Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognisably Harry Potter-ish
Notes: Draconis isn't mine he belongs to my sis Lady Mandara Snake (go read her stuff it's good!)
Chapter 13
As they approached the staff room Remus waved from the other end of the corridor
"Good morning" he said with a friendly smile, Harry smiled back, but had somehow managed to move so that Severus was between them without either of the professors noticing.
"Harry how are you feeling?"
"Better" Harry said, he went to rub his arms and then wince oh right new bruises he thought, Remus looked concerned
"Are you sure you're alright?" He glared at Snape accusingly
"He said he was fine" Severus spat he marched into the staff room, Harry hot on his
heels, Albus waved them in
"Ah there you are, have a seat, tea?" Harry took a seat between Severus and Albus, Remus took the seat opposite Harry. Harry smiled weakly and took the tea
"Thanks" Harry looked around, as well as them there was Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Madame Pomfrey. Harry assumed that the rest of the staff were at home during the holidays. Harry was about to tuck in when a potion was pushed under his nose, he sighed
"How much longer am I going to need to drink this stuff?" he muttered but drank it anyway
"You need to drink it for at least the rest of the week" he was told by a very stern looking Madame Pomfrey. Harry sighed, but managed to get a spoonful of food before the next person said anything,
"Harry, Molly and I would assume an entourage from the Burrow will be arriving shorly after breakfast with your things" Albus said, Harry nodded Great more people he never quite got used from switching from the virtual solitary confinement in his uncle's house to the swarms of people and the noise at Hogwarts. The headmaster continued,
"They will be arriving in my office so if you would care to make your way up after you have finished and wait for them do so" Harry nodded again, he didn't really want to see them, but the tone the headmaster had used didn't really imply he had a choice.
"Fillius, I was wondering if I could borrow you after brakefast, I have an unusual request"
"Of course Severus my dear fellow, shall I come down to your squalid hole, I know you hate the light so" Severus grunted at the gentle teasing.
"Yes thank you" Harry wondered what that was all about but shrugged it off
After breakfast Harry went to the headmasters office, Severus went back to the dungeons. It occurred to Harry that this was the first time this week he would be going somewhere without his father, he was lost in thought when a voice startled him
"Harry, wait up I'll walk with you" Remus said coming up the corridor smiling, he put his hand on Harry's shoulder; Harry flinched. Remus looked sad
"Harry, you do know you're in no danger from me don't you?" Harry tried to smile
"Yes sir, it's just I'm not big on physical contact at the moment" Remus nodded
"Very well. You do know that if there was anything wrong you could tell me don't you? I wont be mad" Harry nodded, wondering where this was going
"So if someone was hurting you, even if it was someone in Hogwarts you would tell me yes?" Harry nodded again.
"No one here is hurting you are they?" Harry looked at Remus strangely
"No why?" Remus touched Harry's upper arm; Harry winced again and tried to move away, Remus caught his wrist
"Roll up your sleeve Harry"
"No!" Harry said indignantly, Remus produced his wand, he muttered a spell and Harry's robe disappeared, he did it again and Harry's shirt joined it. Harry glared at Remus, Remus felt his jaw hit the floor on Harry's upper arms were to very clear
hand prints, they were bright purple.
"Can I have my clothes back now" Harry snapped. Remus nodded and summoned the clothes, Harry's shirt and robe reappeared on him,
"Harry who did that? Was it Severus?"
"No. well yes but he was helping me"
"HELPING YOU?"
"Yes" Harry hissed "Keep you voice down, look last night I had a vision I was screaming, and failing around, if Severus hadn't held me down I would have done some serious damage to myself."
"Well it looks like he did it for you!" Remus snarled Harry was getting tired with this
"No he didn't look please leave it" Harry was exasperated, and now he was late. Remus watched him go and then stalked off towards the dungeons.
Harry knocked on the office door, a voice inside told him to enter. As Harry did so his view become obscured by large amounts of brown hair;
"Hermione, please I'm losing the ability to breathe" he said with only a little sarcasm Hermione let go and looked at him
"We were so worried"
"Sorry"
"Again he's apologising for things that aren't his fault!" Harry looked behind Hermione and saw that indeed there was a sea of red hair; it looked like Molly had bought everyone who could afford the time, that being the twins down. Harry walked up to them and smiled, Molly also threw her arms round him.
"Are you alright love, I am so sorry I don't know what happened the wards should have worked" Harry broke away
"Never mind, no harm done" he said as Ginny came to hug him. Ron, Fred and George were still sitting but where grinning from ear to ear
"No harm eh Harry, then what happened to your face?" instinctively Harry reached up and touched the bruise, it was a lot less tender then it had been but still noticeable he shrugged. He noticed his trunk in the corner and went over to it
"Thanks" he said and opened it, he retrieved his school shoes and dumped his battered trainers into the case, he was about to close it again when he noticed something, he rummaged through and them closed the lid eyeing them suspiciously
"Where's Draconis?" Molly played dumb
"Where's who dear?"
