Chapter 9
Harry squinted into the sun and felt the sweat dripping under his spiky fringe into his eyes. It also ran down his back and tickled his too warm flesh. It was unseasonably hot for April.
The other team's star bowler started his run up for the last ball of the over and came hurtling towards him like a train. The ball was fast, but Harry had quick reflexes and managed to hit it hard and low for a boundary. There was a light smattering of applause.
Harry stood up straight and stretched at the end of the over. He looked across the green expanse of the oval towards the few spectators gathered on the sidelines. Hermione and Ron were there, standing apart from the muggles. Hermione was fine, coming from a muggle family as she did, but Ron could be a little lost in the company of non-magical folk. Ron had said his parents might even come out for a look, as Arthur was very curious about cricket. It was one of the few muggle sports that rivalled quidditch in its supporters fascination for statistics.
Harry batted on. He enjoyed the one on one confrontation with the bowler and took great pleasure in mixing up his shots and keeping the fieldsmen guessing. He was on a very healthy 45 runs, after having just made another single. Being no longer on strike he had the leisure to look over towards his friends again. Ron's parents had indeed arrived and the four of them were gathered in an animated huddle. Mr Weasley looked up and caught Harry's eye. The older man gave a sort of jaunty wave, but his body language screamed agitation.
A sharp bellow from his partner had Harry jumping guiltily and he ran hell for leather up the wicket, stretching the bat out towards the crease and just beating the ball which hit the stumps. Thus Harry was on strike again, but he had suddenly lost interest in the game. He wanted to find out what was going on. The next ball was slow and he timed his hit just right, belting it high into the air. The bowler himself ran forward and caught it on the full. Harry had started walking even before the catch. His team mates slapped him on the back as he walked through the gate, and he wished his successor luck.
Harry made his way through the familiar supporters towards Hermione and the Weasleys. Molly gave him a hug and Arthur smiled, clapping him on the back.
"That last shot was a beauty, Harry. Marvellous height, really smashing."
Harry laughed, meeting Hermione's sparkling eyes. "Thanks, Mr Weasley. Has Ron ever explained the rules?"
"Don't look at me, mate. Hermione's tried, but that game is incomprehensible. She made me watch it on the telly last week. The bloody commentators only made it worse. They were talking about the 'leg side, on side, off side, square leg' - bloody hell, it's all about legs and sides, but you've got a leg on both sides, so which one is the leg side?"
Harry and Hermione just shook their heads.
"What's the latest at the Ministry, Mr Weasley?"
Arthur frowned. "Bad news there, I'm afraid Harry. Something's put the wind up them, all right. Anyone with the least connection to the Death Eaters is under suspicion. They're going to pull Professor Snape in for questioning. Someone really has it in for him. They'll use any excuse. They caught Fletcher Pennywise with some Elixir of Youth and under interrogation he told them Severus made it, so they're pulling him in for supply of illicit potions."
Harry burned with indignation. "I've got to help him," he muttered. He met Ron's concerned eyes. "I'll just go and say goodbye to the guys, then I'm going to Hogwarts."
"You've missed them, Harry. They took Professor Snape to the Ministry about an hour ago. I advise you to wait here until he returns. There really is nothing you can do for him at the moment. Interference will only jeopardise his ultimate mission, not to mention make him very angry."
The Headmaster sighed, seeing Harry's determination to do something. "Perhaps if you went in and said you were waiting to escort him back to Hogwarts. To make sure he returns."
Harry thanked the Headmaster and climbed back on his broom, flying to the edge of the school grounds and apparating in mid air to London.
The Ministry was as strange as ever, and full of desk-flying bureaucrats. After nearly an hour Harry managed to track Professor Snape down to the second level. Like all bureaucrats their pedantic insistance on following procedures gradually wore down Harry's sense of urgency. They let him wait, curious as to why he was there. He told them he was there on Dumbledore's orders, to see that Snape returned directly to Hogwarts. That seemed to placate them.
After another fifteen minutes of waiting a door opened down the corridor and Professor Snape was led out. He signed a couple of papers and was told he was free to return to Hogwarts, 'for now'.
He strode past Harry, apparently totally ignoring him.
"Come to gloat, have you Potter?" Snape sneered as he headed towards the elevator. Harry took off after him.
