I am amazed at the response that this chapter got! Thank you to enahma,
Sinner's Angel, Ms. Padfoot, Lady Phoenix Gryffindor, Darcel, athenakitty,
selua, Silver Angel, Teigra, RaistlinofMetallica, Alexial, Herogirl, Jess,
Lei Dumbledore, Barbara, Them Girl, Lady Lightning, angeL_1215, Chaos Kid
and kateydidnt! I don't think I have ever had so many reviews for one
chapter!
Okay and now to Sevter who reviewed chapters 1, 2 and 3. Thank you for expressing your opinions. I never wrote this fic expecting everyone would like it and its fine with me that you don't. I understand your opinions, and as to answer that question about why Snape brought Harry to Remus' house when he hates him, well the way I see it is that who else is Snape gonna trust Harry to? I mean yes there is Dumbledore, but you can't just Apparate into Hogwarts, and I believe (though there is a very high possibility that it is wrong) that you can not just floo into Hogwarts from anywhere; I believe that you will need a special floo connection... But who knows! Expect J. K. Rowling that is. Plus I wanted Remus to be introduced into that chapter. This fic is not perfect and I would be the first person to tell you that, there have been plenty of mistakes and I have no doubt that I will most likely make more along the way, but hopefully I will improve.
Also Darcel, I intend to have a look at that link when I have a bit more time on my hands!
A Different Life
Chapter 17 - Sticky Situations
Harry woke up and saw that he wasn't in his bed. Where was he?
Then he remembered Ron, they were running... and then he seemed to be at a loss for what happened after.
He looked around for the first time since he had awoken at his surroundings. He seemed to be in a room that he had never been in before. So it couldn't be one of his dreams.
Movement caught his eye and he turned to see Ron with a wand in his hand muttering spells at the door.
How did Ron know how to use a wand?
He was about to call him over when Ron turned away from what he was doing and smiled at Harry. Something seemed off about it.
Then before his very own eyes Ron started to change.
Harry was in shock, no longer did Ron stand there, but Professor Quirrell.
Quirrell smirked at Harry's shock.
"H-How-Wha-What?" Harry stuttered sounding like Quirrell himself.
Quirrell scowled and spoke, but he spoke clearly and without stuttering once.
"My master heard of you living at Hogwarts Potter, he wanted to...eh join me to see you. But you weren't around much at the Sorting. He wasn't satisfied. So I watched. I never could get very close to you, especially not with Snape always around you. You seemed happy with him so I was under strict instructions to make your life... a little less happy. I had heard what your muggle relatives had done to you... I thought it might be fun to let you remember some of the happy times you had there... by means of your dreams, where you could not escape."
Harry looked horrified. This man had been the cause of all that. And what did he mean by master?
"But then that still didn't seem enough, seeing them was not enough. So I tried something different, something to make you feel the pain... I've been meaning to ask how Christmas morning was..." Quirrell trailed off, a mad glint in his eyes.
Harry glared at Quirrell, remembering the pain that one dream had caused, not only that, but that dream caused Severus to find out what Harry had been keeping from him, which lead to Harry not being able to see Ron... Ron!
Harry started to look panicky.
"How did you turn into Ron?" Harry asked, dread starting to fill him. What if he had done something to Ron?
Quirrell looked startled for a moment at the sudden change in subject, but soon a wicked smile filled his face.
"Your little red headed friend, I just used a potion... I believe he is around here somewhere... would you like to see him?" Quirrell smirked at Harry's horrified look.
Harry quickly nodded.
Quirrell turned around and muttered something that sounded foreign to Harry.
The door closest to Harry flung open and Ron came floating in, he was tied up and looking very scared.
He was then dropped next to Harry and Harry immediately began checking him to make sure he was okay and not hurt.
"Ron, are you okay? Oh my God! You're bleeding." Harry said, indicating to a small cut on his leg that looked more like a paper cut then anything else, a few dried spots of blood surrounded it, but there was Harry, acting like Ron had seriously been injured and was about to drop dead on him.
Ron looked like he was trying to talk but he couldn't.
Harry looked confused, there was nothing covering his mouth.
