Pairings in this chapter: Slight Tom/Harry
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not getting money. I wish.
Chapter 5 : Going Nowhere
Harry was standing at the window when Severus Snape entered the room. And beside the boy, sitting on the sill, was the ghost of Tom Riddle. Dumbledore had warned him, but it was still a nasty shock. There was nothing to truly worry about. Riddle's ghost was stronger than most, past the poltergeist standards of Peeves, but he could still do no magic. The worst Riddle could do was throw something at them. The mental image of the man throwing a vase at his head like an angry ex-lover almost amused him.
"Ah, hello there, Severus, dearest traitor," purred Tom as he folded his arms and smirked at the potions master. Harry turned and looked over him, his face curious and oddly without hate or anger. He looked almost alarmingly innocent, especially without his glasses. Those had made him look older, more mature. Now, he actually seemed his own age.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Snape," Harry said, bowing his head in respect. Tom chuckled at his side.
"Professor," Snape corrected. Harry flushed at the mistake.
"Yes, yes, potions master extraordinaire!" Tom said with cheerful taunting. "Mustn't take anything he gives you, Harry boy. It might turn you into a rabbit!"
Harry laughed softly at the ghost's antics. Snape watched this, frowning at the ease the two had with each other. One would think the ghost would be trying his hardest to hurt the boy who killed him. Especially when that ghost was so strong.
"Mr.- I mean, Professor Snape? Where are we going?" The boy looked up at Snape with an innocent interest, green eyes shining and happy.
"You shall be spending the remainder of this summer in my personal home," Snape muttered darkly, glaring at the boy. Harry blinked in surprise at the malice. The man was more familiar to him than any other he'd met yet, but not so much that he actually remembered how they had acted around each other. Apparently, Professor Snape didn't like him very much…
"Thank you for taking me in," Harry said quietly with sincere regret. "It was very kind of you."
"There are two rules in my home, Potter," Snape growled. "Don't break anything and don't disturb me. Is that clear?"
Harry winced at the tone but nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Let's go."
With that, Snape whipped about, robes flaring, and stalked back out of the hospital wing. Harry glanced at Tom before hurrying after him. Gliding easily at the boy's side, Tom leaned over and whispered stupid jokes about the potions master, sending Harry easily into fits of laughter. Snape glanced back at them irritated a few times, but didn't comment. He didn't speak another word to them until they had left the castle.
"We'll take a carriage to the gates and portkey from there. Is that acceptable?" The professor's voice was venom. Harry nodded quickly, unable to loose the intimidation the man inspired in him. Tom simply stood with his arms folded, one elegant brow raised.
Without speaking again, the three piled into one carriage and stayed silent through the journey. Tom entertained himself by tapping out some beat on his knee, head bopping along with whatever the tune was in his head. Next to him, Harry spent that time stealing glances at the tall potions master. He was completely ignored.
Suddenly, Tom leaned over and whispered in his ear. Harry covered his mouth with his hands to keep from bursting out into laughter. The dark eyed professor glared at them more harshly.
A flash of the boy that fateful night flashed into his mind, eyes open and staring off in near death, both covered in discolored marks, blood soaking into his robes… Snape shook off the image and glared out the window. The child had very nearly died, without the aid of the final curse. Having brought him into the clinic personally that night, Snape remembered how horrified he'd been when Pomfrey peeled off the layers of clothing to show the damage underneath. It had been a wonder the child lived that long. Several fractured and broken bones, various infections, bruises over almost every inch of his body…He would have died before the end of the summer from infection alone. And all this was discounting the fact that he was severely malnourished.
It had been a tricky few days, that first week. Magic was used very little, as the boy's fragile body couldn't bare much. Potions kept him alive, as did doses of vitamins and other nutrients. Once he was able, spells were cast to quicken his healing, but they could only do so much. Many had wondered if the child would ever awaken.
