Disclaimer, I do not own hp or the world he lives in.
Chapter twelve Snape's Potion
Ron and Hermione had joined Harry again; their whispering was getting on Severus' nerves. He could catch the odd sentence here and there; Ron wanted to know if Harry was being punished by having to stay so close to HIM! Hermione as always had brought books for Harry to study if he got bored.
Severus almost laughed at the thought of them trying to keep their conversation private from him, 'as if I'd be interested in whatever rubbish they talk about!' Severus thought to himself, 'I have much more important things on my mind!' Still it was very boring lying there and Severus found himself listening anyway.
Their conversation was not quite as dull as he would have suspected however, they were talking about jinxes and counter curses, with a surprising understanding of them. Had Severus not disliked them so much he would have been impressed and perhaps even contributed to their discussion, with a few suggestions of his own, realising where his train of thought was taking him, he grabbed a book Dumbledore had left and started to read.
It was nearly dinner time when Dumbledore returned this time accompanied by Molly and Arthur Weasley, the twins, Ginny, Moody, Lupin and two people who were quite obviously muggles, before Severus could get his mind around the fact that Dumbledore had allowed Muggles to visit, Dumbledore announced that they would all be eating in the hospital wing tonight, to keep the patients company. Harry smiled at this revelation and Severus groaned. Introductions were made, the muggles were Mr & Mrs Granger, Hermione's parents, and they were also staying in Gryffindor tower but had agreed not to explore the castle without permission.
Tables and chair were transfigured, the food was served and everyone sat down to eat, chatting merrily with one another. Arthur Weasley was in seventh heaven, having real live muggles to question about the most outrageous inventions Severus had ever heard of. When the food and the chatter had finished the visitors bid their farewells, Hermione brought her parents over to thank Severus personally and when Mrs Granger told him that her daughter talked about him a lot, he could not detect even a hint of sarcasm in her voice, though Hermione could easily have joined the Weasley family at that moment, her face became so red!
Dumbledore lingered after the others had left and handed both Harry and Severus a book and some parchment each. They said thank you and bid him goodnight. Harry fell asleep shortly afterwards his glasses askew on his face and the book still in his hand. Severus gazed at him for a moment then went across to remove the glasses and book and place them on the bedside table. 'If they fall to the floor, then he will just wake up and annoy me with his chatter,' Severus excused himself.
Severus then became so engrossed in the potions book, scribbling down notes and measurements, checking the procedures, that he failed to notice the time until Madam Pomfrey came in with his Potions and ordered him to sleep 'like some bloody child,' he huffed.
Severus was finally released to his chambers with Madam Pomfrey's warnings still ringing in his ears. Although he resented being told what to do, he enjoyed the feeling of someone worrying about him. Potter, he assumed had been allowed to go to Gryffindor tower. For the next few days he saw the others only at dinner, which Dumbledore insisted he attend each evening. With the exception of Potters blood, he now had all the ingredients need to begin the potion. Having checked and double checked the instructions.
Once again Potter was taken to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey, after her many objections were overruled by Dumbledore, took the blood from him. It was unpleasant to watch, even Severus who had no love for the boy, pitied him as he watched litre after litre pour out of his arm, Harry had either passed out or fell asleep about half way through, and Severus watched as his face paled to almost the same colour as the white linen on the beds. Even Dumbledore looked especially pale when he said quietly to Severus, "we have to pray that this works, Harry deserves a chance at a normal life."
"I will begin immediately, the first step is to boil all the ingredients separately in his blood," Severus said solemnly, "have you told him about the last stage?"
"No, I will begin to prepare him for that as soon as Poppy says he is fit enough" replied Dumbledore sadly.
And so Severus enclosed himself in his dungeon and worked night and day on the potion only Dumbledore was permitted entry to check on the proceeding's, he also kept Severus appraised of Harry's process with his new training, for it was essential that Harry go with Severus when he take the potion to Voldemort. Perhaps Dumbledore hoped to impress Severus when he boasted of Harry's success in learning new and complicated spells. Or maybe the headmaster was simply trying to reassure himself that they had chosen the right path.