Then Quirrell waved his wand and Ron could suddenly talk again.
"H-Harry?" Ron looked hopeful.
Harry put on a small smile "Yeah Ron, it's me"
************************************************
"Professor?" The 6th year, Charlie Weasley nervously knocked on Severus' office.
"Hmmm" was the only response they got. Severus didn't even look up from his work.
"Is Harry here Professor?" Bill, the eldest Weasley son asked nervously, a slightly panicked look in his face.
"No... Why do you ask?" Severus asked suspiciously, finally looking up from his work.
"Oh, we have been looking for him and we can't find him sir, we guessed that he was most likely with you..." Charlie continued.
"Why do you need to see Harry?"
"Well... Mum owled us to say that Ron has gone missing. I was wondering if maybe Harry knew where he was..." Charlie again continued, looking distraught that his younger brother was missing.
Severus' eyes widened a bit but that was the only indication that he gave that he had heard what they had said.
"What do you mean missing? Since when?" Severus asked, trying not to look as panicky as he felt. He couldn't help but think that Harry was taking a long time getting that book.
"Ron just disappeared, Mum went in to get him up this morning and he wasn't there. She and Dad looked everywhere. They're really worried." This time Bill was the one to continue. Though his voice didn't hide the panic he was feeling.
"Come" Severus said, walking past them and out the door.
**********************************************
Severus went up to his quarters where Harry was meant to be but found that Harry was nowhere to be seen. He then proceeded to the Library and the Owlery. Not seeing any sight of Harry. Bill and Charlie were following him the whole time.
He was starting to get worried. Harry had not once disobeyed him about where he was going throughout the year.
They then spilt up. Looking everywhere and still not finding anything.
It was strange that both Harry and Ron happened to go missing at the same time. Severus had said that Harry couldn't see Ron because of his dreams, perhaps they decided to meet up somewhere. It was the best that Severus could come up with, but it just didn't fit right in his stomach, something didn't feel right. He decided that he would go talk to Dumbledore. He would know what to do.
********************************************************
"Harry" Ron whispered.
"Yeah" Harry answered, bringing his attention back to Ron.
They were both currently tied up, but were still able to talk, not that they had said much out of fear that they would anger Quirrell further.
"What is he doing?" Ron asked quietly, pointing to Quirrell who was currently bent over what looked like a long wooden stick, muttering words at it. Every once in a while a light would fly out of his wand and hit it.
Harry shrugged, looking over at Quirrell.
After another 20mins of the same thing Quirrell stopped and leaned against the wall, looking a hit exhausted. A small smile planted on his face.
He then started muttering to himself.
"Master...it is complete, the portkey is ready..."
Quirrell continued but Harry wasn't paying attention, he knew what was going to happen. Severus and he had taken a portkey before. And he knew that he was doomed. Once he touched it there would be no way Severus would be able to find him or Ron. His thoughts were interrupted by Quirrell who began to talk again. He seemed want to vent out some anger.
"You have no idea how many times I just wanted to go strangle you! But I never had the chance, Snape was always with you, the overprotective bastard. But I don't see him anywhere now.
I now have my chance to make you feel pain as you have done to my master"
Before Harry could react he was thrown against the wall behind him and something invisible seemed to cover his neck, pushing down on it.
He couldn't breathe! Not only that, but his scar had begun to hurt, like a hammer hitting his head.
Ron was screaming at Harry, trying to get lose of the rope that was still around him, but he was unable to get lose.
After what seemed like ages but was probably only a few seconds Harry began to see black dots surrounding his vision, he could hear noises around him but he couldn't see anything.
Soon all went black.
*******************************************
"Shhh, you'll wake him." Someone hissed, someone that was close by to Harry.
Harry slowly opened his eyes to see everything blurry.
Soon his glasses were placed on his head and Severus came into view. He looked around and also saw Ron, Dumbledore, Charlie, Bill and Remus.
Harry tried to speak but found that he couldn't. He looked confusedly at Severus.
Severus sighed but began to talk.
"Harry you'll be able to talk fine in a few hours, your vocal chords are still healing. You should be let out of here in a day or so."
