The Halls of the Blind
Chapter Five
Back to School Reunions and Resorting
A/N: Okay, here we go... This is going to be a long chapter next to having two major events in the subtitle, I have at least two other main events and the only thing I kept from OotP is in this chapter. If you read the book, you'll catch it (I hope), if you haven't, don't worry about it. I do hope I don't disappoint too many people.
***
Much to Harry's surprise the remaining weeks until school started at Hogwarts flew by fast. Snape had taken him down to Hogsmeade to get his supplies and new robes, having out grown his old ones by three inches. He had finally mastered the Hearing Charm, and his dream had ceased only for his old nightmares to attack with a vengeance. He woke every night screaming, shaking, and sweating. Pelikara was always there to sooth him.
Harry was delighted when he finally got a letter from Hermione three days before they were due at the school.
Dear Harry,
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner.
I was told that you are now at Hogwarts. I would ask why, but I figure you will tell us when we get there.
I had some news I was going to wait until I got there to tell you, but I think if you knew you could help me when I told Ron.
I am thinking of being resorted. You can guess why I have not told Ron. Professor Dumbledore had hinted that you might feel the same way I do, and that you might choose to be resorted as well.
Anyway, I do hope you had a good summer, if not, we'll be up there in a few days to hear all about it and cheer you up.
Always,
Hermione
Negating the Hearing Charm, Harry leans back against the couch. If Hermione had asked him why he was here, then they weren't told about his new condition, which put a lot of weight on his shoulders. Hermione and Ron are coming in unaware of his new situation. "That should be fun," he mumbled, crumpling the letter and tossing it towards the heat of the flames.
"Do you always burn your letters, Potter?"
Harry gave a slight jump, though was becoming accustomed to Snape's more frequent entrances. "No, not normally."
"Good, because this one has missed the flames by three inches."
Harry felt the letter return to his lap as though Snape had tossed it there. He probably had.
"Why burn it?"
Harry shrugs. "Just seemed the thing to do."
The customary silence followed and then Harry spoke again. "Why weren't they told about my blindness?"
Snape's eyes bored holes into Harry, though Harry barely registered the feeling of eyes on him, so engrossed in his own thoughts. "What makes you think they weren't?"
Harry holds up the piece of crumpled paper, and releases it as Snape tugs on it.
"I don't know, Potter. The Headmaster was the one to contact them, not me." Snape's eyes return to his favorite past time, watching Harry. "This does place a slight burden on you, doesn't it."
It was a statement, not a question, but Harry nods anyway.
"Have you finished all of your work, Potter?"
Harry nods again. "Finished it a few hours ago, nothing else to do."
Snape watched as the boy closed his eyes. He could tell from the look on his face that he was debating with himself. Just what the subject was, Snape didn't know, or didn't care to venture a guess.
Harry's eyes opened, looking straight ahead, but whatever he saw was only in his mind. As a tear slipped from his eye, Snape frowned. "Potter?"
The boy whispered, "I miss him, Severus. I miss him so much..."
Severus? Stunned, Snape watched as Harry curled in on himself and cried. Sobs wracked through that thin frame, and Snape was almost certain it would tear the boy apart.
He, personally, did not miss the one Harry cried for. He was nothing but a nuisance. But he was also Harry's Godfather, and while he never liked Sirius, He was the only one Harry could truly rely on.
Snape was stumped. He didn't know what to do with the shaking form on the couch. If he had been one of his other Slytherins, he would have gone and held them till they stopped crying, but Harry was different then any student he'd ever had under his care.
Having the distinct feeling of eyes, he turned to the portrait with Pelikara. She was looking at him. She looked at him and nodded to Harry.
He knew she was right. He should treat him like he would any of his Slytherins, and that meant going and comforting him, even if he was crying because of Black.
With slight trepidation, Snape stood and made his way over to Harry. He sat down beside Harry and pulled the boy onto his lap. Harry clung to the front of Snape's robes and cried harder, his face pressed into Snape's shoulder. Snape wrapped his arms around Harry and gently rocked back and forth, saying nothing.
Gradually, Harry's sobs subsided as did his tears. He still clung to Snape's robes and stayed sitting on his lap. "I'm sorry," mumbled Harry.
Snape arched an eyebrow. "What for?"
"I ruined the front of your robes."
"That's alright, I needed new ones anyways."
Harry smiled, knowing Snape was just trying to make him feel better, and it was working. "Thank you."
They stayed like that till Harry fell asleep. Snape stood, placing Harry on the couch, and covering the boy with the blanket. He stood there, looking down at the sleeping boy, frowning ever so slightly. Turning away, he walked out the door leaving Harry to his dreams.
***
Hands ran over his skin, and he arched into that tantalizing touch. He wanted more of it, he craved it. The lips that met his were rough, and he moaned, opening his open lips for the other's probing tongue. He broke the kiss and gasped as he felt the slick finger pressing at his entrance. "Snape..."
Harry sat up, gasping for air.
"Little one," came Pelikara's voice, "are you ok?"
He nods. "Just a dream." He thought for a moment, then repeated, "just a dream," sounding slightly disappointed.