Once they were alone in the elevator Harry looked carefully at Snape for any evidence of mistreatment.
"Professor, are you all right?"
Snape sighed, leaning back wearily against the wall. "All they managed to do was give me a splitting headache. Amateurs!"
Harry wanted to soothe the man, but Snape was struggling to maintain his usual demeanour. "What did they do? I wish I could help you."
Snape was rubbing his temples, but he looked up and met Harry's eyes. "You can. They'll be watching. Make it look like you're dragging me back to Hogwarts, like Dumbledore doesn't trust me."
Harry took in the rumpled state of Snape's clothing. His eyes were red rimmed and he was even paler than usual. Obviously the interview had been an ordeal. Harry started to move closer when the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened with a loud ping.
Harry grabbed Snape roughly by the arm and dragged him out of the lift. "The Headmaster wants to see you in his office, Snape," he said loudly. Several wizards turned to watch them as they left the building. Harry found an obscene kind of pleasure in manhandling Snape in public, and was rather shocked at himself. Once outside they apparated to Hogsmeade.
Snape started walking towards the castle, his black robes billowing in the afternoon breeze. Harry couldn't help but notice the contrast they made; he was still in his cricket whites.
Harry restored his broom to its actual size and hopped on, pulling up alongside Snape.
"Fancy a ride back to the castle?"
The Professor stopped and regarded him speculatively. He pursed his lips, as if considering the offer. Harry was mildly flabbergasted when Snape climbed on behind him. He was utterly stunned when he felt Snape's long arms fold around his chest. His nipples peaked beneath the thin cotton of his shirt.
Harry face flushed and he felt short of breath. It was all he could do not to lean back and relax into warmth of the larger man's embrace. He shifted his hips backwards along the broom shaft as they rose above the trees. Snape's hair tickled his ears. The shaft of the broom and the presence of Snape so close behind him made Harry feel hypersensitive between his legs. Harry thought a lot about Snape's cock and wondered what it would feel like pressed between his arse cheeks. Snape's body felt rather rigid and tense behind him, as if he was trying to keep his body from relaxing against Harry. Harry wished the flight could be longer, as Snape would have to tire eventually and collapse against him.
They were almost at the castle when Snape suddenly loosened one arm from around him, the movement affecting Harry's balance. He righted the broom and came in for a wobbly landing in the courtyard.
Snape staggered off the broom. He looked very queasy and Harry was concerned. Snape had a handkerchief out and was wiping his nose. Harry was astonished when he saw it was spotted with bright red blood.
"Your nose is bleeding!"
Snape rolled his eyes, a silent reproof at Harry for stating the obvious.
"Come on, the Headmaster is waiting," Harry said in a loud voice as some students appeared. He grabbed Snape by the arm again, enjoying the aghast expressions on the faces of the students they passed.
In the relative privacy of the Headmaster's office Harry relaxed, not realising until then how tense he had become. Snape subsided into a chair, mopping at his nose.
The Headmaster looked up from the large book he was examining. He took one look at the Potions master and went over to a cabinet, withdrawing a flask of golden liquid. He poured a small measure and handed it to Snape, who raised an eyebrow and swallowed it down.
"Why do you think they questioned you, Severus? Are they aware of the Walpurgis Night preparations?"
Severus nodded. "Something has stirred them up, that is certain. They are aware that matters are escalating. The number of disappearances among both muggles and wizards is on the increase, especially in Germany. Several powerful Magical artefacts have been stolen recently."
"You managed to resist their probes I take it?"
"Without too much difficulty. Their training in Occlumency is rudimentary, to say the least. I can protect myself from their attacks, it's just the sheer crudeness of it that can be painful."
"So they did hurt you!" Harry exclaimed.
Snape turned to look at him and frowned. "Why are you wearing Quidditch clothes?"
Harry looked down at his white trousers and shirt and laughed.
"These are my cricket whites. I play for the local side."
Snape looked him up and down, his eyes lingering on the red stain near his crotch. Harry never could be bothered to scrub it clean. It made him look like a serious bowler and helped intimidate the opposition. His shirt was damp with sweat and it was cool in the Headmasters office. Harry suppressed a shiver, the feel of Snape's eyes on him made him tingle all over.
The Headmaster opened a door that was concealed in the wall panelling. "Go and get some rest, Severus. You look tired."
"I'll come with you."