Harry nodded and then looked towards Remus.
"Harry, as soon as we realised you went missing we contacted a few people, Remus being one of them and he knew of an easy way to find you if you were in fact still in the castle. Once he came he went straight to Filch's office and took out a parchment. At first I thought he was crazy, muttering to it but then a map of the school was shown and we immediately saw you both here with Quirrell. And it looked like we just made it just in time. You almost died." Severus finished, looking worriedly at Harry.
Before Harry could attempt to ask a question Dumbledore answered it, already knowing what the question would be.
"Quirrell has been taken to Azkaban but we were unable to get hold of Voldemort." Dumbledore continued, noticing that Ron winced at the name, and the shocked face of Harry.
"Yes Harry, Voldemort was there, but I will explain that later, I do believe that Severus wants to have a word with you.
Harry's looked pleadingly at everyone, his eyes begging them not to go as one by one, they got up and left.
Soon it was just Severus and Harry.
Severus sat on the bed with Harry and just looked at him. Then he scooped Harry up and hugged him, muttering about how worried he was.
Harry hugged him back, letting the relief of being safe wash over him.
After a few minutes Severus pulled away and took Harry's chin in his hand and spoke looking directly in his eyes.
"Now, are you sure you are okay?"
Harry nodded, not being able to speak.
Severus looked at him carefully and then finally let his chin go.
Severus happy face was then replaced by a dark shadow.
"You do realise that again you disobeyed a rule I had set for you, and in doing so nearly got yourself killed. And I do believe that I did say last time that if you disobeyed a rule again that your punishment would be far worse then your last one."
Harry looked shocked.
"That's right Harry, now... what to give as your punishment...I do believe that there is still four and a half months until the end of the school year... perhaps your punishment should be..." Severus was thinking hard about how to punish Harry, he couldn't just let him off, that wouldn't teach him anything and he never went back on his word... so how to punish him?
"Your punishment Harry will be that you cannot attend any other classes for school except for one." Severus smiled at what class he was going make Harry go to, he thanked Merlin that Harry was unable to speak at the moment.
"And that class is Divination" Severus smirked at Harry's obvious outrage.
"And I don't want to hear another word on the matter, understood"
Harry just glared at Severus.
"I said understood, I could always make this apply for next years classes too if you would like"
Harry immediately nodded his head saying he understood.
Severus smiled and then got up, telling Harry to get some sleep.
Slowly Harry felt himself falling back asleep, a peaceful sleep without having to take a potion for once, although he was dreading the thought of waking up, the sooner he woke up the sooner he would have to go to Divination classes.
*****************************
A few days later Harry was being let out of the hospital wing, everyone had class so he was on strict orders to this time go straight down to his room or else face even worse consequences then what he had only a few days ago been given.
Just as he was about to walk out the front doors Remus walked through them, knocking Harry clear off his feet.
But Harry barely hit the floor before Remus had him back on his feet again.
"Remus? I thought you would have already left by now!" Harry exclaimed.
Remus smiled "Yes well, I am about to leave but I thought I would stop by for one last visit... well until I see you next week." Remus explained.
"Next week?" Harry asked, trying to remember if next week was significant for any reason.
"Yes next week, Dumbledore wants me to come back and teach, and with that in mind I'm not sure if I should be giving this to you. The only reason that I gave in was because I know your father would kill me if I kept it from you."
Remus then produced the Marauder's Map and gave it to Harry, explaining how to use it.
Harry smiled. When he got his wand, he and Ron were going to have so much fun.
"Thankyou Remus"
Remus ruffled his hair and then turned to go, calling out over his shoulder
"Try not to get into too much trouble Harry and I'll see you next week."
Before Harry could reply he was gone.
Harry then made the trek down to the Dungeons, occasionally looking in on classes through open doors.
Once he was in his room he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep again, and that was where Severus found him when he came in after classes had finished.
********************************
*Okay reviewers, now I need your opinions! What age do you want Harry to be in the next chapter? That is if you want me to skip any. Do you want me to just continue on and into the summer holidays with Severus? Or did you want to jump a year or two or more? Go straight to Harry's first year at Hogwarts?
