Come the Maëlstrom

Chapter Thirty Five

St. Mungo's certainly was different from when he had done a year study here. The décor had vastly improved and was more spacious. And it still had that damned annoying pine antiseptic smell to it. It wasn't Severus' choice to come here. After passing along the information to Percy, Albus had suggested they go out and do a bit more canvassing, in the narrowed down area. Of course Albus, being his usual self, had tried to get Ron to go along with him. The pretext was that they had such speedy results so soon after Harry's kidnapping; surely it would work again.

So Severus had gone looking alone and had made the same progress as the search party had for most of the week. He'd come back to Hogwarts tonight, looking for Hermione and he had found her in the infirmary, talking to Weasley, with that blasted boy sitting on his lap and arms wrapped around the redhead's neck. They had looked at him expectantly. Severus didn't even have a chance to get a word out before Albus had come in and pronounced that Harry had been found and was at St. Mungo's.

Before he could say anything, Hermione had grabbed his hands and forcibly dragged him after her. She'd squeezed into the fireplace beside him and then he was stumbling out into St. Mungo's foyer, beating Floo powder from his robes and trying to not have a coughing fit. They had found the waiting area outside the main foyer for visitors. Severus found himself wishing the waiting area was not so far away from the cafeteria. Weasley had made the first coffee run, walking off with the boy holding on tightly to his hand. Going for another cup seemed like a very good idea right now.

Ron was now slouched in a chair, doozing with the boy curled up against him. Hermione was pacing back and forth, stopping to look around every so often. Severus was doing his best to make himself comfortable in the monstrosities that they called chairs; they were lumpy and fraying in parts. Madame Pomfrey had also come along, if only to see what she could do and to set up a proper full check up for the boy Ron had taken in.

They had been there for almost an hour, and no one had come out to see them about Potter. Whatever had happened, Severus thought, must have been serious if the Healers were taking so long.

Hermione finally stopped pacing and sat down beside Severus. He slid a glance towards her and watched as she squirmed, attempting to get comfortable. After a bit, she stood, made an exasperated sound and pulled out her wand.

"I wouldn't recommend that." Severus murmured almost lazily.

"What?" Hermione looked at him. "Why?"

"After a few heated fights here, St. Mungo's had adopted a no spell policy for guests," Severus inclined his head towards a sign that sat directly across from them. "It is enforced policy."

Hermione stared at it for a moment before she took off her robe, folded it into a square, placed it on the chair and then plunked down on it with a scowl. "It's a stupid policy."

He didn't say anything for a moment, watching Weasley snort loudly in his sleep. "For some people perhaps, but there are a rather large number of dunderheads out there that are stopped from spreading their idiocy because of it."

Hermione opted to huff and change the topic. "Why's it taking so long?" she griped as she rose and started pacing again. "This is absolutely ridiculous!"

"I'd have to agree."

Severus glanced down the hall to find a bright yellow and orange haired Tonks walking up to them. She gave them all a tired smile and a wave. Hermione looked at Tonks in relief.

"Well, you'd have some idea of what's taking them so long, right?"

Tonks rubbed at the back of her neck a bit nervously. "Yeah, but I –"

"Ron!"

Severus bit back an exasperated comment. He looked past Tonks to see one of the Patil twins running towards them. Parvati, if the student gossip mill was to be trusted. Ron woke with a start and looked around in confusion, almost upending the boy from his lap. He looked up at Tonks in surprise but when Parvati came to an abrupt stop in front of him, he looked at her in shock.

"Parv?" he shifted the boy from his lap to the chair and rose, looking at her in confusion. "What are you –"

Parvati simply ran forward and hugged Ron tightly before kissing him. Ron looked floundered for a moment before he kissed her back. Severus rolled his eyes when it became apparent that they didn't seem intent on breaking apart after a few minutes. Tonks was snickering and Hermione watched them almost indulgently for a bit before she walked up and forcibly separated them.

"Yes, it's nice to see you again as well." She said crisply.

Ron and Parvati looked at Hermione in surprise. The boy made a small sound and bolted to Ron's side, and clung tightly to his waist. Parvati looked at the boy in surprise and then at Ron.

