Behind the Façade
By Ammarine
Chapter 7 – Surprises and Scares
Dedicated to DraginLover, this one's for you sweetie, thanks for your support!!! ;-)
Early that afternoon, Harry was lying on his bed, his elbows propping him over a copy of Hogwarts: A History that he had found that morning, when he heard voices from the foyer. One, Harry deduced, belonged to Snape, but he couldn't work out the identity of the other person through his closed bedroom door.
Harry climbed off his bed and crept to the door, his curiosity getting the better of him. He opened the door a crack and peeked out, before closing it again, just as quietly. The glistening silver beard and half-moon spectacles gave it away, and Harry had neither the time nor the patience to put up with the old man at this point in time. In a decidedly worse mood than he was moments before, Harry fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the heavy tome that lay abandoned on his pillow.
It was almost sundown when Harry left his room, returning the impossibly dull book to the sitting room before heading to dinner. As he arrived, Snape was serving out. He drowned his sausages in ketchup and picked at the salad on his plate. The meal passed in the tense silence as neither wanted to speak of the proverbial 'pink elephant' in the room.
Just before Severus began the evening's Occlumency lesson, he looked up to see the boy steeling himself for the invasion into his mind. The look in Potter's eyes screamed, 'What was he doing here?', though no sound was uttered.
"Later, Potter," Snape said shortly. "It is of no concern to the lesson. Legilimens." It was still too easy, far too easy for Severus to break through the boy's defenses, and he would be subjected to worse by the Dark Lord because of their unique connection. Although, Severus had to admit, however grudgingly, that without using magic, the boy's skills were…passable.
The next morning, Severus awoke and breakfasted early for two reasons. Well, more of one reason and one excuse. About half a dozen of the potions Poppy needed replacing were ones that were very time consuming to brew. If he didn't start them within the next next day or so, the potions would not be ready for the start of term in September. And, although the boy's cooking skills were acceptable; unlike his skills around a cauldron, Snape sneered to himself; he felt distinctly uncomfortable in presenting the boy with the news. To be honest, it had been his idea, thinking that the boy might just go mad if confined indoors for the entire summer, but Albus had done the real work and praise was never something he had felt comfortable receiving.
Harry padded quietly into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Since Snape was usually in the kitchen before him, a strong coffee aroma generally hit him full on as he entered to make breakfast. This morning, however, it was nothing more than a mere lingering scent that remained. In the place of Snape reading the Daily Prophet and scrawling the answers to the crossword puzzles, a letter with 'Potter' in Snape's writing was present.
Harry picked up the letter and opened it tentatively. He was confused as to what Snape had to write that couldn't have been said in person, whether sometime last night or this morning. Harry skimmed the note through, having to re-read the second paragraph. 'Dumbledore altered the wards so he can go outside?' Harry ran to the kitchen door and opened it, suddenly hesitant about crossing the threshold. After Snape had said not to go outside, Harry had reluctantly obeyed. Normally, he wouldn't have taken any notice of what Snape said, but if Voldemort discovered where he was hiding, it could mean a very slow and painful way for both of them to meet their demise. Also, Harry had seen first-hand the consequences of doing something both rash and stupid, he wasn't about to let it happen again. So, Harry suffered with his ever growing case of cabin fever. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out onto the back step. No Dementors, no Death Eaters, no Voldemort, nothing changed except the beating of his heart. As he read the note, his heart skipped a few beats, but when he stepped outside, it started beating so forcefully he could almost hear the blood rushing through his veins. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Harry took a look around at his new surroundings.
It was a mess. It was clear that the garden had at one point been well-cared for, but Harry supposed that, since Snape rarely stayed here and spent most of his time in his lab that the professor saw the futility in keeping it maintained.
Harry sighed and went back inside for breakfast as his stomach voiced its complaints. He spent most of the morning and early afternoon either doing homework or reading what he could find on Occlumency in the books that resided in Snape's sitting room. By mid-afternoon, Harry found he could no longer concentrate on books, knowing he could go outside and decided it should be late enough to not get burnt. Harry could remember how good it was to do gardening at the Dursley's when he wasn't being pestered by Dudley. Though it was probably largely in part of it being his only chance to have time to relax and think without being trapped in that horrible, cramped space under the stairs they chose to call a cupboard.
As Harry's time at Snape's cottage progressed, so to did the results of his gardening skills. The at-one-time overgrown nightmare had gradually begun to take shape and form. At first, Harry only concerned himself with weeding the small yard, but realising that most of his ideas occurred when he was covered in soil, the dark-haired boy was soon found to spend most of his afternoons on his hands and knees in the dirt. There was the occasional afternoon when Harry would be escorted to Headquarters or Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville would arrive via portkey for a visit, but the group never spoke of him living with Snape, instead chatting about things like Quidditch and OWL results.
Such an event occurred near the end of July. Harry's holidays had so far been both unnervingly and blissfully free from Voldemort's influence when Snape informed him over breakfast that they would be going to Grimmauld Place that evening for dinner. Harry assumed it was because of an Order meeting as Snape did not provide any more details. The morning was spent playing with Hedwig while most of the afternoon was dedicated to working in the garden.
