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Chapter 38
The figure stepped into the light, Harry was grinning at Sev's reaction. Riddle looked a lot younger then their present day self, brown hair reaching in waves to the waist, reminding Severus that how much younger he was. He had never seen the teenage Riddle's and even though it was clear that this was the same person as the later life alter ego, it struck him how innocent they looked. Riddle casually walked up to him, tracing the wall with a hand, the curve of her hips swayed almost rhythmically, like to music only she could hear.
"Ayesha, I did not expect to find you here" The younger form of Outkast smiled coyly at him, he raised an eyebrow, now that was a look the older version couldn't pull off, she looked…well innocent
"I turn up in lots of places Sev" She looked towards Harry and back to Severus,
"He needed someone to protect his mind, he can't learn while under constant attack, so I will protect his secrets until he can do it himself" Severus nodded, although a little confused, what she suggested shouldn't be possible.
"How?"
"I fought Tom for control and won, this version of myself is as I was when I first learnt to defend my mind. A little more acceptable then my older self don't you think?"
"Indeed. So you protect his mind for him" She inclined her head as a yes
"So will you let anyone in?"
"If Harry allows it" he glanced at the version of his son, who seemed to sitting in the corner watching them. He turned his attention back to the Gatekeeper
"Can I get in?" she looked at Harry and back to Sev
"No. time to leave." Severus found himself back in the real world and staring at his son. Harry was dutifully studying the floor as though how any cracks in the stone would be a shoo in on the NEWTS. Severus recovered and cleared his throat
"What was that?"
"I'm not sure" Harry said quietly, unwilling to retell the last attack Voldemort had made on his mind as that would lead to him having to talk about the cuts. Severus nodded
"Very well why don't you go to Quidditch practise, I need to talk to a certain witch" Harry nodded and didn't need to be told twice, he bolted from the office barely stopping to collect his bag.
Severus decided he was going to have this conversation on his home territory and fire called Outkast; she merely nodded and told him she was on her way down
##
Harry arrived a few minutes after the others; Ron nodded in acknowledgement knowing why he was late and continued with his speeches about tactics and formations. Harry tried to pay attention but his mind kept wondering back to his Occlumency lesson and the conversation that he was sure was taking place. Ron called the meeting to the end and the team filed out, Harry was so lost in thought he didn't notice until some one touched his arm. He flinched and snapped his focus to the offending person, Ron offered an apologetic smile
"You alright mate, you were miles away" Ron tried to maintain eye contact with Harry, who was back to studying any inanimate object
"Yeah I'm fine just got a lot on my mind"
"Want to talk about it?" Ron asked trying not to look too nervous, Harry just sighed
"No, but lets just say the shits about to hit the fan" He smiled mirthlessly and rose from the bench to follow the team out.
Out on the field the team were working hard, the chasers passing the Quaffle between them and trying to score while the beaters tried to bat it away intercepting the pass. Harry hovered above the pitch watching them, the snitch had been released and was proving remarkably hard to find. He finally spotted it over on the far side of the pitch and set off, as he got there it moved upwards, not wanting to waste time going around the hoops, Harry flew through the middle one going straight into a dive after. If he hadn't been so intent on the snitch he would have noticed the rest of the team stopping their practise and staring at his death defying stunts. Harry was oblivious and pulled up barely in time, his knees and end of the broom brushing the short grass. After another short chase and sharp climb, he caught it. Grinning he turned to announce it to the team only to find them gawping at him. Ron bought them all to the ground. As Harry landed he found himself looking into the irate face of his best friend
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WERE YOU DOING?!" Ron glared at him, Harry looked confused and hurt
"I was catching the snitch, that's what I do I'm a seeker" he said wondering what he could have done to cause this reaction.