Please review and leave your opinions and I'll try my best to make what the majority wants happen!
Thankyou!!
And well done to all you that said the Polyjuice potion and the map! You guys were right!
Okay and now to Sevter who reviewed chapters 1, 2 and 3. Thank you for expressing your opinions. I never wrote this fic expecting everyone would like it and its fine with me that you don't. I understand your opinions, and as to answer that question about why Snape brought Harry to Remus' house when he hates him, well the way I see it is that who else is Snape gonna trust Harry to? I mean yes there is Dumbledore, but you can't just Apparate into Hogwarts, and I believe (though there is a very high possibility that it is wrong) that you can not just floo into Hogwarts from anywhere; I believe that you will need a special floo connection... But who knows! Expect J. K. Rowling that is. Plus I wanted Remus to be introduced into that chapter. This fic is not perfect and I would be the first person to tell you that, there have been plenty of mistakes and I have no doubt that I will most likely make more along the way, but hopefully I will improve.
Also Darcel, I intend to have a look at that link when I have a bit more time on my hands!
A Different Life
Chapter 17 - Sticky Situations
Harry woke up and saw that he wasn't in his bed. Where was he?
Then he remembered Ron, they were running... and then he seemed to be at a loss for what happened after.
He looked around for the first time since he had awoken at his surroundings. He seemed to be in a room that he had never been in before. So it couldn't be one of his dreams.
Movement caught his eye and he turned to see Ron with a wand in his hand muttering spells at the door.
How did Ron know how to use a wand?
He was about to call him over when Ron turned away from what he was doing and smiled at Harry. Something seemed off about it.
Then before his very own eyes Ron started to change.
Harry was in shock, no longer did Ron stand there, but Professor Quirrell.
Quirrell smirked at Harry's shock.
"H-How-Wha-What?" Harry stuttered sounding like Quirrell himself.
Quirrell scowled and spoke, but he spoke clearly and without stuttering once.
"My master heard of you living at Hogwarts Potter, he wanted to...eh join me to see you. But you weren't around much at the Sorting. He wasn't satisfied. So I watched. I never could get very close to you, especially not with Snape always around you. You seemed happy with him so I was under strict instructions to make your life... a little less happy. I had heard what your muggle relatives had done to you... I thought it might be fun to let you remember some of the happy times you had there... by means of your dreams, where you could not escape."
Harry looked horrified. This man had been the cause of all that. And what did he mean by master?
"But then that still didn't seem enough, seeing them was not enough. So I tried something different, something to make you feel the pain... I've been meaning to ask how Christmas morning was..." Quirrell trailed off, a mad glint in his eyes.
Harry glared at Quirrell, remembering the pain that one dream had caused, not only that, but that dream caused Severus to find out what Harry had been keeping from him, which lead to Harry not being able to see Ron... Ron!
Harry started to look panicky.
"How did you turn into Ron?" Harry asked, dread starting to fill him. What if he had done something to Ron?
Quirrell looked startled for a moment at the sudden change in subject, but soon a wicked smile filled his face.
"Your little red headed friend, I just used a potion... I believe he is around here somewhere... would you like to see him?" Quirrell smirked at Harry's horrified look.
Harry quickly nodded.
Quirrell turned around and muttered something that sounded foreign to Harry.
The door closest to Harry flung open and Ron came floating in, he was tied up and looking very scared.
He was then dropped next to Harry and Harry immediately began checking him to make sure he was okay and not hurt.
"Ron, are you okay? Oh my God! You're bleeding." Harry said, indicating to a small cut on his leg that looked more like a paper cut then anything else, a few dried spots of blood surrounded it, but there was Harry, acting like Ron had seriously been injured and was about to drop dead on him.
Ron looked like he was trying to talk but he couldn't.
Harry looked confused, there was nothing covering his mouth.
Then Quirrell waved his wand and Ron could suddenly talk again.
"H-Harry?" Ron looked hopeful.
Harry put on a small smile "Yeah Ron, it's me"
************************************************
"Professor?" The 6th year, Charlie Weasley nervously knocked on Severus' office.
