Harry stood up from the couch, swaying unsteadily. Lupin and Snape had followed Gekko upstairs to their rooms; Harry hoped the boy didn't give them Harry's room, the idea of Snape rifling through his things made his skin crawl.
"I didn't know where to put them, so I gave them your room." Gekko informed him, walking out of the kitchen.
Fuck. "Yippee." He replied dully, taking a few experimental steps toward the Werewolf, and, feeling no dizziness he walked slowly to the fridge and stuck his head inside. "Is there any of that pasta left?" It was hard to believe that barely five hours ago he was eating dinner and listening to Gekko rant about the unfairness of childhood. Pulling out a plastic tin of cold spaghetti he grabbed two forks, sat down on a stool, and bean to shovel forkfuls into his mouth, handing one of the forks to Gekko who made a face and poured himself some orange juice instead. Harry shrugged at him and ate; he was feeling unusually hungry.
"What's a bludger?" Gekko asked, sipping his orange juice.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "It's a flying black ball that knocks Quidditch players off their brooms."
Gekko frowned. "Is that the perverse magical way of telling people you're gay?"
Harry choked on his noodles. "Qu-Quidditch is a sport, you play it on broomsticks and it has nothing to do with sex!" He spluttered.
The boy raised both his brows up in disbelief. "You're telling me wizards play a sport that involves flying broomsticks and chasing after balls and it isn't a sexual innuendo?"
Harry shrugged uncomfortably, wishing Gekko would leave him and his spaghetti in peace. "It's a fun game…back at Hogwarts I played seeker for my house team."
"Hmm, maybe that explains why you're partial to that ponytail of yours…"
Harry snorted, concentrating on inhaling his pasta and not strangling the little bugger.
"Why did you ask, anyway?"
"Oh, the smaller man, what's-'is-name…told the grumpy man, whose-'is-face, that he was acting like one. I'm assuming that means he was being unpleasant?" Gekko propped his head up on his hand, looking bored.
Harry grinned, "That's one way of putting it."
"By the way, I think there's something wrong with the tawny haired man."
Harry sighed. "What would that be, Gekko?" he was beginning to feel irritated.
The boy's eyes widened dramatically "Dunno! He smells different than everybody else and He makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I also had this strange urge to lock up all my things and growl menacingly…. do you think my testosterone level is rising?"
Harry chewed and shook his head. "You're…well…Lupin's a werewolf too. You're…I dunno…sensing the wolf in him, He probably senses it too, he just isn't saying anything. He tends to keep things to himself." He let his fork drop to his empty container and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Gekko nodded thoughtfully before placing his empty glass in the sink. "I have a feeling you're going to be getting a telling off soon, so I'm going to go to my Uncle's tonight…I would…you know…be your pillar of support…but…" He made a dismissive gesture with his hands and walked to the door, and with a cheery wave, disappeared from sight.
Harry snorted, placing his dishes in the sink and still feeling rather hungry (and trying to ignore who was upstairs) set about making some tea and a sandwich. He reached over the sink and flicked on the small radio that sat there and noticed his hands were trembling slightly, they felt rather cold. 'Probably nerves' He thought, rubbing them together before peering into the pantry for the peanut butter.
"She said I don't know if I've ever been good enough…" Harry sang with the music on the radio while he buttered his bread, not noticing when Lupin and Snape appeared at the bottom of stairs, watching.
"-and I don't know if I ever been really loved by a hand that's touched me, well I feel like something's gonna give…" Harry absently bit into his sandwich and turned around to face the two men, who were looking at him in surprise.
Harry grinned at them sheepishly. "Tea?" He asked. Snape's eyes narrowed.
"Boy," He said in a dangerous tone. "Do you have any idea how long we've been scouring this damnable country for your pompous self?"
Harry felt his temper start to rise. "I didn't ask you to look for me…actually; I seem to remember me specifically asking you not to. It's not my fault Dumbledore can't follow simple instructions" He said this all very quietly, as if he were commenting on the weather. Only Harry's narrowed eyes and rigid form showed that he was-indeed-very angry. "Snape's eyes twitched slightly in fury and took a step forward, looking as if he wanted to strangle the boy. Harry smirked.
Lupin placed a hand on Snape's shoulder. "Severus, let me talk to him privately, if nothing gets resolved, you can string him up then." Lupin's mouthed twitched. Snape glared at Harry and, looking frankly murderous, whirled around and stormed upstairs, robes billowing about him.
Lupin and Harry stared at each other. Then, Harry snorted at him and retrieved two mugs from the cupboard, making a motion for the former Professor to sit down. Pulling out his wand he pointed it at the kettle and it started whistling. " -'fraid I only have tea bags, not very fond of it loose. Milk?" Lupin nodded wordlessly, one corner of his mouth turned up. Harry handed him the carton.
"You're different." Lupin stated softly. Harry raised his eyebrows. "If this about what I said to Malfoy…the only difference is that I'm more outspoken…. He's not the only person I've threatened to kill. You know that." He poured the tea into their mugs and sat down opposite to Lupin, who was regarding him thoughtfully.
"It isn't that-well not entirely, you seem…well…I'm not sure; maybe you can tell me. What were you thinking of anyway? Running away like that… Anything could've happened, Malfoy had escaped from Azkaban a week ago...He almost had you defeated…. What on earth were you thinking?"