"Yes you're a seeker but you not supposed to put your life on the line to get it! Honestly flying through the hoop and that dive, I swore you weren't going to pull up in time" Harry shrugged
"Well I did and I wasn't hurt so what's the problem?" Ron took a deep breath and gave up,
"Look just promise me you won't do that again ok? It's far too dangerous" Harry nodded and made a non committed noise. Ron nodded
"Let's keep going, Ginny let a bludger as well" Ginny nodded and the rest of the team took to the air.
Several hours later Ron had worked the team to exhaustion but they felt fairly confident for the upcoming season, they weren't playing for a few weeks, the first game being Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Harry traipsed up to the dorm after showering, collapsing on his bed drawing the curtain. He stuck his hand under the pillow and retrieved the small knife he kept from potions and his journal, he started writing the entry, but when he got to the Occlumency lesson couldn't resist the knife. When he finished he spelled the wounds closed and got changed for bed, not really having the energy for much else.
##
Outkast sighed as the fire disconnected, though it wasn't unexpected it was always disappointing when Sev lived down to her expectations. She went to the bedside cabinet and ran a brush through her hair. The rat was again making a large racket, she sneered at it
"Do shut up I'm in no mood for you tonight, one more sound and the kitchen will be serving tiny drumsticks" she slammed the brush down and stalked off to the dungeons.
To say her greeting was frosty was an understatement; Severus was stalking his living room and hadn't even come to the door just snarled at it to open.
"Sev," she greeted standing in the doorway. He rounded on her
"What the hell did you think you were doing messing with my sons mind?" he spoke in a dangerous whisper. She took a deep breath
"Voldemort was attacking his mind, keeping him under crucio, now while the curse may not have physically been affecting him because his mind believed it, the pain became real, it was his intention to hold it until he snapped. I stopped him that time, but there is no way of telling that either of us will be around to help if he does it again. I created the walls but taught him how to make them, with a little time and practise he will be able to be his own gatekeeper" She looked at Severus, not seeing the intimidating potions master the rest of the world did, but a man trying to be the father his son needed. She took a step closer, tentatively wrapping her arms around him. Sev sighed
"I wish you told me that's all, he is my son and he seems that you are the only one he trusts" she offered him a small, sad smile;
"That's because I'm the only one who doesn't shout when he makes mistakes" she silenced any further conversation with a kiss. She had meant it to be chaste, but the need that radiated off this man was overwhelming, so when he deepened the kiss she didn't protest. His hands wrapped in her hair pulling her closer as he ran his tongue across her bottom lip begging for entry. She granted it and gasped as his hands found their way under her clothes. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down to her, rolling her hips against him creating friction to encourage his arousal. A low growl escaped his mouth as he picked her up heading for the bedroom.
##
Harry woke feeling un-rested as was common these days, he sighed staring up at the canopy grateful his bed had remained in the dorm. He got up and dressed before waking his room mates and heading to the common room to wait for them and the girls, he had found that waking early and dressing quickly made the close living quarters bearable. He was studying the flames when Ron and Hermione joined him
"Hey Harry want to come to breakfast?" he nodded smiling at them before getting up and leaving the common room. They wondered down through the school talking about nothing of consequence. More precisely Hermione talked, Harry listened and Ron threw him concerned looks. Finally outside the Great Hall Hermione snapped
"Oh really what is going on with you two?"
"Nothing" Harry said perplexed, looking between his best friends, Ron glared at him
"What? Nothing? You call practically killing yourself at practise nothing?" his eyes were wide disbelieving
"Harry? What did you do?" Hermione stared at him. Harry glared at Ron and sighed
"Nothing Ron's over reacting to a dive I made yesterday" Ron shook his head
"He spun through the middle hoop before diving after the snitch I swear that he missed the ground by less then an inch" Harry rolled his eyes
"Calm down your exaggerating" and with that he stepped into the Hall. Ron and Hermione stared at each other. She swallowed the lump in her throat
"Are you exaggerating?"