"Wear decent clothes, tonight, Potter," Snape drawled as Harry entered the cottage to prepare for their outing.
A short while later, Harry, dressed in slightly too big jeans and shirt, and Snape, in his trademark sneer and black clothes, used a portkey to travel to Order Headquarters. Snape knocked lightly on the door once the house came into view and the door was quickly answered by a rather confused looking Neville.
"Hi there Harry, … erm … sir," Neville croaked as Harry shut the door behind them. Harry had to give the boy some credit, he didn't squeak at the sight of Snape anymore, though it was a very close call tonight. "Professor Dumbledore said to meet him in the sitting room. I dunno where everyone else is, though. The place looks deserted, other than the Headmaster."
Severus nodded for the two boys to follow him before sweeping down the hallway to the sitting room door. Once the boys arrived, he growled "In." They made no effort to disobey. The boys opened the doors and, after sharing a confused glance, entered the dark room, seeing Snape nod almost imperceptibly confirming it was safe. Behind them, Snape entered and closed the door, blocking the dim light from the hallway and their means of escape. However, their anxiety was short-lived. After a moment, the lights flicked on, coupled with a cry of "Surprise!"
Gobsmacked, Harry looked over at Neville, who sported a similar expression. Despite the fact they were in the middle of a war, Harry could not believe this was actually happening. Though he understood people's need to take a step back occasionally (Godric knows how many times he's wanted to, he thought to himself), he felt both overwhelmed and grateful that so many people had thought about something as inconsequential as his and Neville's birthday.
He looked around at the beaming faces, only spotting a few that weren't very familiar. Before the boys could do so much as look around, they found themselves surrounded by people; Neville was chatting to Moody and Remus, with what Harry thought was Neville's grandmother beaming at her grandson. Harry himself was in the process of being choked by Ginny and Hermione's hugs and having his hand pumped by Ron. Around him, he could hear the words "Happy Birthday," repeated over and over by many different voices. It didn't take long before Harry thought he might suffocate in their embrace, but before he could say a word, a silky voice sneered, "As much as I would prefer otherwise, I don not believe that Mr Potter wishes to pass away before his actual birthday."
The girls both pulled away, flushing madly, while Harry looked at his professor with something akin to intrigue on his face. Could the snarky evil potions Professor have been making a joke? The strange glitter in the man's eyes and the almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of his mouth certainly seemed to indicate so. Harry was about to laugh when he noticed the girls' embarrassment. Next to him, Ron had his fists clenched at his sides and his ears were as red as his hair. Instead of laughin, Harry flashed a quick, grateful smile and nodded his head slightly before the professor left to talk to Arthur Weasley and Dumbledore.
"-it been, mate?" Harry was so preoccupied with Snape not being attacked by his friends, he missed Ginny's question.
"Yeah, how much of a git has he been?" Thankfully Ron came to his rescue.Harry thought for a moment before speaking.
"It's been ok, I guess. I spend most of my time in my room or out in the garden and Snape's mostly in his potions lab. I only really see him at mealtimes an after dinner." By this time, Neville had joined the group and the lot of them had made their way to where Molly's birthday dinner was waiting. They filled their plates to overflowing and commandeered a corner of the room. Once settled, the conversation continued.
"But he's still been a git to you, hasn't he?" Ron blurted, as though desperate for Harry to be too upset at Snape to stay with the professor any longer.
"I know it'll sound strange," Harry started, "but he's been alright." He was about to change the subject by asking about their summers, but one look at the shock and confusion on their faces and he groaned inwardly. "Snape and I have come to an, erm, an unspoken agreement. Neither of us like the situation, or each other, all that much, but we're over that. I've had a better holiday with him so far than I ever did in 15 years with the Dursleys. I mean, a couple of weeks into the holidays, he saw I was going crazy being confined to the cottage, so he asked Dumbledore to extend the wards to include the garden too. I know it was him, 'cos Dumbledore would have made a huge fuss over it and would have had an ulterior motive too."
As the evening progressed, Harry made a point of personally thanking all who had attended. There was Mr and Mrs Weasley, with Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Charlie (who claimed he was here for Order business), Fred and George (whom Harry and Neville suspected of spiking one of the punch bowls). Kingsley Shacklebolt, Moody and Tonks all managed to have the nigh off work. Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore came from Hogwarts and Remus, Hestia Jones and Sturgis Podmore made up the rest of the party.
When everyone was settling down for cake and presents, Harry decided to say a few words. "I know that everyone is aware I grew up with muggles, but I just want to thak you all for this. It's my first birthday party and I can't tell you how grateful I am to you all." As he sat down, there was a moment of silence before everyone started laughing, clapping and cheering. Everyone except Snape. He stood on the outside of the group, watching, with an appraising gleam in his eye.
A moment later, Neville stood up to calls for his speech and thanked everyone, with only a little bit of stammering.
Harry and Neville's birthday cake was amazing. Mrs Weasley had found a recipe for an enchanted cake which tasted like your favourite dessert. Harry's tasted like treacle tart and ended up having third helpings.