Snape remembered well the hours spent at Harry's bedside. Watching the child suffer. Watching him cling desperately to life. Watching him fight for every breath. It had changed something inside the cold man. Snape knew he could never let that kind of pain befall the boy again. Ever.
It was a strange feeling for him, one he did not show outwardly. The child was alone. Had always been alone. He realized this now. Those muggles had been nothing but cruel to him. That alone certainly didn't make Snape want to wait hand and foot on the boy, but it did make him feel oddly protective. After all, Harry Potter may have been one of the most powerful wizards of their time, but he was still a sixteen year old boy. Sixteen year old boys needed protection.
He was not going soft, damn it.
"Professor? We've stopped."
Snape pulled himself from his thoughts to glare at the two, Harry's innocent face wincing at him and Tom only grinning. The potions master knew it would be a very long few weeks. He only homed his other houseguest wouldn't make it worse.
The three filed out of the carriage. After the Triwizard catastrophe, Dumbledore had personally set up strong wards against port keying off the school grounds. It made getting home that much harder, but few had tried to fight the old man on it. Snape dug in his pocket before pulling out a gold key and holding it out to the boy. Harry looked at him in confusion, but reached up to take it from him. When Snape didn't let go, the boy opened his mouth to question it, only to be cut off by the teacher's muttering of his password. Snape heard Harry gasp at the sensation, but ignored him. He didn't have the time for the child's amazement. As soon as they arrived, Snape jerked back the key and stuffed it in his pocket. He then whipped about, robes billowing out behind him, and stalked into the house.
Harry stood where he was, green eyes wide and amazed as he looked over the huge mansion. He'd never seen a house that big…Or, he thought he hadn't. In any case, it was huge and he was amazed.
"It's nice on the inside too," Tom purred as he twisted about the boy. His lower half had lost shape and moved about like a snake, circling Harry's torso.
"..He didn't say we couldn't explore, right Tom?" Glittering red eyes was his only answer before boy and ghost made their way into the premises.
"The scratches aren't healing well."
Snape sighed heavily and got up from his desk, leaving the tons of scrolls and such for the time being. He moved to one of the many cupboards of his workshop and opened it, rummaging through the bottles of potions.
"You shouldn't have provoked her," he muttered as he picked up one bottle and held it out. Draco Malfoy stepped over to take it, a scowl on his face. There was dirt on his cheek and his skin had a slightly more healthy look to it from the sun he'd been getting. Likewise, his pants had signs of dirt and grass upon the knees, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The silvery blond locks were long and pulled back by a bit of leather, shorter stands flying about his face.
"She shouldn't scratch people," Draco retorted. He poured a small amount of the blue potion onto his handkerchief and dabbed the red scratches on the back of his hand.
"Leave Ryliatin alone, Draco," Snape said sternly. "She's going to have much on her hands in the coming weeks."
"Potter, you mean," Draco said darkly. Snape shook his head a little and sat back down at his desk. Draco returned the bottle to it's place and went back to dabbing his hand.
"As if there were any other boy wizard I had to worry about," growled the potions master. "He is to be left be as well."
Draco snorted. "Don't worry. I won't hex that idiot."
"It would be best if you interacted minimally with him."
Draco waved a dismissive hand on his way out. Snape said nothing more, intent on finishing some of his work. Walking down the halls of Snape Manor, Draco paused at the sound of laughter. It wasn't a female voice so it couldn't be Ryliatin…Plus, she rarely did laugh anyway. It certainly wasn't Snape. A smirk broke on Draco's face.
Potter.
A/N:Sorry about no update yesterday. I spent the weekend with my sugah mama.
One a day updates will probably end now. Spring Break is over and I have school and homework...So, NYAH. No complaining or I'll stick this story up your ass, got it?
In other news, this will NOT contain Snape/Harry. I like that pairing as much as the next guy, but not this time. It wouldn't really work well anyway...
Who is Ryliatin? What will Draco do to Harry? Why is Voldemort such a funny name?! This questions and more might be answered next chapter!
*walks off to scream at his little brothers*