Hermione had noticed Harry's red eyes as soon as he'd returned from Professor Inigma's office but she'd whispered to Ron that they'd better not ask Harry why he'd been crying, after all Hermione knew that Harry would tell them if he felt he could. They sat in silence throughout the rest of the lesson and left quickly at the end. At lunch Harry ate quickly and left before Hermione or Ron could ask him anything, he appreciated the peace they were giving him but he wanted to be alone, he thought for a while about his parents, he realised that he'd forgotten to tell Dumbledore about the photo album incident, suddenly he felt that it didn't really matter that much, he went to the empty Gryffindor tower to write to Sirius telling him about everything that had been happening, it felt good to get it off his chest, and Hedwig seemed pleased to have work to do. When lunch was over he met up with Ron and Hermione who looked at him questioningly but said nothing as they made their way down to the dungeons. The three of them entered the classroom ignoring the disparaging looks that the Slytherins gave them (They were still smirking about their unceremonious entry to the assembly yesterday), they sat at the back of the classroom and silently took out the things they would need for their potions, Snape came in looking flustered but the steely glint in his eye reassured the Gryffindors that this lesson would not be any easier for them than normal. Snape spat out the names on the register and seemed even more irritable than normal, he positively glared at Harry and barked at them to commence with their potions. Harry's wand trembled slightly as he cut his bezoar in half and Ron looked at him anxiously, "Are you okay Harry?" Harry frowned, "I just feel a bit queasy, that's all, too many any flavour beans last night I think." Snape glared at them, "Potter, Weasley, that's 5 points from Gryffindor, this lesson is to continue in silence!" Harry and Ron got a meaningful look from Hermione and went back to preparing their ingredients, Harry was just counting out his beetle's eyes when he felt the pain start to burn across his scar, it grew and grew until Harry could hardly breathe, Ron jumped back in amazement, "Harry! What's wrong?" Meanwhile the rest of the class were staring at Snape who was clutching his forearm and wincing in pain, Hermione turned to Harry and saw him slump over his desk, Snape too noticed this and stood up from behind his desk still wincing and came over, he conjured a stretcher and put Harry onto it rather roughly, "Malfoy!" he barked in a rather ragged voice "You are in charge for the rest of the lesson, class, you are to complete your potions and leave them completed for me to inspect on my return." And with that he stormed out taking Harry with him and leaving the class open-mouthed and astonished.
As Snape hurried down the corridor he cursed quietly under
his breath, "In the middle of a lesson… what next?" He finally reached the hospital wing and sat down feeling more
tired than he'd like to let on, he caught his breath while Poppy Pomfrey fussed
about Harry who was still unconscious and mumbling quietly. Snape frowned with distaste at the boy, but
he was driven from his reverie by a worried voice that entered the room, "How
is he doing?" It was Dumbledore, Snape
shuddered, "He'll live I dare say, he usually does." As if on cue Harry started screaming and thrashing about wildly
on the bed, Dumbledore drew back in alarm and a glimmer of concern even flashed
across Snape's face, Madam Pomfrey was beside herself, "Do something Albus!" Dumbledore pressed a long white hand onto
Harry's forehead and exclaimed, "He's burning up, fetch some cold water and a
flannel Poppy." The matron rushed off, Dumbledore glanced at Snape who was
absentmindedly rubbing his sore arm, "The mark Severus?" asked Dumbledore
expectantly, "Yes, it's been burning worse than ever today." Dumbledore's gaze returned to Harry who
suddenly sat bolt upright, his screams silenced, he mouthed the name
'Voldemort' whilst gazing pleadingly into Dumbledore's eyes then slumped back
onto the bed into a deep but seemingly peaceful sleep. Madam Pomfrey rushed in carrying a bowl and
a pile of flannels but slowed when she saw Harry, "Thank heavens!" She set the bowl down and mopped Harry's
face tenderly, Snape sneered and addressed Dumbledore harshly, "What do we do
now?" He demanded, Dumbledore sat down
heavily in the chair next to Harry and ran a hand through his long silver hair,
"I don't really know Severus, I'm sorry to say." Severus opened his mouth to say something but closed it again
promptly when he saw Dumbledore slouch tiredly into the chair, he sighed and
started to leave, "The burning's stopped, I have a class to attend to." Dumbledore nodded and waved him away wearily. Snape hurried down the hallways back to the
dungeons, he had been shaken by what he'd seen but he dreaded to think what
those pesky Gryffindors could have done in his absence and the thought spurred
him on.
Hermione and Ron had exchanged many worried glances
throughout the lesson whilst Draco Malfoy had paced up and down beside the
desks sneering at the Gryffindors and looking very Snape-ish, Ron wasn't
concentrating on his potion and dropped in Harry's beetle eyes as well as his
own causing a violent hissing to come from his cauldron. Draco spun round and
frowned at him, but Hermione quickly dropped a few lace wings into the cauldron
and it calmed down at once, Malfoy had a very sour look on his face but then he
sniggered and exclaimed very loudly, "Sorry to see that you can't make potions
without your famous Harry Potter to help you Weasel." The Slytherins howled with laughter and Hermione and Ron stood up
about to retaliate when to their immense surprise the unthinkable happened,
Snape came storming in and bellowed, "Enough Malfoy! 20 points from Slytherin, Sit Down." The whole class was once again reduced to stunned silence, Snape
sat at his desk his eyes glittering menacingly, Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and
whispered "Snape looks so tired!" Ron
glanced up, Snape's face was even paler than usual and he had big dark circles
under his eyes. He frowned and nodded
at Hermione wondering what had made their potions teacher leave his persona in
the hospital wing. The bell rang for
the end of the lesson and the class left in silence, but as soon as they were
outside the dungeon excited and curious whispering filled the hall.
Meanwhile Harry had woken up. "Where am I?" Came a
quiet voice, which stirred Dumbledore from his thoughts, "Hospital Wing Harry,
Professor Snape brought you here." Harry rubbed his eyes which were still blurry, he reached over and
grabbed his glasses putting them on and struggling to free himself from his
twisted sheets and sit up, "What happened?" he asked, "Do you not remember
anything Harry? No visions?" Dumbledore asked gently, "I don't remember a
thing," mumbled Harry exhaustedly.
Harry's head was spinning, Dumbledore seemed to think he'd
had a nightmare while he'd been out, but all he could remember was the dull
ache in his head, he sighed heavily and laid back in bed, he wished his scar
would leave him alone. Then he noticed
the concern on his headmaster's face and added, "I feel okay now, but I do have
something else to tell you." Dumbledore
looked at him steadily as Harry told him about the photo album and his parents
and about his first lesson with Professor Inigma and then he sunk back into the
bed feeling exceptionally drained." Dumbledore sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin absentmindedly as
he thought, Harry looked at him and realised that despite his tired appearance
the aura of strength about Dumbledore had not disappeared. Dumbledore smiled at Harry and his eyes
twinkled slightly as he said, "It's been quite a couple of days for you hasn't
it Harry, I don't know what all of this means but I think it's safe to say
you've convinced Professor Inigma of the truth and that will make things a lot
easier for me, so Thankyou Harry. I
will leave you now, make sure you rest and when your ready you should probably
tell Miss Granger and Mr Weasley everything you've told me, you'll be needing
their support I dare say, and I think they'd like to know, but no Quidditch
practice today alright?" Harry smiled
and nodded before Madam Pomfrey shooed Dumbledore away and forced some sleeping
draught into his hand which he drank, and gladly sank into a deep, dreamless
sleep.