Title: Reluctant Savior (Chapter 5)
Author name: venus4280
Category: Drama
Rating: Pg-13 for language/intensity- subject to change
Spoilers: all five books
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended, and I get nothing from borrowing them except the pleasure of trying to write a good story.
Archive: If you want, just email me to let me know
A/N: Sorry for the wait, and this is a bit short too, as I decided to break it in half because of all the jumping around. The second half will follow shortly. I am still not entirely happy with it, but perhaps in time I can fix it to my satisfactions. Without further ado, thank you to all of my reviewers, we actually added a few to my small but erudite cadre :) . So first a nod to Bellatrix-Vecours for catching my bad spell-casting, the mistake has been corrected. I also want to fawn all over as well as thank empathicsiren for her insightful review- I do adore One Good Turn, and I am very pleased you're reading my little tale- thank you for my first review that is more than a sentence- more sarcasm on the way from all participants (willing and otherwise), I assure you. A huge 'thank you' also to one small instrument for a detailed and thoughtful review! Thank you for breaking your rule regarding commenting. I am glad to note you picked up on Snape entering Gryffindor territory- you almost never hear of it, and I also find it far more likely than the alternative scenario. Emma and Pleione- thanks for the comments. And a special thank you to chubby redburn who is an astonishingly good writer in her(?) own right and whose story I salivate over. You said the kindest, sweetest thing that any other human being has ever said to me regarding my writing! Wow, just thanks- it was the kick in the ass I needed to get this chunk out. It is greatly appreciated. Thanks again, and remember suggestions are always welcome.
---------
Early the following morning, Severus Snape descended upon the infirmary, intent upon waking Harry and departing for muggle London as soon as possible.
"Potter!" Snape barked, quite dreading the impending trip with his least favorite student.
Snape was just about to shake Harry awake when Madame Pomfrey entered the ward.
"Severus," she said quietly, "Let him sleep. The boy isn't well."
He looked away somewhat guiltily and thus missed the mischievous glint in Poppy's eyes and the fact that the corners of the stern nurse's mouth pulled slightly upwards. 'You are not the cold-hearted bastard you would have us believe, Professor Snape,' she thought to herself, 'and I am going to prove it!'
"Fine, send him to the Great Hall when he wakes- I do have other things to do today!" The snarky rejoinder hung in the air as the professor turned to leave.
As she pulled the blanket more firmly around Harry's shoulders, she pondered the plight of the battered soul before her and the shell of a man who had just walked out the door. The animosity between the two was legendary, and yet…she frowned, it was so necessary for both… each desperately needed what the other could provide: acceptance, faith, trust, and perhaps most importantly- love. Something that neither had ever been given in abundance and which both believed they no longer deserved. The sins were different, but the need was the same. She would make a guardian out of Severus Snape yet, and see to it that he didn't kill his charge in the process.
------------------
About an hour later, Harry found his way to the Great Hall. His appearance was much improved, but he still tread rather carefully and the lines of pain on his face had not completely disappeared.
He decided to take his breakfast at the high table next to Snape, rather than sitting alone.
As the Potions Master observed the other wizard heading towards him, he fought back a rude remark. He wanted to harass the boy, but Poppy's words came unbidden to his mind- 'the boy isn't well.'
"Good morning, Potter," Snape said, almost choking on his tea.
"Good morning, Professor," Harry replied, wondering idly if that strained, arctic tone was as friendly as Snape would get.
"After you finish, we are going to go to London to purchase eyes glasses," Snape announced.
Harry looked startled. "You didn't think we were going to let you stumble around the castle blindly all summer, did you? Honestly Potter! In any case, Professor Dumbledore took the liberty of withdrawing a liberal amount of money from your Gringott's account for the occasion, so we can head to the appropriate shop without any detours or delays."
Pleased by the idea of the shopping excursion but wary of his shopping companion, Harry absently put a forkful of eggs in his mouth- Food for thought, indeed!
-----------------
Muggle London
Waves of people, colors swirling incomprehensibly around him- the noise, it was deafening. Harry felt nauseous, images swimming before him- blood rushing, dizzy. Swaying, he reached out to his buoy in the vast sea of confusion.
Snape suddenly felt something clinging to his robes, and barely repressed the urge to forcefully disengage the offending object. "Don't touch me!" he said, his voice cold, almost hissing, as he turned to see who or what had accosted him.
"I need a minute," Harry said, his voice sounding weak.
Snape sighed, frustrated. "We can't bloody well stand here in the middle of everything," he commented, as some hurried travelers jostled them, almost knocking Harry to the ground. Still annoyed at the invasion of his personal space, he ushered Harry to a bench up ahead.
A few minutes passed, and neither said a world.
Finally, the professor addressed Harry impatiently, hoping his irritation thoroughly masked his underlying concern, "Have you sufficiently recovered?"
Harry was actually feeling significantly better. However, rather than reassuring the Potions Master, he merely nodded. The effect was less than convincing. Unlike previously on the Knight Bus, this time when Snape rose, he reached out to help Harry, offering his arm for support. Though much recovered, Harry found himself gratefully accepting the assistance, unnecessarily leaning on the taller man. 'What am I playing at?' Harry rebuked himself internally. 'Really, Potter- he thought to himself- you have practically reached your majority, it's too late for you- and look where caring for you got Sirius. No, this had to end. Harry had learned his lesson quite well the first time; no one else needed to die. He couldn't believe he was even fleetingly entertaining such thoughts, period, never mind that the person in question was his most hated professor. And yet, here was Snape acting practically parental- Warmth in his eyes despite the often cold and punishing tone of his voice. The Potions Master's arm draped over him, bracing him against the horrors of past and present, and shielding him from the demons lurking just at the edge of sight. And so it was that, despite his resolve, Harry found himself melting into the half embrace, desperately searching for the acceptance he craved, all the while silently acknowledging that nothing good could come of his little indulgence. He wanted a father, wanted a family, wanted someone to tell him that that he didn't have to do it alone, someone to be proud of him when he did well on an exam, someone to tuck him in at night and take aware the nightmares…someone to love him for him and not for what he symbolized to the Wizarding world or for a prophecy that he quite doubted he was capable of fulfilling with anything other than his own demise. But he knew he couldn't have that, and Harry had long ago trained himself not to yearn for what he had no hope of receiving.
Severus, for his part, found Harry's suddenly limp carriage and unseeing gaze worrisome in the extreme. "Are you okay?" he questioned his charge, Poppy's words on his mind for the second time that day.
"Yes." Harry said, straightening, with effort, "I'm fine."
Frowning, Snape just nodded, absently guiding them down the street toward a distant row of shops. Once again, the professor was aware that the dynamic between them had changed, disrupting the delicate balance. For, deep down inside, something had lurched as he recognized the bluff for what it was and the reason for the child's brave face. Then, slowly, very slowly, an idea began to take shape in his mind. Putting away his line of thinking for later, and casually dismissing his appalling track record with plants and small animals, he signaled their arrival at the appropriate vendor.
TBC