"It's a long story." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "How did you know I was here?"

"Your mum told me; Dumbledore told her that you were here." Parvati looked around at them all. "What's going on?"

Severus had stood up and waited for all the babble to die down. "That's what we were about to find out before you interrupted Miss Patil." He said in a withering tone.

Parvati looked in his direction like she'd been stung. Severus resisted the urge to sneer and then turned back to Tonks to ask her to continue. At that moment the pair of doors swung open and a healer came out, looking between them all. When her eyes settled on the boy, she smiled and crouched down.

"Hi, I'm Rowan. I'm supposed to give you a check up."

The boy looked at the Healer and then at Ron. Ron bent down, resting his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Don't worry Sterling. She just wants to make sure there's nothing wrong with you. And then she'll bring you right back. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll be here when you get back." Ron said.

Severus watched as the boy nodded his head and slowly walked over to the healer. She offered her hand but it was looked at and promptly dismissed. The healer looked surprised and the shrugged, walking in through the doors. The boy cast one more look at Ron before going in after her.

"Sterling?" Severus finally said.

Ron's face flushed a bit. "That's what he says his name is."

"Okay, look," Tonks said. "Do you guys want to know or not? I can't exactly stay here much longer. I was just sent to see how Harry and Lucius are doing. Somehow the press has gotten wind of this."

"Oh Merlin," Ron groaned.

Severus snorted. "Someone sniffing where they shouldn't be?"

"That's putting it mildly," Tonks said grimly. "Percy's working on getting an injunction against anything in regard to this matter being printed, but he wants to have something to tell them."

"So where did you find them?" Hermione asked.

Severus didn't move as she moved in closer to him. Thankfully Weasley was too wrapped up in what Tonks was saying and Parvati to notice.

"An old wizarding manse in Dover," Tonks said. "There were six Death Eaters; the Lestranges, Augustus Rookwood, Walden MacNair, Narcissa Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew."

"Pettigrew!" Ron asked sharply.

"Yes Pettigrew. And we sent them to Ministry interrogation cells under very heavy guard. So far as I know, Kingsley is conducting the interrogations with Veritaserum, so the complete truth will come out."

Hermione gave a faint sigh of relief. Severus didn't know what she could possibly be so relieved about.

"And Potter's injuries?" he asked brusquely.

"It's not good," Tonks said. "Extensive damage from the Cruciatus curse, not to mention some badly wrenched joints, a good number of deep cuts and it looks like Narcissa attempted to strangle him to death with her bare hands. Lucius was five times worse off. Harry only suffered it for about an hour or more. Lucius went through it for days."

Hermione gave a small gasp and recoiled back against Severus before she spoke. "Will he be all right?"

"I don't know," Tonks said after a moment looking at Hermione and Severus for a moment. "Er, I think you'd better tell Ron too. Seamus has figured it out but I don't know what he'll do. I'll try to contain it as long as I can, but I think it's out the bag now."

"It?" Hermione echoed.

"What you walked in on?" she raised an eyebrow at Hermione.

Severus looked over at Weasley to see confusion now as Hermione nodded her head. Wonderful, it was a good thing that they were in St. Mungo's and sedatives were close on hand.

"Okay, I really have to go see them now and then hurry back to the Ministry. I'll see you all as soon as I can and let you know all right?"

Tonks gave them a quick apologetic smile before she disappeared through the double doors. Severus could see Hermione wringing her hands a bit as she looked at Ron. Ron was looking at her curiously.

"'Mione," he finally asked. "What was Tonks talking about that you two have to tell me about?"

Ron gave Severus a hard look. Severus replied back with a glare and scowl. If there was one thing to relish about this, it would be the pure shock on Weasley's face.

"Why don't you have a seat?" Hermione said.

Ron didn't say anything for a moment. "That never means anything good when you tell me that."

"Ron, just sit down hun," Parvati said. "It sounds like it might be a good idea. Don't want you to faint and hit the floor."

Ron sat down on the chair gingerly, Parvati sitting in the one beside him. Severus' scowl turned into a grimly amused smile, when he saw the way Weasley was holding Patil's hand.

"All right, I'm sitting down." Ron said slowly. "What is it?"

