Another Visitor
Harry didn't get a reply to his letter. Actually he got something a lot better: a visitor. And this time it even was someone he didn't hate from the depth of his heart. It was late in the afternoon, two days after he had sent his letter, when he heard the doorbell. He didn't bother to put his book aside and get up from his bed, being convinced it was either one of Dudley's stupid friends or someone trying to sell vacuum cleaners or magazines. Although the latter ones even sounded like an interesting change to his boring day. He turned a page in his way too old to still be very interesting Quidditch magazine when he heard voices from downstairs. One of them was clearly aunt Petunia's high and pretty annoying voice while the other one sounded calmer and - although hoarse - somehow pleasant. Somehow familiar. Harry let the magazine drop to the floor, jumped up from his bed, strode across his room and opened the door a little to eavesdrop on the conversation.
I see you were just about to have tea? I hope I didn't disturb you.
No, no... of course not... Petunia Dursley stammered. May I... er... offer you something as well?
That's very kind of you but most unfortunately I don't have the time to stay for too long. As I said, I just wanted-
Lupin! Yes, that definitely was him. Harry dashed down the stairs and came to an abrupt halt at the end of the stairs where his aunt and Lupin were standing.
Lupin whirled around and greeted him with a broad grin. He looked even a little more tired and exhausted than he usually did, as if he had been under quite a lot of stress lately - well, they all had been. How are you?
Er... all right. Harry replied quickly. What are you doing here?
Oh, just dropped by to see if everything's fine. Lupin said, winking at Petunia Dursley. And to have a word with you.
Harry nodded. Yeah, sure... let's go upstairs.
He set off up the stairs, Lupin flashed Petunia a smile, received a pretty disgusted look in return and then followed him.
So you got my letter? Harry asked as soon as he had sat down on his bed, only a second later thinking that it was quite a stupid question, it obviously was the reason why he had come here.
Lupin muttered, slowly walking across the room and glancing around, surveying his surroundings. Must have been a bit of a shock to see Snape standing in front of your bed in the middle of the night, eh?
You bet it was. Harry replied and Lupin smiled at him before turning away to gaze out of the window for a moment.
Listen, Harry... I know you don't like him. Lupin said in a low voice. And I'm not asking you to like him, I mean, good heavens, who does? He turned back to Harry again, the smile on his face making way for a more serious and maybe even worried expression. But you have to trust him.
Harry slowly shook his head. You're asking a little too much of me there. He muttered.
Think about it, Harry: if he had really wanted to harm you, didn't he have a lot of chances? Even more so during the last year with Dumbledore gone?
Harry replied defiantly. But what about Sirius?
Lupin lowered his gaze to the ground and shook his head - this clearly was something he didn't want to talk about. Nobody's to blame for that. He muttered.
There was an endless moment of silence and Harry decided to say something just so it wouldn't last forever.
But... but what about Quirrel?
Lupin repeated, giving him a blank look.
Well, he - or rather, Voldemort - tried to kill me and Snape kept him from doing it, right?
Right. He saved you, that proves my point.
But Voldemort knows Snape saved me. Harry continued. He had been thinking about this for quite a while and now was eager for telling someone about it. It wasn't something he had to do to make sure he wouldn't lose Dumbledore's trust, so I suppose Voldemort should be pretty suspicious of him for why he did it. I can't believe Voldemort would still trust him after that unless he did something pretty important for him, or because he still needed him, like with those Occlumency lessons he gave me... maybe he... His voice trailed off when he saw Lupin shaking his head.
Severus had no idea that it wasn't Quirrel but You-Know-Who he was dealing with and that's also what he told him. I know you thought he might have tried to produce the opposite effect from what Dumbledore wanted with those Occlumency lessons but you're mistaken there. Lupin said. If it was true, then how much sense would it have made for him to inform the Order about you being in danger at the Ministry?
Harry opened his mouth to say something but quickly realised that he had run out of arguments.
Do you trust him? He asked instead.
Lupin smiled weakly, folded his arms and leaned back against the wall. Of course I do. I'm drinking that potion he gives me once a month, right?
Yeah... but what makes you so sure that he's not going to poison you one of these days? He's not too fond of you really. And no matter how much Harry hated him, that was something he couldn't really blame him for anymore, not with what he knew now.
Lupin shrugged his shoulders. He won't, I just know.
Because Dumbledore trusts him, right?
Right. And because I know what he did for our side.
But what makes Dumbledore so sure? What if he's wrong?
Well, Severus is quite an actor, but I suppose it would take a lot more to fool Dumbledore.
If you believe he can fool You-Know-Who, why not him?
Lupin had to smile at the boy's persistence, it just reminded him so much of his father. He took a deep breath and sat down at the desk standing near the window. Have a guess who taught Snape about Occlumency. He said softly. Dumbledore knows everything about him, he knows his memories, his thoughts, his emotions, everything. So if he trusts him, I will. And so should you.
Harry muttered, neither sounding nor being very convinced. So what about those spells? What are they?
Barriers mostly. To keep uninvited visitors from entering the house.
That's all you're going to tell me?
What else would you want to know? Lupin asked. The names wouldn't tell you much, most of them aren't the sort of magic you learn in school.
Harry gave him a shrug that indicated he would content himself with the little information he had received.
Oh, there's something else I wanted to ask you. Lupin said. I hear you want to continue Potions next year?
Er... yeah, well, I don't exactly want to but I suppose I have to.
Lupin nodded. Professor McGonagall told me your Potions results were pretty good...
You already know my OWL results? Harry interrupted him.
Yes, I do, they'll send them to you pretty soon. Anyway, you'd need at least one grade better to reach the standard Snape has set for his NEWT class. Professor McGonagall tried to persuade him to make an exception but, as you can imagine, he won't budge, so she told me to ask you if you'd be willing to take the test once more.
Sure, why not. Harry said. Actually I wouldn't have expected to get anywhere close to an 'Outstanding'... They'd really let me try again?
I'm sure she'll be able to convince them; but you'd have to work hard. It would be quite embarrassing for her if you'd fail there.
Of course, I'll do my best. Harry didn't really have anything to do during the holidays so he thought he could just as well spend his time studying. After all, it should be worth it; he hadn't spent too much time thinking about his future after Hogwarts, but whenever he did, the only thing he could imagine was being an Auror and he needed a NEWT in Potions for that. Although he wasn't too sure it really was worth enduring two more years in Snape's classroom.
Good, I'll let Minerva know. Lupin said and smiled at him. I'm afraid I have to leave again already, still have a few things to do.
Harry said in a low voice, got up from his bed and led Lupin down the stairs again. Petunia Dursley saw them but rather tried to pretend she hadn't and concentrated on her teacup until she heard the front door falling closed. But even then she didn't say anything, she just looked up at Harry, shooting him a very angry look, but Harry couldn't have cared less and smiled at his aunt before he ran up the stairs again.
AN: I hope you liked this. No Snape at all, but he'll definitely be back in the next chapter.
Ice Lupus: Thank you :) I'm really glad to hear you liked it :)
sparkle-2oo3: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it :) Can't wait to see where I'm taking the story either ;)
Snivellus aka Heather Granger: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it :) Fun idea about Malfoy.
shadowycat: Thank you :) Er.. yeah, the weather... make it two storms then ;) And thank you for correcting my English, I hate it when I don't get it right.
sethnakht: Thank you, I'm glad to hear you liked it :) Have you read shadowycat's "He Who Laughs Last"? I liked that.