***
Harry's head turned toward the door as he heard the knock. "Do you know who it is, Pelikara?"
"No, little one, she is new."
She? Suddenly, a ball of anxiety tightened in his gut. Getting up, he walks over and opens the door.
"Harry!"
Suddenly, he was enveloped in Hermione's hug. He returned the embrace.
"I got your letter, Hermione. Have you told Ron yet?"
She shook her head, not knowing Harry couldn't see it. "No, not yet. Dumbledore said we could come early, so here I am. Ron said he wouldn't be here till an hour before the feast." There was a pause as she looked around the room. "Why are you down here, anyway, Harry?"
He sighed slightly. "Come in, Hermione. We have a lot of talking to do."
***
"I'm sure there's something, Harry. I'll ask to search in the Restricted Section, and if that doesn't work, I'll think of something else. We'll find something, Harry, we will."
Harry smiled. "Thanks. So, about you being resorted. What house do you think you'll get into?"
"Ravenclaw, I suppose. I mean, that's where the hat originally wanted to put me, before it decided on Gryffindor. What about you, Harry? I can't see you anywhere else than Gryffindor, but maybe I'm biased."
Harry was silent for a moment, before answering her. "Slytherin more than likely."
He heard Hermione's sharp intake of breath and went on before she could say anything. "Seeing as how the hat wanted to put me in their first year, but I didn't want to, seeing as how Ron had said that there wasn't a witch or wizard that didn't go bad in Slytherin. Now, I think I'd actually fit in better. I did a little research of my own over the last few days. Did you know that Gryffindor has never had a blind student? Almost all of them have been in Slytherin."
"Well, I see your point. But what about Professor Snape, Harry? I thought you two loath each other."
Harry shrugs. "Things are different now, Hermione."
"Ron is not going to be happy with any of this," Hermione muttered.
"Any of what?"
"This. You being blind, you and me being resorted, you being on better terms with Professor Snape, any of it."
There was a knock and Harry said, "Seven sickles it's Ron."
"No bet," she said, as she got up, heading toward the door.
"Who are these people, little one?"
"Friends, Pelikara. At least, she is."
"And the one coming in?"
"He is, but I don't know for how much longer."
"Harry, mate, how have you been. Hope your summer was better than mine."
"Hello, Ron."
"So, how was your summer, mate?"
"Sit down, Ron."
***
By the time, Harry had finished talking, they had a half hour till the feastand Ron was making things difficult.
"Resorted? You're going to be Resorted? And you too, Hermione? The both of you? I mean, I can deal with you being blind, Harry, but resorted? What house are you guys expecting to be resorted into?"
Hermione spoke up. "Well, I'm hoping for Ravenclaw, seeing as how I fit their criteria. And Harry, well, Ron, don't be angry, but Harry might be put into Slytherin."
The silence that followed that was almost deafening. It was nearly a minute before Ron got up and walked out the door. The finality expressed in the slamming of the door.
***
Hermione and Harry sat at the end of the table. Ron, determinedly sat at the other end, refusing to even look in Harry's direction, he wouldn't look at Hermione either. The rest of their house didn't know what was going on.
The first years had all been sorted, but the sorting hat had not been removed. This started up a whisper around the Great Hall and as Dumbledore stood, they died out.
"Every so often, there comes a time when a person outgrows their current surroundings. This year, we have two students who feel they have outgrown their houses and wish to be resorted. Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, if you two will please make your way up here, we will begin your resorting."
Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him up to the stool. The hat was placed over his head, and for the third time in six years, he talked to the hat.
Back again? I wondered when it would happen.
Just don't say 'I told you so'.
I won't, now, though, I suppose we are to go with my first suggestion.
Is there anywhere else I can go?
No, I suppose not... unless you want to stay in Gryffindor.
No, I can't stay there. If I could I would not be here, now.
Alright, then the decision is Slytherin!
There was silence as the hat was pulled off his head. A hand grabbed his and pulled him to the Slytherin table. They sat him down at the end of the table, and they waited for Hermione's resorting.
"Professor Snape said that you might join us. He also said that you would need help getting around. Something about you being blind."
"Malfoy?"
"The one and only, Potter. Would you like to know what's happening?"
Harry turned his head toward Draco. "Why are you even offering? Why aren't you trying to insult me or something?"
"Some people change, Potter. Would you like to know what's going on or not?"
Harry was silent for a second, then he said, "Sure."
"Granger's sitting on the stool, waiting for the Sorting Hat. You should have seen the look on McGonagall's face when you were resorted into Slytherin, I think she was gonna cry."
Before Harry could respond, the hat shouted, "Slytherin!"
A/N: What a way to end the chapter. So, Harry and Hermione have both been sorted into Slytherin, Draco's being pleasant (makes you wonder how much Snape told him), Harry's having dreams of Snape, Sirius is dead, and Ron's being a prick (not that it's going to get any better any time soon). Hope you guys at least liked it a little. Look at how much I typed for you. Six pages people. That's two more than any of the other chapters. Newho, feedback is very much appreciated. Next chapter up as soon as can get it. Enjoy!