All too soon, however, the party was drawing to a close and Harry found he couldn't stop himself from yawning almost constantly. Harry and Snape said their goodbyes and portkeyed to the front door of the cottage. Soundlessly, Snape checked it was safe to enter.
"Goodnight, Potter," Snape said as he made his way into the sitting room.
"It's Harrry, sir. Goodnight." Harry turned to go to his room but turned back suddenly to face Snape again. "And … thank you."
Severus looked at the door in astonishment long after the boy had gone to bed. The boy seemed to be so unpredictable. Severus had heard Pott- Harry defend him to the hot-headed Weasley boy at the start of the evening. And just now, Severus could have sworn that the boy had thanked him. Maybe, Potter, no, Harry was more like Lily than he originally believed.
The remaining days before Harry's actual birthday he spent enjoying the presents from his friends and the Weasleys; his pseudo-family; without the presence of the War weighing upon his shoulders.
On the afternoon of July 30, Harry was sprawled on the grass in the backyard, reading his present from Remus, The Origin and Application of Animagic, when he burst into laughter, though the pain in his forehead was unbearable. Moments later, he passed out. Severus, in the nearby kitchen, heard the laughter and ventured outside to find out what the boy found so amusing. Seeing the boy unconscious, the older man swore softly, picked up the boy and his book and carried them inside. Severus lay Harry down on his bed, putting his glasses and his book on the nightstand and conjured a cold compress for his head. If Po-Harry was out due to sunstroke, the first thing to do was cool him down.
It was an hour before Harry stirred. In the meantime, Severus had owled Dumbledore and the 2 men now waited anxiously at Harry's bedside.
Harry's eyes flickered open and he gazed unseeing and unmoving at the ceiling before saying in a harsh, unnatural voice, "Happy Birthday, Harry Potter." A cold, high laugh followed, reminding both men of the Dark Lord, and as they shared a worried glance, the laughter died and Harry's eyes flickered shut.
Several tense minutes later, Harry whimpered softly and shuddered. Severus tentatively placed a hand on the boy's forehead. "He's no longer burning up, Albus, but why didn't the Occlumency work?" he said, the relief and worry clearly evident in his voice.
"Let him rest for a while then, Severus," the silver-haired man said gently. The 2 men looked at the sleeping figure for a moment, both occupied with their own thoughts, before retiring to the sitting room for tea.
Harry awoke to the sounds of paper rustling nearby, but relaxed when he saw it was from Snape turning the page of the book he was reading.
"Awake are you, Pot- Harry." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, sir,"Harry croaked. His mouth was bone dry and his throat felt very raspy. Snape handed him a glass of water after he had propped himself up on his elbows. "Ah, what happened?"
"What do you remember?" Snape asked quickly in return, sitting up as he asked.
"Well, I remember lying outside reading the book from Remus, when I felt really happy. It was him," Harry said, looking straight into the professor's eyes. "Something's gone right for him, but I don't know what. Whatever it is, though, he won't waste much time before he acts on it."
Severus had to agree with Harry on that. "What happened when you were unconscious?" he asked.
The boy's eyes widened. "I was what? I just remember feeling like I was asleep but I couldn't move or see anything. It was like I was bound, gagged and blindfolded. Then I felt strange, like I wasn't myself, like I was floating. That feeling disappeared and it just felt like I was asleep again, but normally this time, not restrained.
Snape's face remained impassive throughout the retelling, but now Harry thought that for a moment he looked worried. "Stay," he told Harry and moments later Snape returned to his room. In his hand was a silvery-white mask and a muggle pen, with a heavy black cloak folded over his arm. "Get some shoes and your wand and follow me." Harry complied and they were shortly standing on the front doorstep. Snape gave Harry the pen.
"That will take you to the statue outside the Headmaster's office; the password for both the one-way portkey and the statue is 'Jelly Tots'. Pass on my apologies." Harry didn't have to ask, he knew what Snape wasn't saying.
"Jelly Tots," Harry recited and when the tug at his navel stopped, he looked around. A few feet away was the statue guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Jelly Tots," Harry repeated to the statue and Harry leapt onto the top stair once the statue had moved aside.
"Professor," he called out as he opened the office door, "Professor, he's gone."
The light in Albus Dumbledore's eyes that appeared when the young boy entered, faded with those words. The pen in Harry's hand provided further evidence. The 2 men had decided that to be the portkey Harry used when Severus was Summoned and it was to risky for Harry to remain at the cottage alone.
"Harry, come in and make yourself comfortable. Tell me, how are you feeling?" If Harry was surprised, he didn't show it and as the sun dipped below the horizon, he repeated word for word what he had told Snape minutes before.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read reviewed the last chapter!!! Love you all!! If you are interested in discussing the chapter/story or want to ask questions or promote your own fic, come and join my yahoo group look up 'http:(double slash)groups(dot) yahoo(dot) com/ group/ behind(underscore) the(underscore) facade/'.
Sorry about the delay with this one, I ended up re-writing sections, 'cos I didn't like how it flowed. But this one is my longest chapter yet, so I hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you think of it by reviewing!!! Please feel free to read my other fics as well!!! Peace and Love and Merry Christmas!!