TITLE:    A Gryffindor Tried and True

AUTHOR:   Meercat

LONGER SUMMARY: Harry Potter dislikes Severus Snape. Severus Snape loathes Harry Potter. No one is more shocked than the Hogwarts Potion Master when Harry takes a potentially fatal spell to save the Death Eater turned Phoenix spy. Harry's sole hope of survival lies with Severus Snape, Hermione Granger, and, of all people, Neville Longbottom.

AUTHOR'S NOTE #1:  This is my first HP fic. Come June 21, 2003, it will most certainly become an AU fic. (YIPPEE--BOOK FIVE!!!) Something tells me Neville Longbottom has some role to play in JKR's future HP novels. There's a reason why he is a Gryffindor. This is my way of spotlighting the traits that make him worthy of that House.

AUTHOR'S NOTE #2: To Dragon Fairy: Your wish is my command. J

Chapter 2

     Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, rushed into the hospital wing with a most uncustomary haste. Dark green robes flowed about him. Long white hair and beard billowed, and a concerned gaze stared at Severus over the rim of gold-framed glasses. Autumn leaves fluttered away from his robes to litter the floor behind him.

     "What happened?"

     Severus Snape lay on a far corner bed in the hospital wing, undressed except for the filthy remnants of his trousers and a light sheet thrown over his lower legs. Angry red whelts rose in straight lines across his muscular chest and back, while bloody scrapes and raw burns crisscrossed his arms. Blood--some dry, some still glistening moist--coated his right arm from shoulder to fingertips like a thick coat of scarlet paint.

     "It seems Voldemort suspected a spy in his ranks. I, unfortunately, fell into his trap."

     Albus' hands skimmed over the younger wizard's back and shoulders, as though scanning for injuries. His expression turned anxious.

     "How badly are you hurt?"

     "A few minor hexes and occasional--dammit, be careful-" He glared at Pomfrey. "-cuts and scrapes. Nothing serious."

     Dumbledore stared over his dark head to the mediwitch for confirmation. "Poppy?"

     "This sword slash on his shoulder is the worst of it, though the blood lose makes it serious enough." Pomfrey glared right back at her patient. "The hexes were easy enough to remove, but he won't be leaving here for at least a day. Two if he argues with me about it."

     Snape growled low in his throat and gnashed his teeth but settled onto the bed without further objection. His attention seemed set on the view from the nearest window, where brisk autumn winds worked hard to defoliate many of the trees.

     Dumbledore deflated in relief. He took a deep, calming breath then said, "Tell me precisely what happened."

     "As I said before," Snape pulled his attention off the view and back to the conversation at hand, "Voldemort suspected someone close to him was working for the light. He set a trap, gave each member of his inner circle a different piece of false information."

     Albus nodded. "The apothecary in Knockturn Alley."

     "Precisely. We raided the place and found nothing. Voldemort, however, discovered which of his Death Eaters had betrayed him."

     Dumbledore waved a hand toward the mass of injuries that marred the younger wizard's entire upper body and the milky pallor of his habitually pale skin.

     "And this happened at last night's summons?"

     "Yes. I arrived, only to find Malfoy and four others waiting for me. I won't go into extended detail. Suffice it to say they were more than happy to do their best to take me down. I disapparated a bare instant ahead of a stupefy spell."

     "This is unfortunate but not entirely unexpected. It was only a matter of time until Voldemort found you out. It was to our benefit that you held out for as long as you did."

     "To be perfectly honest," Snape admitted, "I'm a bit surprised to have escaped alive."

     "As am I. Take care, Severus," the Headmaster warned. "You are now quite high on Voldemort's list of most hated people."

     Snape drew his attention off Poppy as the mediwitch sealed the slash with a sticky, purple salve. The former Death Eater raised a sardonic eyebrow.

     "As high as young Mr. Potter perhaps?"

     Dumbledore was in no mood for humor, even the dark kind.

     "Do not joke about this. Voldemort's assassins, or an enterprising young Death Eater in search of his master's favor, will try to kill you the first chance they get. If you leave the school grounds, you will be vulnerable. To be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely certain you're safe even on Hogwarts grounds."

     "I am aware of the danger, Headmaster," Snape said. "I will be careful. And I am also aware of the defenses you have placed around the school, its environs, in and around Hogsmead, and even around certain people, myself and the aforementioned Mr. Potter included." He pointed to his own body and said, "I daresay they played a key role in limiting the damage."

     Dumbledore stared away, embarrassed. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

     "Not notice when someone tries to protect me? Really, Headmaster."

     "Hmmmmm."

     A rush of rosy color stained Snape's white skin. "And . . . thank you for caring."

     Albus smiled and laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "It was my pleasure. I will do all that is necessary to safeguard those I care about. And that includes you, my friend."

     The Headmaster turned to leave. He paused in the doorway when Snape said, "It's an odd thing."

     "What is?"

     "Having a friend."

TBC