Severus didn't do anything beyond shrugging lightly when Hermione looked at him. Ron's face darkened a bit more.

"What do you and Snape know that I don't?" he demanded.

"Well, we discovered it quite by accident. Needless to say –"

"Hermione, I don't want a bloody explanation," Ron said as he rubbed his temples. "Just tell me, would you?"

Severus watched as Hermione took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"All right," she said. "Here it is: Harry and Lucius are in a relationship."

Ron looked at her, blinked and then broke out laughing. "Yeah, good one 'Mione. Now c'mon, what is it really?"

Severus noted the anxious expression on Patil's face. "She just told you. Potter and Lucius are involved with each other, in an… intimate relationship." He said flatly.

Ron stared at him, the laughter dying from his eyes to be replaced by pure shock. He opened and closed his mouth in rapidly before his face flushed red and he shot up from his seat and started pacing back and forth quickly.

"Whaddya mean Harry's seeing –"

"Shhh!" Parvati said, rising as well. "No one's supposed to know!"

"You knew too!" Ron looked at her incredulously.

"No, but Tonks said she would try and contain it; there is some degree of privacy still expected… I guess." She explained.

Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "You're one of a few people who know."

"What the… I just… how could he!" Ron bellowed. "I'm his best friend and he keeps something like this from me!"

Severus frowned. "Perhaps Potter knew you would react in such a manner. And as to that manner, I suggest that you keep your voice down."

"Or what, huh?" Ron demanded angrily. "And I guess you both have known how about this for a long time too! How long has this has been going on for!"

"My guess is a year or so," Hermione said. "But we have to keep this quiet as –"

"A year!" Ron's face was mottled various shades of red now. "Keep it quiet! Are you kidding me! This is just beyond… I don't know what exactly but it's just… argh!"

Severus could see heads appearing from doorways now, trying to see what was causing the ruckus. Hermione and Patil were both trying unsuccessfully to calm him down and invariably saying the wrong thing in their anxious state. There was probably one way to silence Ron quickly before he ruined everything. He scowled and headed down the corridor. He returned a few minutes later with a young orderly following him. Severus cleared his throat.

"Weasley!" he barked loudly.

"What!" Ron roared, whirling around to face him.

Severus remained unruffled. "Unless you wish to be subdued by orderlies, I suggest you calm down."

Ron gave him a fearsome scowl, not that it had any impact. "Why don't you just bugger off?"

"Ron, now really," Hermione began. "You don't have to get rude. Severus is just as concerned for Harry as we are."

Severus took a deep breath to steel his patience as Ron goggled at Hermione. Hermione had clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes screwed shut in what he could only surmise to be a mental rebuking.

"You're on a first name basis with the greasy git?" Ron demanded in a tight voice

"Yes, I am," Hermione replied as she dropped her hands. "And it would be nice if you didn't call him a greasy git."

"Toadstools don't change their spots," Ron spat angrily. "Just how the hell did you end up on a first name basis with Snape?"

Hermione face flushed and she glanced at Severus. Severus, who had elected to remain silent and in the background, met her gaze and then looked at Ron; for once in his life, Severus had the inkling that Ron actually deserved some credit; the boy took in the look exchanged between him and Hermione and then he paled. Hermione was looking at Ron with trepidation, nervousness evident in her entire body.

Hermione's face flushed and she glanced over at Severus. Severus met her gaze before glancing over at Ron. Severus had the inkling that Ron might actually understand what was going on as he paled. Severus nodded to the orderly.

"Hermione…" Ron began weakly.

"Do you really want to finish that sentence?" Snape asked scathingly. "Your brain might explode if it fully puts the pieces together."

Ron pointed weakly at her and then tried to point to Severus, while making some weak whimpering noises. Before he could say anything the orderly quickly sedated him and he keeled over.

Ron was taken in through the swinging doors Parvati alongside answering the Healer's questions on any reactions he might have had to the sedative. Severus made a noise of scorn in the back of his throat and looked at Hermione. Hermione however was looking at him, aghast.

"Severus!" she finally exclaimed. "Why did you do that!"

"Better than allowing him to start frothing at the mouth once again." Severus said as he settled himself down in a seat.

