Chapter 23

Waiting

When Harry woke up the next morning he felt as though he hadn't been asleep more than ten minutes or so. He remained in bed for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of his friends moving about on the other side of the bed hangings. He knew he had to get up and go to his lessons as usual, but he desperately wanted to go back to sleep. He turned on his side. Perhaps just five more minutes, he thought.

'Harry!' he heard Seamus say suddenly. 'I didn't realise you were back.'

Harry sat up, rubbed his eyes, and opened the hangings. All the other occupants of the dormitory were looking at him, Neville and Ron looking particularly concerned.

'McGonagall told us about your great-aunt,' said Dean. 'How is she?'

'Er ... she's dead,' said Harry, remembering what Dumbledore had said about sticking to his story.

'Dead?!' Neville gasped, and Ron's face went pale behind his freckles.

'Er ... yeah,' Harry said hesitantly. 'But ... but all my other relatives are all right,' he went on, looking pointedly at the two of them.

'Oh ... OK,' said Ron, and Harry could see Neville trying to hide a sigh of relief.

Dean and Seamus looked confused. 'I didn't know you were that close to your relatives,' said Seamus. 'I was under the impression that you didn't like them at all.'

'Yeah, well ... I'm not close to them, but they thought it might be suspicious if I didn't turn up at my great-aunt's death bed, you know ... I'll have to go back for the funeral soon, too.'

'C'mon, Harry, let's have some breakfast,' said Ron, apparently eager to find out what had really happened at St Mungo's.

Hermione had been thinking along the same lines, obviously, because she was coming towards them as they came into the common room, carrying a large stack of buttered toast.

'The Fat Lady told me you were back, Harry,' she said as they went down to the lake despite the fact that the sky was an ominous grey colour, and there was an icy cold wind.

They sat down under the tree where Sirius Black and James Potter had once tormented Harry's father, wrapping their cloaks tightly around themselves.

'So, what's going on? How is Professor Snape?' Hermione asked when they had made sure that no other students were in the vicinity.

'Better,' said Harry, unable to suppress a relieved grin.

The others looked relieved too, smiling at Harry.

'He's not back though, is he?' Neville asked.

'No, he isn't out of bed yet,' said Harry, 'but Dumbledore said I could go and visit him when he's feeling better.'

They sat under the tree until their first lesson began, Harry telling his friends about almost everything that had happened since he left Hogwarts the day before. When he got to the part about what Snape's symptoms were, Hermione exclaimed, 'Oh, that sounds just like the curse Dolohov put on me last year in the Department of Mysteries. Although I wasn't half as seriously affected, because he couldn't say it out loud, of course.'

'Do you really think it's the same curse?' Harry said eagerly.

'I think it might be,' said Hermione seriously. 'That's a very dangerous curse, though. Professor Snape's lucky to be alive.'

'But ... but he'll be all right now, won't he?' Harry asked, trying to sound casual. 'I mean, he won't have a relapse, you think?'

'If Healer Smethwyck said he's taken a turn for the better I wouldn't think so,' said Hermione, looking thoughtful. 'But one can never be sure with this type of curse ...'

Harry stared at her, anxiously, and Hermione gave him a smile.

'Don't worry, Harry,' she said. 'I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't move him from St Mungo's if it wasn't safe. Where's he going, by the way?'

'To the Burrow.'

'Oh, well that's excellent,' said Hermione, looking pleased. 'I'm sure Mrs Weasley is just the right person to look after him.'

'Yeah, she's great with sick people, mate,' said Ron. 'Wonder what Fred and George'll say, though.'

'They don't live there anymore, do they?' Hermione snapped. 'So it's none of their business.'

'Well, they go home for Sunday Dinner every week,' said Ron, smirking. But then he noticed the look on Harry's face and quickly put on a blank expression. 'Anyway, it looks like it's going to rain, perhaps we'd better go inside.'

As they were walking through the Entrance Hall they bumped into Ginny and Luna, who were on their way back from breakfast.

'Hello Harry,' said Luna. 'How's your great-aunt?'

'Er ...' Harry looked around. The Entrance Hall was full of people, and he could see a gang of Slytherins, among them Draco Malfoy, standing close by. 'Er ... she's dead.'

'But all his other relatives are just fine!' Ron added quickly.

Hermione looked at Malfoy and his friends, frowning. 'How about a nice walk before our lessons begin?' she said cheerfully.

'Oh, yes,' said Luna. 'What an excellent idea.'