"Draconis, the dagger Sirius gave me" Molly shifted uneasily
"Are you sure you had it when you came?" She said Fred and George both immediately spotted the flaw in the argument
"Yes" Harry said through clenched teeth "I used it to slit my throat" Molly paled at the memory; Harry took a deep breath and tried to remain calm:
"Look, please can I have it, after all it is mine, and it is one of the few things I have of Sirius" he voice was calm, but he was clenching his fist Molly looked uncomfortable with the idea of returning it
"Look, why don't we look after it until the summer and you can have it then?" Harry stared at her
"Fine" Molly looked relieved and sat down Harry sat as well, he was fuming but if she wouldn't give it willingly he knew what he would do.
"Very well Harry I will have the elves to take your belongings down to your room. Harry nodded
"Perhaps you would like some tea before you go?" Albus produce a tea pot and poured a cup for everyone in the room. Harry could feel them staring at him and curled back up into a ball
"You ok mate?" Ron asked quietly Harry nodded, he didn't feel much like talking, half an hour later Molly rose to leave, as the others got up Harry stood this was his chance, he waited for the floo to be opened.
"Return to owner" he said with his palm outstretched, sure enough Draconis flew out the fire and landed neatly in his hand, he closed his grip on it he glance at molly and shrugged
"It's enchanted, it wants to be with me, Sirius told me" Molly looked stunned and looked to Dumbledore for back up, Harry cut her off
"Good day everyone, thank you for the tea professor" he turned and left them room, knowing he wouldn't remain civil for long.
"Albus, you have to take it off him"
"Why Molly?"
"Because it's not safe, he used it once that we know of!"
"I feel that young Mr. Potter is no longer in danger of a repeat performance, as you saw he is making a good recovery" Dumbledore raised his hand to prevent further discussion on the matter
"Now Molly, it is his and he has a point, Sirius did not have long to give Harry anything, I believe that if he wants the ones he does have close we have no right to
interfere." Molly left the office visibly fuming, the other followed suit looking glum, apparently they were under the impression that they would be next inline for Molly's wrath.
Severus had explained the idea to Fillius, who nodded
"An excellent idea Severus it won't take long either" The charms professor looked at the small silver band on the table
"Where did it come from?"
"It was meant for Lily" Fillius nodded
"Good that will make the charm stronger" both professors started as someone pounded on the door. Severus opened it; Lupin grabbed him and pushed him into the nearest wall,
"Whats wrong with you" Snape snarled pushing the werewolf away easily
"You hurt Harry" Remus was fuming he had his wand in his hand
"Put it away Lupin, you wont win"
"I don't care, you dare snarl at me about that boy and he turns up this morning with bruises all down his arms" Fillius gasped but then tried to be logical
"You can't think that Severus would do such a thing!" Remus glared at the little man
"I don't only think it I know it, Harry told me!" he snarled, Fillius went pale and looked at Severus, who was glaring at Remus
"Yes I did them, did the boy tell you why?"
"He made up some story about having a vision and needing to be restrained" Remus said shrugging it off. Severus got right into the werewolf's face
"And did he volunteer this information?" he said dangerously quietly, Remus paled
"Yes he did" Snape raised an eyebrow,
"Really? The boy is abused for years and tells no one and then he just goes up to you and say oh by the way look at this?" Severus snarled
"Well no it wasn't like that" Remus said backing up a few steps, Severus kept with him forcing Remus back against the wall
"If you laid a finger on him I swear they will never find the body"
"Now Severus, Remus has only Harry's best interest at heart too, it would be better for the boy if you too could at least be civil to each other" Fillius stood in the corner of the room forgotten. Severus sighed the little man had a big point, he cold forbid Harry to see Lupin, if he tried the damn infuriating child would go out his way to talk to the werewolf. Severus backed off but didn't break his eye contact
"Get out" he spat Remus glared at him for a long moment and then left. Severus took a few deep breaths and clamed down he turned his attention back to the table. Filius was still holding the ring
"That's the slave, where's the master?" Severus reached for the chain around his neck and undid it, he took the ring off it and handed it to Fillius who nodded
"Ah, I understand, the bond on these will be hard to break" Severus nodded and picked up the silver band, it was originally going to be the ring he would give Lily, he never got the chance, James go there first. Fillius finished with the second ring and handed it back to him.
"There you go Severus, although I might point out it would be more effective to wear the ring rather then keep it on a chain" Severus nodded and slid his onto his right hand ring finger.
"Would you like any tea before you leave Fillius?"
"No, no I have to be getting along" he went to leave
"Thank you" Severus said in a moment of rare honesty
"No problem, just give that to young Harry when he gets in" with that he left. Severus sat at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. This was going to be a difficult year.