Harry wrapped is hands around his tea mug, not looking Lupin in the eye. "Profess-er-…ah, Lupin…shit." Harry rubbed his eyes. "I have to kill Voldemort. God, how stupid does that sound?…like I actually know what the fuck I'm doing. Voldemort wants me dead, but…he wants more than that. He wants to see me break, beg and watch while he takes away everything I love…I never really understood what Dumbledore meant when said that Voldemort couldn't posses me for very long because I had so much love in me…for Sirius, Ron, Hermione…you. My family. I won't watch you die, I don't want to take revenge for your murders…I already have a meeting with Bellatrix to look forward to." His voice cracked.
"Harry…I don't reckon James would want his son to become a murderer, just for the likes of the Lestrange's." Lupin said softly.
Harry looked up at him, his eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry, but I need to keep you safe, all of you…. even Snape."
Lupin sighed, stood up and moved to Harry's side and pulled him into an awkward hug. "Sometimes Harry, that's not a decision you get to make."
"It should be! I c-c-can't take this…If I hadn't been such a fool…" 'Great' He thought, 'now I'm crying into Lupin's jacket.' Harry sniffled and looked up at the older man.
"I don't blame you, no one does." He said. Harry looked down. "It'd be easier if you did." He responded quietly. He felt Lupin's arms tighten around him.
"Easier maybe, but certainly not right."
Harry nodded into Lupin's chest and pulled back, Lupin released him and sat down.
"Why is he here anyway?"
Lupin raised his eyebrows. "Snape?" Harry nodded.
"He missed you." He deadpanned. Harry gave him a watery smile.
At this point, Snape thought it necessary to come down stairs, holding a pale rose orb in his hand and looking like he walked into a room of Dementors. Lupin turned and raised his eyebrows and Harry choked on his tea. Rushing forward he stared at the sphere in Snape's hand and to his face. "Did you touch it?!?" He nearly shouted, his heart was hammering, and his shoulders were shaking. "Touch what?" Asked Lupin.
"The Potion! Snape please tell you didn't touch it!" Harry grabbed Snape's empty hand and held it up, examining it.
"I did not touch your potion Mr.Potter." Snape said quietly. Harry ignored him and continued to examine his hand and then plucked the orb from the man's other palm before he had a chance to react.
"Harry, what potion?" Lupin sounded worried.
Harry ignored him; he was glaring at Snape, clutching the orb to his chest. "That potion has imprinting qualities! If it had confused you for me it would have ruined an entire month's work! At best it would have only blown this building up!" He was resisting a sudden urge to hit the pale man before him.
Snape raised a black eyebrow at him. "Maybe you can explain why you have a Broken Potion simmering upstairs." Harry flushed.
"A what?" yup, Lupin was worried.
" A Broken Potion.' Harry murmured.
"Ah, I see. Well, that clears that up." The werewolf said mockingly. Harry rolled his eyes.
"It's a very malleable potion…it only works when you pour it into these orbs. Each sphere is designed to channel the potion into something different." He pulled out the orb around his neck. "This one prevents the Ministry from tracing my wand magic…or any magic performed by me, actually. I have two in my sock drawer that are protection orbs…this one," –he motioned to the rose coloured sphere- "and the four left upstairs are…well." Harry smiled at them, shrugging his slim shoulders and looking uncannily like Dumbledore. Snape resisted the urge to shudder.
The phone rang. That in itself wasn't unusual, as Harry was living in a muggle flat and a phone was rather necessary. What was different was that Snape jumped and pulled out his wand, glaring, and Lupin started, spilling a bit of his tea. Snickering, Harry ran to get the receiver and motioned for the two men to keep quiet
"HELP!!" Harry yanked the receiver from his ear in alarm. Dawn was on the other end-apparently trying to talk to Harry and yell at someone at the same.
"Harry, you need to get down here! It's bloody bedlam, goddamn football fanatics, Manchestor's not even in the finals-HEY!! PUT THAT TABLE DOWN YOU SODDING-" Harry calmly hung up the phone and faced the wizards, who were staring at the phone in shock. "Er-I think I was just called into work, um…the T.V's in the livingro-…What?" Harry blinked at the two wizards, who were looking rather bemused.
"You work, Potter?" Snape sneered. Harry had a childish urge to blow him a raspberry. Lupin smiled, "I think we would like to join you…sounds like quite a party."
Harry raised his eyebrows, he had a feeling Lupin wanted to keep an eye on him, 'oh well' He thought 'It's their funeral.'
Harry nodded at them and stuck his head back in the fridge, he felt rather foolish, and he didn't like people staring at him. Pulling out two potion bottles he pulled the ribbon out of his hair and uncorked the light green potion. "Used magic to get my hair back to normal…was light brown before, eyes were brown two." He mumbled in their direction, taking a swig of the liquid. He gagged slightly and quickly took a drink from the other bottle, which was blue in color. "Potter…why in Merlin's name do you have that-that potion upstairs?" Snape sounded slightly hysterical. "If the ministry found out you were even considering brewing a potion like that they would throw you in Azkaban!"
Harry rolled his eyes impatiently, tying his-now brown- hair back up with his green work ribbon, which had the name –Nest Egg- printed on it in large black letters. "Look." He snapped. "If it's that bloody important to you; I let you know after work, alright!? You'll just have to wait,"- his voice turned sarcastic- "Think you can manage it?" He sneered at the older man, surprising himself and Lupin. He pulled off his jumper and shrugged into his jacket, walked to the door and opened it. Smiling sarcastically, he waited by the exit, bowing slightly. "After you."
Hallo! This one took a while, characterizing Snape is probably the most difficult thing I've ever tried to write…hope I did it justice. I'm gonna have a full out argument with Harry and Snape…possibly next chapter, and we get to see what's been going on at Hogwarts, and whether Voldemort's doing his bit. Until next time, Cheers!