They all nodded and walked out of the castle together for the second time this morning, ignoring the fact that the weather looked even more threatening than before. They went to a corner of the courtyard and huddled closely together in the cold wind, throwing suspicious glances towards the Entrance door every now and then.

'So, Professor Snape's all right?' Luna whispered.

'Well, he's out of danger at the moment anyway,' said Harry.

'Good,' said Luna, smiling dreamily at him.

'Yeah ...' said Ginny hesitantly. 'That's good.' She took a deep breath before she went on. 'Listen Harry ... I'm sorry about what I said the the other day. It's just that I ... I mean, I know he's your father, but I don't understand how you can ... well, how you can forget about everything he's done all of a sudden. How, suddenly, everything he does is all right with you.'

Harry looked at her for a few moments, and when he spoke he chose his words carefully. 'I haven't forgotten about everything he's done, Ginny. I know he's no saint. And I don't think it's all right for him to bully students or ... well, do certain things that he used to do – and sometimes still does. But I know things now that I didn't know before, and the situation isn't as simple as I used to think it was. And even if I don't approve of everything he says or does, he's still my father. Nothing can change that. Ever. And I guess I've just ... accepted that.'

There was an awkward silence, Ginny looking down at her feet, and Hermione, Ron and Neville throwing anxious glances at Harry and Ginny, while Luna stared into thin air, softly humming a Weird Sisters song under her breath.

'Harry's right,' Neville said quietly after a while. 'Professor Snape isn't exactly the most ... likeable person I've met, and I used to be terrified of him. But I know that when it comes to the crunch he's on the right side. And the way the world is today, that's what really matters – not snide remarks and House Points and detentions.'

They all stared at Neville, Ron and Ginny looking impressed. No one seemed to know what to say, but then, suddenly, Hermione said loudly, 'Yes, I agree with you, Neville, Puddlemere United are much better than the Chudley Cannons. You're totally wrong, Ron.'

They all turned to Hermione, staring at her now. Harry was just about to ask what on Earth she was on about when he caught sight of Draco Malfoy, who was standing behind a stone pillar, apparently trying to eavesdrop on them.

'Yeah ...' he said, turning back to the others. 'You're totally wrong, Ron.'

The others, apparently also having spotted Malfoy, nodded in unison, Luna now absent-mindedly humming the Puddlemere United team anthem.

Harry had a hard time concentrating on his work during the rest of the week, which went by very slowly. He kept worrying that McGonagall was going to come and tell him that Snape had taken a turn for the worse, but then again, he kept hoping that she would come and tell him it was time to go to The Burrow.

Nothing happened, however, and Harry was forced to sit through lesson upon seemingly endless lesson, until he seriously considered sending for some Skiving Snackboxes from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. He was also tired of having to endure all the questions about his great-aunt from well-meaning class mates, and he was fed up with not getting any news about his father.

So far, he had acted very sensibly, or so he thought, sticking to the great-aunt story, and doing a great job of pretending that nothing was worrying him. He hadn't once asked Lupin or McGonagall if they knew anything about Snape's condition, for fear that someone might overhear, and every day he suppressed the urge to go to Dumbledore's office and beg him to let him go to The Burrow. He thought that it was rather inconsiderate of Dumbledore that he hadn't thought of the possibility that Harry might be interested to know how his father was doing.

Harry kept his feelings to himself, however, remembering what Tonks had said about keeping his head down. He took some comfort in the fact that Snape was at The Burrow, which, as far as Harry was concerned, seemed the ideal place to be if you were ill. He wasn't so sure that his father was of the same opinion, however ...

Meanwhile, Severus Snape was lying in his bed in a small room at The Burrow. He had been woken by voices, and for a fleeting moment he had hoped that it was Harry who had come for a visit. When he heard Mrs Wealsey's tone of voice, however, he realised that that couldn't be the case.

'Oh, well, if you must,' came her muffled voice through the door. 'Only if he's awake, though. He needs to sleep as much as possible.' Snape moved cautiously where he was lying in his bed, to see if it would hurt to turn over on his side. It still wasn't possible. It didn't hurt as much as it had the last time, though, he noted. That was always something.

Snape wondered who was coming to see him about some urgent matter this time. It felt like he hadn't had a moment of peace since he got here, what with members of the Order constantly bursting in to bring important news or ask silly questions. Didn't they ever communicate? Kingsley Shacklebolt had been here only this morning (or was it yesterday? Snape wasn't sure) to ask Snape some detail about what Narcissa Malfoy was up to, although Snape had already had a long discussion about Narcissa with Tonks the day before. He was sure he had – or had he been dreaming?

