Disclaimer: Credit to JKR, Happy New Year. 2004 is sure to be great. I have a good feeling about it
Portrait Living
By Tracev
"Is he that bad?"
Harry looked up at Ron's question. The redhead seemed nervous, anxious. As he rightly should be, Harry thought.
Harry didn't know how to answer that. He didn't know Snape outside of the classroom. That Snape was a horrible mean spirited person, cruel insulting teacher, who thought nothing of belittling Harry and any other student that crossed his path.
The Snape he had spent the last few days with was fake Snape, as it was all solely to torment Harry. Which now that Harry thought about it wasn't all that much different then Snape from the classroom.
Harry flung himself on his bed, laying his head down on the pillow, thinking how to answer Ron's question. It was complicated. Though he had a feeling it was always complicated where Snape was involved.
"He's just..." Harry started, "I don't know…" He answered honestly.
"Well, if I have to bond with him. He just better keep his hands to himself. None of that touchy feelly stuff here." Ron pointed at himself, shivering at the thought of Snape touching him. "You coming down for dinner?"
Harry yawned, "I'll catch up with you," he stretched and shut his eye's, he really had no intention in going to dinner. He was overly tired and had the beginnings of a headache.
Ron left as Harry fell asleep. He tried to stop himself from falling asleep but it was no use. The day had been trying.
***
It was sometime during the night that Harry woke to a darkened room. The soft petals of Ron's snores, the breeze of the open window next to his bed were the only noise.
Harry lay there silent, still, not moving his head an inch, willing his eyes to adjust to the dark. The curtains were pulled on both sides of his bed, even though he couldn't remember doing so. Not a flicker of light shone through.
There was a strange feeling in the room. Something besides himself and Ron, he had the distinct impression that there was someone else in the room or had been at least. He thought perhaps Hedwig had come to visit him. Though she would hoot if she had, but it was more likely that she was off hunting at this hour of the night.
Harry sat up silently, cautioningly, pulling his wand out from under his pillow. He reached his hand out slowly to pull back the curtain, as he did so there was a soft click of the dorm bedroom door shutting. Harry snatched the curtain back quickly, jumping from his bed. He glanced towards Ron's bed where the boy lay sprawled with a foot sticking through his own Gryffindor red drapes. A book clutched to his bare chest.
Harry raced to the door and downstairs to the common room, the portrait of the Fat Lady was closing as he reached the room. He pushed the portrait open. He stood there, panting in the hallway, looking in both directions as the portrait shut behind him, leaving him alone in the dark hall.
His wand still in hand, ignoring his rumpled clothes he still wore from earlier. What the hell was he looking for? The hall was silent and dark. Not even the sound of retreating footsteps, nor a shadow on the wall. Harry stepped forward as if to explore the hallway but stopped there was no use. Who ever it had been was gone.
Harry breathed in holding his breath. He turned toward, the portrait, poking it with his wand. The Fat Lady startled awake.
"That's quite rude dear" she snapped.
Harry ignored the tone of irritation in her voice, "Who did you let in the common room just now?" His own voice was rough, dry.
She had started to doze off again, "…Oh, I don't know. Whoever it was had the password."
"You didn't see who it was? Was it professor Snape?"
She snorted, "I really don't know dearie…password is all that matters."
Harry huffed, looking down the hallway again and muttered the password. The portrait swung open, admitting him.
Harry returned to his bed. Still in his day clothes. There really was no sense in lying in bed any longer. He wasn't going to sleep again. No matter how tired he was, he was up for the day. The sunlight would break the horizon at any moment and the biggest decision of his life would have an outcome today. Bonded or not.
Married or not.
Snape or not.
Could be Ron of course. Could be no one at all. Dumbledore could have found a way out sometime late last night. Mister Poe could have. Harry doubted that but he could have.
But it was still gnawing on his mind that Snape had been in his room just a few moments ago. Had he wanted to speak to him? Was he watching him sleep? Was he watching Ron?
Harry twitched. He doubted that as well. He could never see Ron and Snape getting along. After Ron got over the initial awkwardness there would be much arguing and hexes thrown.
Not to say there wouldn't be if Snape and he had to stay bonded…but he liked to believe they would…grow accustom to each other. They had managed this week even if it was sort of fake.
Harry lay there silently. His mind fluttering from one thought to another. Mostly it focused on Snape watching him sleep. It was creepy in a sense but strangely thrilling in another. Had Snape done this before?
Harry liked to think he had.
****
"Of course I don't want to stay married to him." his voice was dry and he suddenly felt tired from his lack of sleep last night.
"Harry I don't understand, Why are you so angry?" Ron tossed the book down on his bed. "You didn't want to stay married to him did you? I mean the greasy potion master... I'm giving you a way out. I messed up your life I should have to live with it, not you."
Ron looked at him a long time, "You do realize it the Portrait making you feel like that. It's not real." Sitting on the end of his bed to pull on his shoes.
"Yeah" said Harry. He knew that, it was just hard to remember and to tell what was real and what wasn't. But to his knowledge the portrait didn't force them to like each other. Not that he liked Snape mind you. He didn't…not really.
He did know that it was nice be around someone and to be close to someone. Those things that were always missing from his life.
Even that kiss was nice. It made him hot thinking of it. It made him want more. He wished desperately that Dumbledore hadn't interrupted when he did. He would like to try it again…just to make sure.
Harry pulled on his boots and followed Ron out of the room toward Dumbledore's office, towards his answer.
*
Dumbledore's office was bright, the whole room lit up as sun streamed through the windows. Harry squinted as he settled on one of the chairs at the research desk, Ron across from him.
Dumbledore and Poe were whispering in the corner, a silencing charm around them. Poe's hand gestures were all over the place. He would shot the occasional look over to them both. They talked along while. Ron was still attempting to look over some of the parchments. A desperate fools last attempt.
Harry couldn't concentrate on anything. He didn't even try. His skin was itching, crawling. His muscles ached.
The silent spell fell.
Dumbledore smiled at Ron and Harry both.
"Snape is missing," he said simply.
TBC
One more chapter to go folks.