"But really, you could have given him a chance!" Hermione ran a hand through her hair. "Merlin, the shock alone…"

"Weasley is disgustingly resilient," Severus replied dryly. "I'm quite sure he'll be fine."

Hermione's face darkened. "Severus Snape," she hissed as she walked up to him. "We are going to have a good talk about what is appropriate and inappropriate as to how to calm people down! Having orderlies sedate them is not included under appropriate!"

"What a shame, it worked so well." He replied with a sneer in his voice.

"Honestly, you are the most horribly incorrigible bastard I've ever know!" Hermione threw her hands up in exasperation. "There are times I think you don't have a compassionate bone in your body! But then you go and do something that just proves me wrong."

"Yes, I'm all pink hearts, fluffy bunnies and overall caring." He snorted derisively.

Hermione stared at him before she snorted and turned away from him quickly. "We're still having that talk you know."

"I expect no less," he replied; he had a sneaking suspicion that she was smiling. "Would you have the decency to face me when we are talking?"

"You can still watch my back for a bit longer. Funny as your comment was, I'm still put out with you." she finally said.

"Then you shouldn't be smiling." He finally said, noting how her cheeks had plumped.

She said nothing for a moment. "I hate you."

"Such flattering words you speak." He said dryly.

Hermione finally turned around and faced him. Then she came and sat down in the seat beside him and crossed her arms, trying to still look mad. He simply watched her for a moment. She uncrossed her arms with a defeated sigh and shifted, resting her head on his shoulder.

"The talk can wait until later. I just want to know that Harry's all right."

Severus closed his eyes for a moment before he reached over and took one of her hands. She didn't look up at him but she gave his hand a small squeeze. It looked like it would be a long night for the both of them.

"Oi! Severus! Wakey wakey!"

The words were followed with a pat to the face. His eyes snapped open, making the person jump back in surprise. This time it was dark indigo hair that greeted him, as well as Tonks' startled expression. He looked around, realising he was still in the visitor lounge area. Weasley was sitting over in a seat, staring at his knees and looking pensive. Patil was dozing and Sterling was sitting on her lap, playing with her fingers. Albus was there as well now, munching on something that looked suspiciously like lemon drops. He started to move but found a weight against him. He looked over and found Hermione's dozing form. He shifted her weight, making sure she was rested evenly against the chair. She stirred a bit and then fell back into sleep. He looked up at Tonks to find her looking at him expectantly.

"What is it?" he asked curtly.

"The Healer says Harry can have two visitors and two visitors only. I asked Ron but he says he doesn't want to see Harry yet. Dumbledore's going and I thought you might like to."

"And the time?"

"Just afternoon," Tonks said cheerfully. "The cafeteria is having steak and kidney pie for lunch if you're hungry."

Severus shook his head irritably and rose, stretching the kinks out. He felt a slight twinge from his lower back. That's what he got for staying up half the night and then falling asleep in these damned chairs. Tonks watched him for a moment before she motioned to Dumbledore to follow after her. It didn't take Severus long to realise that they were heading towards the critical care unit. Apprehension grew as they approached the section painted blue. That was the ward for the most critical, usually fatal, of injuries; just how bad could Potter's injuries have been? The apprehension quickly vanished as they turned off into a smaller room just before the blue section. There were only two occupants in the sunny room. Lucius was fast asleep, his chest moving in a steady rhythm.

Potter, on the other hand, was awake and looking out the window that his bed was by. He didn't look at them when they stepped in the room.

"Healer Sargad says you've both got about twenty minutes," Tonks murmured. "And don't stay longer or she'll have your hides."

Severus didn't say anything as Tonks slipped from the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. Albus walked over and settled himself down in the chair by Potter's bed. Moving quietly, Severus contented himself to look out the window. It looked out onto a park where two parents and two children were playing, along with their dog. Besides, if he sat in a chair his back might protest again. He could just listen to whatever Albus and Potter discussed.

"Harry, it's wonderful to see you looking well." Albus said in a happy voice.