"I wish I was, you can ask anyone else on the team I swear he has a death wish" Hermione nodded
"I think you should tell Snape" Ron looked at her like she had grown an extra head
"Are you mad? Why would I tell that greasy git anything?" she sighed
"Because he's Harry's father and if Harry is taking stupid risks then he needs to know" Ron nodded
"Ok I'll tell him, come on he's likely to be already in the hall, I can tell after breakfast" with that they both entered and took their seats opposite Harry.
##
"Morning lover" Outkast mumbled as she rose from Sev's chest to kiss him, he groaned as he opened his eyes
"Is it morning already?" he muttered
"Yup, come on hun you need to get up for breakfast" Severus slowly rose and left to grab a shower, Outkast grinned and followed him into the bathroom. He raised an eyebrow, she smirked and took his hand leading him toward the shower.
Sometime later they came back out, feeling cleaner but tired again, Outkast nabbed Sev's hair brush before he could to get to it and stuck her tongue out, she finished brushing her hair in silence and put the brush down before turning to Sev looking thoughtful.
"What do we tell Harry" Severus stopped getting ready and turned to her, looking uncharacteristically nervous
"I don't know. Any ideas?" she shrugged
"Not really, I'm concerned he will feel that he has lost you to me and me to you" Sev looked confused
"What?"
"I think he might feel he can no longer confide in me without it getting back to you and vice-versa, it may make him even more reluctant to talk to us" Sev sighed
"All we can do is reassure him, perhaps we could wait on telling him until he feels better" Outkast inclined her head slightly an grinned
"Sneaking around in a relationship, hey perhaps we could ask the seventh years for tips" Sev rolled his eyes with a 'God help me' expression
"Don't you dare. Come on breakfast" Outkast stole a chaste kiss before leaving the rooms and heading for the Great Hall. As they approached the dulcet tones of two thirds of the golden trio could be heard, they paused to listen in; they heard the door open followed by a snippet of conversation;
"Are you exaggerating?"
"I wish I was, you can ask anyone else on the team I swear he has a death wish" Sev glanced at Outkast, she shrugged and opened the door indicating they shouldn't be eavesdropping. Severus walked in with his usual dramatic flare, pondering what he'd just heard and making a note to catch up with Harry at some point.
##
Harry was about half way through his breakfast when he felt eyes on him, he glanced around the hall before searching the head table, he made eye contact with Outkast who winked and his father who raised an eyebrow before turning his attention back to his plate, I wonder what that's all about he thought before returning to pushing his own food around his plate, thanking God it was the weekend. After breakfast he got up to leave
"Is that all you're going to eat?" Hermione asked the same question as regularly as clockwork he just shrugged
"Not hungry" he noticed his father moving to leave, and looked mildly surprised when Ron got up and went over to Severus meeting him at the doors. Harry looked back at Hermione
"What's that all about" Hermione looked at him for along moment pretending to be thinking, when actually she was stalling for time to let Ron and Snape leave. When she saw the door open and close again she sighed and looked guilty at Harry
"He's telling Snape about your practise yesterday" Harry's eyes went wide
"He's doing what?!" he yelped and went to bolt from the hall. Hermione followed him
"Harry wait please he's only doing it because we care"
"WE? Of course this would have to be your idea, Ron would never even dream of snitching me to a teacher" he was glaring daggers, Hermione issued her best 'Don't take that tone with me' glare back at him
"Yes it was my idea and if we were 'snitching' on you to a teacher we would have gone to Professor McGonagall, he's telling your father that your being reckless because even Ron's worried you'll end up badly injured, or worse" she snapped. Harry collapsed onto a window sill and looked out
"I won't but if Sev stops me flying I don't know what I'll do, it's the only time I feel alive 'Mione, I can't lose it" he stared out looking defeated. Hermione put a hand on his back, ignoring his flinch and rubbed soothing circles.
"I'm sure he won't if you tell him Harry but please don't take foolish risks, you hurt those around you, those who care about you and weather you believe it or not, there are more people who love you then you will ever know" Harry snorted in disbelief before standing
"No Hermione, no one loves me, because I am un-loveable, now excuse me I have to go and stop my father from banning me from flying" he turned and left his best friend with tears in hers eyes by the Great Hall. Oh Harry if you only would believe us, maybe you would get better she thought as she watched him go.