For Severus it was too late to change direction now, he had ignored The Dark Lords summons three times now, and knew if they failed, that he would surely be killed along with Harry. Severus noticed a strange difference in the way he perceived Harry now, the first was the lack of anger and hatred when he thought about him; the second was that his subconscious now referred to him as Harry and not Potter. When he stood stirring the various ingredients, his mind seemed to increasing wander along the path 'What if?' something that Severus rarely indulged in, the past was done and no matter how much you may wish to change it, it was not possible.
At the beginning of August, Severus announced that the potion was ready. He listened to Dumbledore outline the plan to the order members who had assembled for dinner, he did not tell them the purpose of the potion only that Harry would be allowed to go with them, most of the others at the table voice loud objections but Dumbledore simply raised his voice over the din and finished telling them their orders. Harry and Severus were the only two silent at the table, Molly was crying, as was Hermione, Ron was trying to explain that if Harry got to go then he should be allowed to go with him.
It seemed unbelievable that all these people were offering to go on the suicide mission just because Harry was going. Severus admitted to himself that he admired Harry's composure through all this, never once did he beg to be left behind or refuse to go. In fact he sat staring up at the enchanted ceiling as though seeing it for the first time. It was as though Harry had accepted his fate and knew it was useless to fight against it. Severus knew how this felt, he had long since accepted that his death would come at the hands of The Dark Lord, he also accepted that it would be just payment for the lives he had helped ruin so early in The Dark Lords first rise to power.
They would begin the attack the following evening, as soon as Harry was able to establish his connection to Voldemort and verify his whereabouts. Severus wondered if the others had as much trouble sleeping that night as he did, eventually just before dawn Severus felt his eyes drift closed and he managed to get a few hours sleep.
Harry had been able to find out that Voldemort was at his family home, so as night closed in the order members assembled outside the Hogwarts grounds. Dumbledore stood in the center of them with Harry by his side and Fawkes on his shoulder, Severus knew that the phoenix had donated several feather to their cause, which they could use to escape if necessary, Severus held a portkey in his hand and two potions vials hidden in his robes.
"If you are ready Severus, Harry, we will give you thirty minutes then join you. Please be careful, remember what I have taught you Harry. Good luck," Dumbledore's voice shook as he finished the sentence.
Chapter twelve Snape's Potion
Ron and Hermione had joined Harry again; their whispering was getting on Severus' nerves. He could catch the odd sentence here and there; Ron wanted to know if Harry was being punished by having to stay so close to HIM! Hermione as always had brought books for Harry to study if he got bored.
Severus almost laughed at the thought of them trying to keep their conversation private from him, 'as if I'd be interested in whatever rubbish they talk about!' Severus thought to himself, 'I have much more important things on my mind!' Still it was very boring lying there and Severus found himself listening anyway.
Their conversation was not quite as dull as he would have suspected however, they were talking about jinxes and counter curses, with a surprising understanding of them. Had Severus not disliked them so much he would have been impressed and perhaps even contributed to their discussion, with a few suggestions of his own, realising where his train of thought was taking him, he grabbed a book Dumbledore had left and started to read.
It was nearly dinner time when Dumbledore returned this time accompanied by Molly and Arthur Weasley, the twins, Ginny, Moody, Lupin and two people who were quite obviously muggles, before Severus could get his mind around the fact that Dumbledore had allowed Muggles to visit, Dumbledore announced that they would all be eating in the hospital wing tonight, to keep the patients company. Harry smiled at this revelation and Severus groaned. Introductions were made, the muggles were Mr & Mrs Granger, Hermione's parents, and they were also staying in Gryffindor tower but had agreed not to explore the castle without permission.
Tables and chair were transfigured, the food was served and everyone sat down to eat, chatting merrily with one another. Arthur Weasley was in seventh heaven, having real live muggles to question about the most outrageous inventions Severus had ever heard of. When the food and the chatter had finished the visitors bid their farewells, Hermione brought her parents over to thank Severus personally and when Mrs Granger told him that her daughter talked about him a lot, he could not detect even a hint of sarcasm in her voice, though Hermione could easily have joined the Weasley family at that moment, her face became so red!