"I've been better." Harry replied after a moment. His tone was quite flat. "Broken ribs aren't fun. They heal those slowly. Don't want anything growing too fast and poking into a lung. It's barely worse than drinking Skele-Gro. Though Healer Sargad says I'm lucky I don't have much more extensive nerve damage. Between the blood loss, oxygen deprivation and severe nerve damage, I've lost some feeling in my right arm, especially my hand. Apparently adrenaline was the only thing that stopped Narcissa from actually being able to strangle me to death without much resistance."

Severus glanced over and could see angry purple black bruises on his neck with what looked like gouge marks on his neck and left cheek.

"My dear boy," Albus began a bit sadly. "This could have been avoided."

Harry remained silent for a long moment. "Blood magic only protected me from Voldemort."

Severus glanced at Albus to find him looking sadder at Potter's implication. So, Albus did know and did nothing about it.

"Harry, it was the best place for you. It kept you safe and –"

"Then you've got a weird definition of safe." Harry bit out. "Want to tell me what it is? I'd sure like to know."

Albus didn't say anything for a long moment. "I'll admit your relatives are a bit adverse to magic –"

Harry gave a sharp bark of laughter that broke off into a hiss as he clutched at his sides. It took him a few moments before he relaxed and sank back into the pillows.

"You're using the word very loosely," Harry said, still looking out the window.

"– but it was what was available at the time." Albus finished after a moment.

"And nothing else came up later on?" Harry asked, shifting a bit, so he was sitting a bit more upright.

Now it was Albus' turn to not say anything for a moment. "There were opportunities that seemed ideal at the time but weren't right."

"Or weren't safe?"

"There was that factor. Harry, I only had your best interests at heart."

"Uh huh, I'll bet," Harry snorted. "So, let me see if I've got this right. You figured the best place for a wizard to grow up was in the household of an extremely magiphobic Muggle family and leave him there for eleven years. Then you invite him to a magical school, assuming he would know that he was a wizard and said magiphobic relatives would have told him and actually let him go willingly. Oh, and let's not forget the little thing of training him to be a stealthy murderer. Merlin knows the crash course in Apparation was even more useful to that end."

This had to be the first time Severus had ever seen Albus thoroughly discomforted.

"You aren't a murderer Harry." Albus finally said.

"Oh, I'm not? Then tell me, what was it that I did to Voldemort? Just walked up to him and politely asked him to die?"

Albus had nothing to say and Harry gave a disgusted sound.

"You can dress it up any way you want. But when you still look at it, it's murder; cold blooded, premeditated murder. You had me murder for you."

"It was prophesied that one of you would die. I only wanted to make sure that you lived."

"No, I think I was supposed to die as well," Harry finally said. "And between the loving home you put me in, and everything else everyone else expected me to deal with, I was well on my way to taking care of that."

"Harry –" Albus began.

"You know why I was becoming so introverted?" Harry said almost rhetorically. "There was a reason."

Albus sighed. "I would like to hear the reason."

"If I did survive the final battle with Voldemort, I was planning on using avada kedavra on myself."

Severus looked over sharply at Potter, seeing him still looking out the window. But that face was cold, jaw set resolutely.

"Between killing him and dealing with everything everyone wanted me to do, killing myself seemed like the easier thing to deal with. Just aim my wand at myself and watch my green death come towards me. I thought it would be easier on everyone if I was being distant for a good while before."

"It would be nice if you could tell me what changed your mind." Albus said.

Harry turned his head slowly to watch Albus. "That is my own business. Not yours."

Albus was looking intently at Harry. Severus watched them regard one another for a few minutes; surely Albus wasn't attempting to use Legilimancy on Potter. But sure enough, a minute later, Albus broke off the gaze and Harry had an angry scowl on his face.

"Did you think I really meant take a look through my mind? Not that you got anywhere there." Harry said acidly. "Don't you think it's a bit late to be offering explanations and apologies?"

Albus sighed and turned to look at Lucius' still sleeping body. Harry's eyes narrowed. There was a momentary flicker of magic in the air and next thing Severus knew Albus' head was dragged back by an invisible force.

"Don't even try it. You've got a funny set of scruples. Does it not count if the person's asleep and thinks they're dreaming?" Harry glowered at Albus. "He defended me when the Death Eaters attacked and I won't let you go picking through his mind."