##
Ron ha just finished explaining what had happened at Quidditch practise to Snape when the door connect the office to his quarters opened and Harry stepped through, he looked from his friend to his father nervously. Severus looked at Harry and back to Ron
"Mr Weasley thank you for bringing this to my attention, and five points to Gryffindor for having the intelligence to tell someone. You are excused. Harry come with me" with that Ron darted out of the room, Severus led Harry back into his quarters and to the living room. He gestured to Harry to take a seat before taking the one opposite.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Harry met his father's gaze making sure that the wall Outkast built and his own defences were up full, Severus sighed
"Harry did you take unnecessary risks in Quidditch practise yesterday?"
"No" Harry said in a flat tone
"So you didn't make an insane dive?"
"No"
"No you didn't make the dive or no it wasn't insane?"
"It wasn't insane, I was in control. Please don't take my broom, flying is the only freedom I have, I couldn't bare to loose it" Harry's resolved cracked and he bought his legs to his chest, chewing his lip. Severus felt his heart melt, he knew he wouldn't ban the boy from flying as he planned but that didn't mean he was going to get off easily.
"Harry if you keep taking risks with your life I will not only ban you from flying I will have you restrained to a bed. I don't know how to help you or even make you believe that I want to but I will stop you from endangering yourself if it is at all in my power" Harry nodded miserably, not knowing what to say, people had been trying to convince him of things he didn't believe for months. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he did when he was frustrated or tired
"I won't take your broom this time seeing at it seems abnormally cruel to deprive you of two things Sirius has given you in as many weeks but make no mistake one more stunt and I will. Now don't you want to go watch the game?" Harry nodded and left, as he exited the dungeons he heard Draco's voice and hid
"Blaise, you're on I hope your prepared to make an idiot of yourself" Harry waited for the voices to fade before emerging, he wondered what the bet was about as he went up to the Quidditch pitch to watch the first match of the season with his friends.
##
Severus knew he should out to the pitch, his absence would be noticed and he would have to come up with an excuse better then I couldn't be bothered. He sighed at the knock on the door, he rose to open it. He smiled at his visitor,
"Bad time?" Outkast asked, Sev shrugged
"No worse then any other, shouldn't you be watching the match?"
"Shouldn't you?" Sev inclined his head
"Fair point, perhaps we better go, it will be a little conspicuous if we are both missing, I can inform you of the latest developments as we go" Outkast took his proffered arm and they sauntered towards the pitch.
##
Draco prayed the Ravenclaw's won there was more at stake when he took that stupid bet then his pride, he'd come to really value Harry as a friend and didn't want to lose him over something as trivial as a bet on Quidditch. He held his breath as the seekers took off after the snitch; it had been a very close match and had come down to the last few minuets as the seekers fought for the snitch. As the Hufflepuff seeker's hand closed around the small golden ball Draco felt his heart plummet. He thought Cho had it for a second, but he had been proven sorely wrong, he turned to see Blaise looking truly smug. He sighed; he wouldn't be allowed to welch on the bet so he better find Harry and fast.
##
Harry watched the game studying each the seekers moves and making notes for later use. Ron was doing the same with the chaser layouts, even though neither team posed as big a threat as the Slytherin's it wouldn't do to be arrogant about it. It was a close run thing and by the time the final whistle blew everyone's heart was pounding. He walked up to the common room with Ron and Hermione in an awkward silence. A nee noticed had appeared on the door, presumably after they had left for breakfast, it was about the Halloween ball and proudly announced that there would be a karaoke contest with prizes for most difficult, best singer and best showmanship. Harry rolled his eyes, only Outkast would think of having a karaoke contest in Hogwarts.
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AN: ok hands up all those who go the wrong Riddle! Tehe sorry couldn't resist!
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