Dumbledore lingered after the others had left and handed both Harry and Severus a book and some parchment each. They said thank you and bid him goodnight. Harry fell asleep shortly afterwards his glasses askew on his face and the book still in his hand. Severus gazed at him for a moment then went across to remove the glasses and book and place them on the bedside table. 'If they fall to the floor, then he will just wake up and annoy me with his chatter,' Severus excused himself.
Severus then became so engrossed in the potions book, scribbling down notes and measurements, checking the procedures, that he failed to notice the time until Madam Pomfrey came in with his Potions and ordered him to sleep 'like some bloody child,' he huffed.
Severus was finally released to his chambers with Madam Pomfrey's warnings still ringing in his ears. Although he resented being told what to do, he enjoyed the feeling of someone worrying about him. Potter, he assumed had been allowed to go to Gryffindor tower. For the next few days he saw the others only at dinner, which Dumbledore insisted he attend each evening. With the exception of Potters blood, he now had all the ingredients need to begin the potion. Having checked and double checked the instructions.
Once again Potter was taken to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey, after her many objections were overruled by Dumbledore, took the blood from him. It was unpleasant to watch, even Severus who had no love for the boy, pitied him as he watched litre after litre pour out of his arm, Harry had either passed out or fell asleep about half way through, and Severus watched as his face paled to almost the same colour as the white linen on the beds. Even Dumbledore looked especially pale when he said quietly to Severus, "we have to pray that this works, Harry deserves a chance at a normal life."
"I will begin immediately, the first step is to boil all the ingredients separately in his blood," Severus said solemnly, "have you told him about the last stage?"
"No, I will begin to prepare him for that as soon as Poppy says he is fit enough" replied Dumbledore sadly.
And so Severus enclosed himself in his dungeon and worked night and day on the potion only Dumbledore was permitted entry to check on the proceeding's, he also kept Severus appraised of Harry's process with his new training, for it was essential that Harry go with Severus when he take the potion to Voldemort. Perhaps Dumbledore hoped to impress Severus when he boasted of Harry's success in learning new and complicated spells. Or maybe the headmaster was simply trying to reassure himself that they had chosen the right path.
For Severus it was too late to change direction now, he had ignored The Dark Lords summons three times now, and knew if they failed, that he would surely be killed along with Harry. Severus noticed a strange difference in the way he perceived Harry now, the first was the lack of anger and hatred when he thought about him; the second was that his subconscious now referred to him as Harry and not Potter. When he stood stirring the various ingredients, his mind seemed to increasing wander along the path 'What if?' something that Severus rarely indulged in, the past was done and no matter how much you may wish to change it, it was not possible.
At the beginning of August, Severus announced that the potion was ready. He listened to Dumbledore outline the plan to the order members who had assembled for dinner, he did not tell them the purpose of the potion only that Harry would be allowed to go with them, most of the others at the table voice loud objections but Dumbledore simply raised his voice over the din and finished telling them their orders. Harry and Severus were the only two silent at the table, Molly was crying, as was Hermione, Ron was trying to explain that if Harry got to go then he should be allowed to go with him.
It seemed unbelievable that all these people were offering to go on the suicide mission just because Harry was going. Severus admitted to himself that he admired Harry's composure through all this, never once did he beg to be left behind or refuse to go. In fact he sat staring up at the enchanted ceiling as though seeing it for the first time. It was as though Harry had accepted his fate and knew it was useless to fight against it. Severus knew how this felt, he had long since accepted that his death would come at the hands of The Dark Lord, he also accepted that it would be just payment for the lives he had helped ruin so early in The Dark Lords first rise to power.
They would begin the attack the following evening, as soon as Harry was able to establish his connection to Voldemort and verify his whereabouts. Severus wondered if the others had as much trouble sleeping that night as he did, eventually just before dawn Severus felt his eyes drift closed and he managed to get a few hours sleep.
Harry had been able to find out that Voldemort was at his family home, so as night closed in the order members assembled outside the Hogwarts grounds. Dumbledore stood in the center of them with Harry by his side and Fawkes on his shoulder, Severus knew that the phoenix had donated several feather to their cause, which they could use to escape if necessary, Severus held a portkey in his hand and two potions vials hidden in his robes.
"If you are ready Severus, Harry, we will give you thirty minutes then join you. Please be careful, remember what I have taught you Harry. Good luck," Dumbledore's voice shook as he finished the sentence.