Professor McGonnagal asleep in a chair- surely she should be down there with the rest of the teachers?
"Professor?" he said quietly. She didn't stir.
"Professor?" he said, louder this time. He saw her open her eyes a little, and then blinked.
"Harry, you're awake," she smiled tiredly, her voice tinged with releif.
"Professor shouldn't you be down at breakfast?" Harry asked awkwardly.
"Oh dear, what is the time," she asked.
"8.30" Harry replied.
"Then I should be down there already," She said, "Im sorry Harry, but I cannot deprive the students of knowing that they have a day off."
"A day off? Why Professor?" Harry asked.
"Because Professor Dumbledore is very tired , I myself have not slept all night, and Professor Snape
has not yet returned from St Mungo's. We cannot run the school when we are so many staff members down, as it is, Professor Dumbledore is having to teach this year,"
"What is he teaching?" Harry looked worried.
"Potions." Harry looked shocked. Then he smiled. That was before he realized something else.
"Then Snape finally got the Defence against the Dark arts position," Harry felt sick.
"Professor Snape, Harry" She corrected him, and stood up. "I have your timetable in my office if you could come down later."
"Okay," Harry replied, and with a swish of her robes she was gone.
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When Harry got up into the Gryffindor common room he was nearly tackled to the ground by Hermione, who wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"Oh my god Harry are you alright?" she asked, "we heard you were in the hospital wing last night, and we've been so worried,"
"Im fine Hermione," Harry smiled, and the two broke apart. Then it was Ron who greeted
"Hey Harry, how've you been- Im glad you're back at school mate," He said, and smiled.
"I suppose you've heard about our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is."
"Yeah," Harry said dryly, a look of pure hate written on his face, "I can't wait,"
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks.
"Come on Harry, I know we all don't like Snape, but really he isn't all that bad......." She said hesitantly.
"It was his fault Sirius died," Harry muttered so quietly both had to listen carefully, and Ron changed the subject hurriedly.
"Come on Harry," he put a hand on his friends shoulder, "lets go get your timetable from McGonnagal, you'll find you have a surprise as well. Not a good one, but a surprise."
"Okay," Harry agreed grudgingly, and Hermione gave a tug on his sleeve.
"Come on," she said, "I still have to go to the library yet to do my homework,"
"Hermione, we have a DAY OFF, no homework," Ron said in disbelief. Harry laughed, and entered Professor McGonnagals office to get his timetable from the Gryffindor .
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Ron and Hermione stood outside thier transfiguration teachers door as they waited for thier head of house to give Harry his timetable.
"Harry really hates Snape now, doesn't he?" Hermione asked Ron quietly, "I mean, he hated him before, but now it's kind of gone beyond that, if that is possible."
"He took Sirius' death hard Mione," Ron said, "and I guess since Snape was taunting Sirius how he is useless to the order he felt that It made him want to leave his mothers place."
"Yeah," Hermione sighed, "But it wasn't really his fault, I mean, he did go see that Sirius was safe after Harry had that dream,"
"Harry just needs someone to blame, and he needs time to get over it. And face it, Snape is a good person - he's a stupid git. I just hope Harry can control his temper in Defence against the Dark Arts, or he will be serving detention for the whole year."
"Oh no," Hermione smiled absently, "I take it we wont see much of him then."
She was cut off by Harry who had just stormed out of McGonnagals office.
"Defence against the Dark Arts with SLYTHERIN," he groaned, "this is just not my year," He slid down the wall, and dropped his head in his hands.
"Come on Harry, it'll be okay, it has to be better than Umbridge- Snape hated her, I don't think he would sink That low," Hermione kneeled down beside him, and Ron joined him.
"Yeah Harry, he may be a bastard, but at least we will be doing some practicals this year, and lets face it, he most definitly knows the subject," Harry looked up at Ron skeptically, and Ron pinched his nose. " Wands away, turn to page 117, Defensive magical theory. There will be no need to talk,"
Both Harry and Hermione collapsed in a fit of laughter. Professor McGonnagal interupted them, as she came out of her office.
"Run along now Harry, I expect you have a bit of catching up to do with your friends," She smiled slyly, "and by the way Mr Weasly, that was a very impressive impersonation of Dolres Umbridge," she said, I think Professor Dumbledore might like to hear that one,".
The three just stared, yet they had expected no less from thier Transfiguration teacher.
"She really hated Umbridge," Ron smiled, "she would never take our side over another Professor,"
he looked totally awestruck.
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Severus Snape strode out of St Mungos in a bad mood. He hated nothing more than being completely and utterly helpless, and over the last 15 hours that was exactly how he had felt.
He had finally escaped when the nurse had left the room, and he had snuck out. He should have been back at Hogwarts hours ago, but they had insisted he rest, and he had no choice but to do so.
He hadn't gotten far into the street when a pale man with blonde hair and black robes appeared in front of him, another two bulky men behind him.
"Severus," The Blonde man said.
"Lucius," Snape replied cooly.
"The Dark lord was.....most displeased.....when you did not answer his call last night."
Snape frowned. He had been unconscious most of the remainder of the night, and most of the day.
"I was in St Mungo's, and under a deep sleep potion. I did not feel the mark burn," he replied evenly.
"I see," Lucius said, his voice cold and unconcerned. "He has asked me to bring you to him, and I obliged. He does not like to be kept waiting."
Snape nodded, and in the next second the pair had dissaperated, to be met with a very angry Lord Voldemort.
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"Ahh, Severus, just the person I have been looking for," Voldemort greeted Snape in a cold voice.
"Lucius here tells me that last night you and Albus Dumbledore paid a little Visit to Harry Potter," he continued slowly, "Tell me, why did you not bring the boy to me?" he growled, forcing Snape to kneel at his feet.
"I can promise you my Lord if I had just gotten one second alone with the little brat I would have been back here in an instant with him," Snape said in a soft, silky voice, trying desperatly to blanken his mind of all thoughts except those memories when he was in Harry's room- where he was deliberatly thinking of all the bad things he could think of about the boy-,
"but Dumbledore never left his side the entire time he was there, and I had a slight.........incident with his Uncle, which sent me to St Mungo's for the night." He paused as Voldemort took a firm grip of his chin and caught him in a piercing stare. Snape fought harder to blanken his mind.
After what seemed like hours, Voldemort let go of him, and he was able to look away. He stood back up.
"You are telling the truth," the Dark Lord said rather grudgingly, "But soon enough, Albus Dumbledore will not be around to protect Potter, and then we will have our revenge, why, I will let you personally torture him, I know how much of a nuisance he is to you," he paused, "and Lucius here can help you. Then I will kill him," Voldemort's evil face broke into a cruel smile, and he looked at the four Death Eaters in front of him.
"You are dismissed," he told them, and as Snape turned from him, he grabbed his left forearm tightly, and pulled him back from the rest of the group.
"And Severus, if I ever find you have been somewhat......disloyal to me..........you will pay,"
Snape's arm burned almost unbearably, and then he felt Voldemort let him go and he dissaperated to the village of Hogsmeade, where he headed to the castle immeadiatly.
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*PS, LOL: Star 06, lol, I should have put that huh, except it would be a lil OOC for Dumbledore, huh?
Anyway, I hope u guys enjoy this chapter, check back soon for another one.