Severus looked at Albus in slight consternation. How very glad he was to be a superb Occlumens. Albus didn't say anything else. Harry snorted and looked back out the window. "I'm done talking to you."

Albus rose and made his way to the door, slipping out quietly. Severus continued looking out the window for a bit longer before he spoke.

"You should know that Tonks is certain that Finnegan has figured out about you and Lucius somehow."

"Damn it," Harry cursed. "Once he showed up and petrified Narcissa, I can barely remember anything. Everything before that was so clear."

"Obviously a result of the adrenaline," Severus said.

"Obviously," Harry said. "I was really hoping Draco would be here."

"For a particular reason?"

"Yeah, so I can yell at the idiot!" Harry exclaimed. "Honestly, who invites in a sixteen year old stranger in to someone else's house when they're there at one in the morning? Really! Tell me who? Besides that big idiot that Lucius calls his son."

Severus watched as Harry huffed, looking out the window as he shook his head.

"But that was the one flaw in my wards. I had them set so I had to give someone permission to enter my flat. But apparently the same extended for anyone I had invited to my flat. They just had to invite some, and in they could come."

"And you'll be resetting them?"

"You'd better believe it." Harry said. "I can't wait to get out of here." He paused for a bit. "Lucius is going to be in here for three more weeks."

"I daresay he'll be pleased to have spent a month in here, and a week of that asleep."

"Well, Healer Sargad said he would heal faster if he was asleep," Harry smiled. "I think she was angry at him for getting so beat up again. Apparently this isn't the first time that he's landed in here because of a woman."

"I have no doubt," Severus replied. "And you are to leave when?"

"Six more days. The ribs are going to take three more days to grow properly, then they keep me for forty eight hour observation." Harry didn't say anything for a moment. "Apparently my ribs were on the verge of splintering and causing even more problems. So they vanished them and put in magical channels for the bone to follow as it regrows. It feels weird as hell."

"Ribs are much easier to deal with. The spinal column and skull pose even greater complications."

Harry closed his eyes. "I don't even want to think about that. But I think I'm going to try and get some sleep. I barely got any last night."

Severus nodded his head and started to turn, stopping. "Weasley knows as well now."

Harry looked at him in surprise. "What? Ron? How?"

"Tonks advised us to tell him. I think she assumed it best that he hear it from friends rather than find it out from a newspaper. Which, might I add, is entirely possible now."

"Oi…" Harry took a slow, measured breath. "He must have blown his top."

Severus gave a sardonic smirk. "He did… and then Hermione let something slip."

"Something."

"She addressed me by my first name; Weasley picked up on that rather quickly in his agitated state."

"What happened?"

"I simply warned him against putting the pieces together, then had an orderly sedate him."

"You might as well have said, 'I'm dating Hermione'," Harry gave an amused snort. "She must have been thrilled with you."

"Apparently we're going to have a talk."

"Brave man. I'm glad I'm not you."

Severus simply looked at Harry for a moment before he walked to the door. He had opened it when Harry spoke again.

"Would you tell her and anyone else out there to see me to go home and rest? I'm not about to die now."

Severus gave a nod of his head and left the room. He found Tonks leaning against the wall, looking at him. He gave her a cursory nod and started down the hall back to the waiting area. She fell in step beside him.

"Man, what happened in there? Dumbledore just came out and he looked depressed!" Tonks exclaimed. "Dumbledore is never depressed."

"That is a private matter between Potter and Albus. If you ask the may tell you something. Though that something will most likely be to mind your own business."

"Oh c'mon! Just one little thing."

"No." he said flatly.

"Please?"

"No."

"It's not going to kill you!"

"Is there something terribly difficult to understand about the word no?"

"No," Tonks said, falling silent for a moment. "Please?"

"No!" Severus bristled. "Go bother Valerian if you must bother someone."

"Can't; he's too busy. Apparently Lucius' parole is being re-examined in light of recent events and new information," Tonks grinned. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say he won't have parole anymore. It'll be completely revoked. He'll be a free man."

"Good, then I won't have to suffer stupid, pointless questions from you anymore."

Tonks didn't say anything for a moment. "So you really won't tell me anything?"

"No!"