"Hmmm" was the only response they got. Severus didn't even look up from his work.
"Is Harry here Professor?" Bill, the eldest Weasley son asked nervously, a slightly panicked look in his face.
"No... Why do you ask?" Severus asked suspiciously, finally looking up from his work.
"Oh, we have been looking for him and we can't find him sir, we guessed that he was most likely with you..." Charlie continued.
"Why do you need to see Harry?"
"Well... Mum owled us to say that Ron has gone missing. I was wondering if maybe Harry knew where he was..." Charlie again continued, looking distraught that his younger brother was missing.
Severus' eyes widened a bit but that was the only indication that he gave that he had heard what they had said.
"What do you mean missing? Since when?" Severus asked, trying not to look as panicky as he felt. He couldn't help but think that Harry was taking a long time getting that book.
"Ron just disappeared, Mum went in to get him up this morning and he wasn't there. She and Dad looked everywhere. They're really worried." This time Bill was the one to continue. Though his voice didn't hide the panic he was feeling.
"Come" Severus said, walking past them and out the door.
**********************************************
Severus went up to his quarters where Harry was meant to be but found that Harry was nowhere to be seen. He then proceeded to the Library and the Owlery. Not seeing any sight of Harry. Bill and Charlie were following him the whole time.
He was starting to get worried. Harry had not once disobeyed him about where he was going throughout the year.
They then spilt up. Looking everywhere and still not finding anything.
It was strange that both Harry and Ron happened to go missing at the same time. Severus had said that Harry couldn't see Ron because of his dreams, perhaps they decided to meet up somewhere. It was the best that Severus could come up with, but it just didn't fit right in his stomach, something didn't feel right. He decided that he would go talk to Dumbledore. He would know what to do.
********************************************************
"Harry" Ron whispered.
"Yeah" Harry answered, bringing his attention back to Ron.
They were both currently tied up, but were still able to talk, not that they had said much out of fear that they would anger Quirrell further.
"What is he doing?" Ron asked quietly, pointing to Quirrell who was currently bent over what looked like a long wooden stick, muttering words at it. Every once in a while a light would fly out of his wand and hit it.
Harry shrugged, looking over at Quirrell.
After another 20mins of the same thing Quirrell stopped and leaned against the wall, looking a hit exhausted. A small smile planted on his face.
He then started muttering to himself.
"Master...it is complete, the portkey is ready..."
Quirrell continued but Harry wasn't paying attention, he knew what was going to happen. Severus and he had taken a portkey before. And he knew that he was doomed. Once he touched it there would be no way Severus would be able to find him or Ron. His thoughts were interrupted by Quirrell who began to talk again. He seemed want to vent out some anger.
"You have no idea how many times I just wanted to go strangle you! But I never had the chance, Snape was always with you, the overprotective bastard. But I don't see him anywhere now.
I now have my chance to make you feel pain as you have done to my master"
Before Harry could react he was thrown against the wall behind him and something invisible seemed to cover his neck, pushing down on it.
He couldn't breathe! Not only that, but his scar had begun to hurt, like a hammer hitting his head.
Ron was screaming at Harry, trying to get lose of the rope that was still around him, but he was unable to get lose.
After what seemed like ages but was probably only a few seconds Harry began to see black dots surrounding his vision, he could hear noises around him but he couldn't see anything.
Soon all went black.
*******************************************
"Shhh, you'll wake him." Someone hissed, someone that was close by to Harry.
Harry slowly opened his eyes to see everything blurry.
Soon his glasses were placed on his head and Severus came into view. He looked around and also saw Ron, Dumbledore, Charlie, Bill and Remus.
Harry tried to speak but found that he couldn't. He looked confusedly at Severus.
Severus sighed but began to talk.
"Harry you'll be able to talk fine in a few hours, your vocal chords are still healing. You should be let out of here in a day or so."
Harry nodded and then looked towards Remus.
