Disclaimer: I am a starving college student - I own nothing.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last few chapters.
PrphtssP: Thanks. I've decided to leave the name as is. It's not as popular, but at least it's original.
GioGio: Thanks for the email. Oh, how I miss Rome…
John Steppenwolf: I meant the Securities and Exchange Commission - I don't follow collegiate basketball much, nor am I fan of USC. I am from L.A. originally though, so go Bruins! (Are they in the running at all this year? shrugs Not my cuppa. What's a BCS anyway?) As for Remus, does mentioning his enhanced senses make it more believable that he's the one who noticed Harry changing? Of course Snape knows that Harry knows about the birds and the bees, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to insult the boy, could he now? (I'm not quite sure what you meant by everybody assuming that about Harry, though. Do you mean that it's common in Severitus stories? I've read a few, but not many, and I don't remember coming across it. If it is overused in this context, let me know, I'll take it out). And PLEASE criticize as much as you want: even if it's nasty, it's helpful. (Actually, the nastier, the better).
UW: Much like life, no? Things tend to go 'wham' a lot. Or is that just me?
Beck: Ooh, thanks! blushes at the compliments I won't give away anything though, not least of all because I write this story as it comes to me. (Horrible, aren't I?)
Xikum: What can I say? I have an evil streak.
Chapter 19: Hide and Seek, Take Two
Severus Snape was thoroughly disgusted with himself. He had seen the look in his son's eyes when he told him they were not to have any sort of familial relationship. Not that he thought the boy wanted one, but Snape knew all too well how severe a blow it could be to hear such a thing.
Well done, Snape sneered at himself.
Indeed, Snape's other voice sneered at him as well.
Snape sat in his chambers, staring into the fire, sipping cognac. Tonight was not a firewhisky night.
Just then, Snape heard a knock on his door. Albus. It had to be.
"Enter, Albus," said Snape with a weary sigh. He didn't feel like being interrogated by the headmaster just now.
Albus entered the room.
"Harry is gone," said Dumbledore.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, rising to his feet. "Are you certain?" Snape asked, though he didn't really doubt the headmaster. Snape had begun his habitual pacing.
"Quite certain, unfortunately," Dumbledore answered, his voice heavy with concern. There was a pause before the headmaster continued. "What did you say to him?" Albus asked neutrally.
"What I had to," Snape said, pausing in his tracks, his disgust with himself surfacing once again.
"And what would that be?" the old man pressed.
Severus looked up into Albus's eyes. He did not see the anger or disappointment he felt toward himself, but only concern.
"That given the current political climate, it would be best if we ignored this new information beyond correcting his physical appearance." Snape was not proud of himself. He was not a man to shirk his duty: but here his duties conflicted. He could recognize his son, or he could protect him.
Albus frowned. "I can understand why he would be upset."
"As can I, Albus. As can I," Snape sighed. "We must find him," continued Snape, his voice strong and determined once again.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "We must. It should not prove difficult: I believe a certain house elf is still watching over him."
"Then why did this house elf not stop him from leaving?" growled Snape.
"I do not know, though I don't believe Dobby will allow harm to come to Harry, nor do I believe that he will allow him to get very far."
"Alert Moody," said Snape, taking command of the situation, much to Dumbledore's amusement. "Potter will likely be hidden under that infernal cloak of his."
"I already have. He, Tonks, and Remus will be here shortly to assist in the search," said Dumbledore.
"Good," said Snape. "I will begin searching the perimeter of the grounds. And when I find that fool boy…" Snape growled under his breath, his fists clenched.
Albus was chuckling.
Damn the man.
With that, Snape swept out of the room.
* * * * *
Snape had been searching the outskirts of the school grounds for well over an hour, looking for any sign that might shed light on the whereabouts of his son.
"Idiot Gryffindor doesn't possess an iota of Slytherin Sense," Snape fumed to himself.
Snape decided it was time to head back to the castle. Perhaps one of the others had learned something. He was wasting time combing the same area over again.
At least the boy didn't know how to Apparate yet.
* * * * *
Harry Potter sat in the Forbidden Forest, well hidden under his Invisibility Cloak. Why couldn't he find a bloody thestral when he needed one? Harry had to think. He realized that his initial plan was rubbish. Going to a Muggle airport? Honestly, what had he been thinking? That would have been a wonderful scene, as some tourist in a rush jostled him, setting off a panic when he collided with thin air… Just ruddy brilliant, Harry sneered at himself. Okay, so he needed a plan B. And where were all of the thestrals? He could have sworn he had heard one earlier, and another just a few moments ago, but for some reason he couldn't seem to spot one. Shame he couldn't ask Dobby to bring him some raw meat from the kitchens. He had a feeling Dobby wouldn't be very supportive of his plan. Harry had to come up with something quickly - he really didn't fancy spending the night in the forest.
* * * * *
Snape found Lupin and Tonks conferring in the Headmaster's office. They all looked up as he entered.
"Anything?" asked Lupin.
"No," said Snape simply. The werewolf glared daggers at him. Snape was impressed: it was a commendable effort, though nothing to his own glares. Snape had no doubt that the wolf was hard-pressed to refrain from attacking him right now, physically or verbally.
"Has anyone learned anything?" asked Snape impatiently, his question directed toward the headmaster.
There eyes locked, and Albus shook his had sadly. "Not yet, Severus."
"I have covered a hundred yard radius around the edge of the wards. What other ground has been covered?" asked Snape.
"We checked the passages out of Hogwarts and the Shrieking Shack. There was no sign of him," said Tonks. "Moody's searching Hogsmeade, and Hagrid and Fang have gone further into the forest.
Snape nodded. He would expand his search. He would check the roads. They would meet in Dumbledore's office again in two hours time.
It promised to be a long night.
* * * * *
Harry played with the leaves and twigs at his feet. He hadn't encountered any creatures more frightening than a butterfly so far, and for that he was thankful, as well as slightly confused. He needed to think, but his mind did not seem inclined to cooperate. Harry was tired - not physically, but he was mentally and emotionally exhausted.
He didn't know where to go, but he couldn't bear the thought of going back to the castle. He cut through the forest to the road that led in the opposite direction of Hogsmeade. That wouldn't be expected.
With that decided, Harry got to his feet, and started on his way.
* * * * *
Severus Snape was not pleased.
When I get my hands on Potter - oh, whoever the bloody hell he is! - I am going to make him wish he was never born. Snape fumed. Assuming he doesn't already, Snape added as an afterthought.
That was immaterial though. He could almost sympathize with Vernon Dursley for strangling the boy. Almost.
Snape had searched everywhere that he could think to search, and still he had found no sign of the boy. He was now walking back toward Hogwarts, to compare notes with the rest of the search party.
Snape suddenly collided with something that wasn't there. Harry.
The solid mass seemed to have fallen to the ground, and so Snape reached down and felt the watery material he knew he would find. When his fingers made contact with the cloak, he tugged at it, revealing one Harry Potter.
Idiot boy, thought Snape, shaking his head.
"Snape," yelped the boy.
Snape offered the boy a hand, then yanked him upward forcefully. Snape then grabbed the back of the boy's collar, twisting it into a tight grip, and marched him back toward the school wordlessly. Snape was furious, and did not trust himself to speak just then.