Snape glared at Harry.
"Just to make sure you lie down," Harry smiled and followed the Professor through the narrow doorway.
Snape was quiet as he led the way down the dark, narrow stone staircase to the lower levels of the castle. He walked very carefully, as though to avoid falling. Eventually they came to the familiar corridor outside Snape's cell.
"Thank you, Potter. I think I can manage from here," Snape said as they reached his door. He turned and went inside, and Harry ducked in behind him before the door shut with a loud clang.
"What now?" Snape exclaimed as he sat on the bunk and took off his boots. "Can't you leave me alone?"
Harry was saddened by the note of desperation in Snape's voice. "No...I can't." Harry was in turmoil. He felt compelled to stay - he wanted to be wherever Snape was. He couldn't relax unless he could see Snape. He realised he was obsessing, but could not stop himself.
"Can I hold you?"
Snape lay back on the bed and twisted around til he lay on his stomach, his head pillowed on his hands.
"Now is not the time, Harry," he said in a whisper. "I know you have some interest in me, but you should think very carefully. You don't know anything about me, my past is - "
"I don't care about any of that," Harry interrupted. "I just know how I feel."
"With time and experience your feelings will change."
"Don't say that! You don't know everything about me either. I'm not all sweetness and light. I'm a killer." Harry sat on the foot of the bunk and the hard metal edge dug into his backside.
"You cannot blame yourself for that. It was self defence. You know he would have killed all of us if you hadn't."
"Weren't you just doing what you had to do? What's the difference?"
Snape turned to look at him, his eyes hooded in the dim light of the dungeon. "The difference is...I enjoyed it."
Harry was mystified.
"I enjoyed the power that dark magic released in me. It fed my starved ego."
Harry remained silent in the hope that Snape would keep talking. Whatever had happened to him at the Ministry seemed to have affected his usual reticence.
"I was born into a family that revered all that dark magic represented, but luckily for me my parents were not greedy. My father wanted power over nature itself, not over people. He was interested from a scholar's point of view. He taught me a lot. He died not long before I came to Hogwarts. The way he died was public knowledge and most of the other children shunned me. I reacted by hexing anyone who dared to speak to me. I was bitter and angry.
"Albus was very kind to me. He could see the rise of the Pure Blood Supremacy movement and realised our world was vulnerable. He asked me to befriend some of the older boys and find out what their intentions were. Lucius Malfoy introduced me to Tom Riddle, who had already styled himself as the Dark Lord. I reported it all back to the Headmaster.
"Albus became concerned about Sirius Black. He could see the way the Black family had gone, the path they had chosen. Sirius was a Gryffindor, but Albus was worried about him and the influence that he had over others. He was popular and smart, but also vain and cruel. He could have gone either way. Albus asked me to help him because he knew I had already experienced and rejected the darkness. I tried to befriend Sirius, but he wasn't interested. He thought I was one of them. Unfortunately it turned out it was his brother we should have concentrated on. Do you know what happened to Regulus?"
"Only that he died. Sirius didn't seem inclined to talk about it."
"Regulus was a true Black. The apple of his mother's eye. Sirius always blamed me for his death. I stayed close to him after Sirius would have nothing to do with either of us."
"So how did he die?"
"Killed by Aurors. Using information from me, they caught us torturing some muggles. I suppose it was my fault, as they would never have found us otherwise."
Harry sat in stunned silence. Even as a child Snape had been Dumbledore's spy. He felt a sense of real kinship with Snape. Snape's childhood had been every bit as exploited in the name of the cause as Harry's own. He had always thought that Snape was helping Dumbledore in an attempt to atone for crimes that he had committed in the folly of his youth. He realised that this was probably what everyone on their side thought.
"Why did you agree to do it? Why did you sacrifice your youth, your good name, everything for him?"
Snape sat up and hugged his knees to his chest. "Because it was the right thing to do. Because I thought I could help. Because he was kind to me when no one else was. My mother had taught me the beginnings of Occlumency, and the Headmaster found my skills useful."
Snape shook his head. "That's enough for today. I'm tired of talking." He lay down on his side.
Harry leaned over him and stroked his arm. "Sorry I had to hurt you." He bent forward and gently kissed Snape's forehead. Then he left the room quickly. The clang of the heavy door slamming reverberated in his chest.