"Harry, as soon as we realised you went missing we contacted a few people, Remus being one of them and he knew of an easy way to find you if you were in fact still in the castle. Once he came he went straight to Filch's office and took out a parchment. At first I thought he was crazy, muttering to it but then a map of the school was shown and we immediately saw you both here with Quirrell. And it looked like we just made it just in time. You almost died." Severus finished, looking worriedly at Harry.
Before Harry could attempt to ask a question Dumbledore answered it, already knowing what the question would be.
"Quirrell has been taken to Azkaban but we were unable to get hold of Voldemort." Dumbledore continued, noticing that Ron winced at the name, and the shocked face of Harry.
"Yes Harry, Voldemort was there, but I will explain that later, I do believe that Severus wants to have a word with you.
Harry's looked pleadingly at everyone, his eyes begging them not to go as one by one, they got up and left.
Soon it was just Severus and Harry.
Severus sat on the bed with Harry and just looked at him. Then he scooped Harry up and hugged him, muttering about how worried he was.
Harry hugged him back, letting the relief of being safe wash over him.
After a few minutes Severus pulled away and took Harry's chin in his hand and spoke looking directly in his eyes.
"Now, are you sure you are okay?"
Harry nodded, not being able to speak.
Severus looked at him carefully and then finally let his chin go.
Severus happy face was then replaced by a dark shadow.
"You do realise that again you disobeyed a rule I had set for you, and in doing so nearly got yourself killed. And I do believe that I did say last time that if you disobeyed a rule again that your punishment would be far worse then your last one."
Harry looked shocked.
"That's right Harry, now... what to give as your punishment...I do believe that there is still four and a half months until the end of the school year... perhaps your punishment should be..." Severus was thinking hard about how to punish Harry, he couldn't just let him off, that wouldn't teach him anything and he never went back on his word... so how to punish him?
"Your punishment Harry will be that you cannot attend any other classes for school except for one." Severus smiled at what class he was going make Harry go to, he thanked Merlin that Harry was unable to speak at the moment.
"And that class is Divination" Severus smirked at Harry's obvious outrage.
"And I don't want to hear another word on the matter, understood"
Harry just glared at Severus.
"I said understood, I could always make this apply for next years classes too if you would like"
Harry immediately nodded his head saying he understood.
Severus smiled and then got up, telling Harry to get some sleep.
Slowly Harry felt himself falling back asleep, a peaceful sleep without having to take a potion for once, although he was dreading the thought of waking up, the sooner he woke up the sooner he would have to go to Divination classes.
*****************************
A few days later Harry was being let out of the hospital wing, everyone had class so he was on strict orders to this time go straight down to his room or else face even worse consequences then what he had only a few days ago been given.
Just as he was about to walk out the front doors Remus walked through them, knocking Harry clear off his feet.
But Harry barely hit the floor before Remus had him back on his feet again.
"Remus? I thought you would have already left by now!" Harry exclaimed.
Remus smiled "Yes well, I am about to leave but I thought I would stop by for one last visit... well until I see you next week." Remus explained.
"Next week?" Harry asked, trying to remember if next week was significant for any reason.
"Yes next week, Dumbledore wants me to come back and teach, and with that in mind I'm not sure if I should be giving this to you. The only reason that I gave in was because I know your father would kill me if I kept it from you."
Remus then produced the Marauder's Map and gave it to Harry, explaining how to use it.
Harry smiled. When he got his wand, he and Ron were going to have so much fun.
"Thankyou Remus"
Remus ruffled his hair and then turned to go, calling out over his shoulder
"Try not to get into too much trouble Harry and I'll see you next week."
Before Harry could reply he was gone.
Harry then made the trek down to the Dungeons, occasionally looking in on classes through open doors.
Once he was in his room he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep again, and that was where Severus found him when he came in after classes had finished.
********************************
*Okay reviewers, now I need your opinions! What age do you want Harry to be in the next chapter? That is if you want me to skip any. Do you want me to just continue on and into the summer holidays with Severus? Or did you want to jump a year or two or more? Go straight to Harry's first year at Hogwarts?
Please review and leave your opinions and I'll try my best to make what the majority wants happen!
Thankyou!!
And well done to all you that said the Polyjuice potion and the map! You guys were right!