There was no end to all these visits by Order members, Snape thought. Yet Harry hadn't been here once. He was his son, after all – if anyone should be visiting him, it was Harry, not all these other people who were continually disturbing him when Healer Smethwyck had stated quite clearly that he needed peace and quiet.

Oh no. It sounded like Lupin. That meddlesome fool, what did he want this time? Talk about Harry as usual? Could he never stop interfering!

Just as he had feared, the door went open and Lupin stepped in. Snape for a brief moment considered pretending to be asleep, but thought better of it. He might as well get it over with, otherwise he'd be back in no time ...

'Severus,' said Lupin, 'you look much better!' He smiled an annoying, well-meaning smile.

'Lupin,' said Snape softly. 'What can I do for you?'

'Yes, well – ' Lupin began hesitantly.

'If it's about Harry again, I can assure you that I shall do my utmost to treat him civilly when he comes to see me,' Snape said smoothly, hoping that Lupin would leave soon.

'Er ... It's not about Harry,' said Lupin, 'it's – well, you know what time of the month it is – the full moon is approaching and, well, I've run out of Wolfsbane Potion.'

Snape groaned. Wolfsbane Potion had to be made fresh every month, so of course there wasn't any for Lupin to take. 'Great planning, Lupin,' he snapped, 'How many days are there until the full moon? It takes at least a week to make Wolfsbane Potion, and you can't expect me to get up and make it here at The Burrow – you'll have to get it elsewhere. Fresh, as you should well know by now.'

'Oh, I was only going to ask you something about it ... When should I add the powdered Moonstone – is it during or after I've added the chopped Dandelion roots and stirred it three times counter-clockwise?'

'Merlin's beard,' said Snape, 'you're not thinking of making it yourself, are you? You'll end up killing yourself.' He gave Lupin a condescending glance. 'Not that that would be a great loss,' he muttered as an afterthought.

'Minerva is helping me,' Lupin said, looking slightly worried nevertheless.

'What about Dumbledore?' said Snape, 'why isn't he making it? He's the only one capable of it in my view.'

'Didn't he tell you he is going to speak in front of the European Confederation of Wizards? He'll be away too long to be able to make the potion in time.'

Snape recalled, at hearing these words, that Dumbledore had indeed told him something to that effect, only he had been to weak and tired to take it in. 'Oh, yes,' he muttered, 'I remember.' He looked at Lupin again, who seemed to be trying to conceal how worried he really was. 'I wouldn't advise you to try making this potion, Lupin ... But if you insist, make sure you add the powdered Moonstone while stirring, not after. And whatever you do, don't forget to add all four table-spoons of salt, otherwise the potion will have no effect whatsoever ... at least not the desired effect.' Snape shuddered at the thought of it.

'All right,' said Lupin, looking grateful but still worried. 'Thank you, Severus. Well, I'll be leaving then. Let you have some peace and quiet.' He gave a little smile and went to the door.

'Er, Lupin,' said Snape just as he was about to open the door. 'How ... how's Harry?'

Lupin turned around. 'He's fine, as far as I know, Severus.'

'What do you mean, as far as you know?' Snape said irritably. 'Haven't you seen him? Talked to him?'

'Of course I've seen him, Severus,' Lupin said evasively. 'He's fine, as I said.'

Snape looked at him suspiciously, but didn't pursue. Instead he sighed and closed his eyes, not bothering to say good-bye. Lupin left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Snape wasn't allowed to rest for long, however, because it was only a short while before there was another knock on the door and it opened again. Snape turned his head to face the visitor, ready to sneer at whoever it was who had the impertinence to disturb him yet again. He wouldn't be surprised if Lupin were back again, with another silly question about the Wolfsbane Potion.

It wasn't Lupin, however, nor was it another member of the Order who came in. It was Harry.

Author's note: I am so sorry about the delay! I can only say that I had quite a lot of trouble writing this chapter, since there had to be some bridgeing but I didn't want it to be too boring. I know many of you are waiting for some Harry-Snape interaction, and I promise there will be some in the next chapter.

Many thanks to my reviewers: George's Brother Fred, RandiWeasley, Chibidaima, aikidobrat, Lady Lily 3, Leggylover03, Climhazzard, Anna Taure, SmellyCat-190, Dius Corvus, GoddessMoonLady, SammyBlack80, Queen-of-Gondor, Hakkai – Gojyo – Goku – Sanzo, HecateDeMort, Volleypickle16, Sierra, sinj, Ezmerelda, sumthynspecial and Shania Maxwell.

Anna Taure: As you may have noticed, Voldemort doesn't play an important role on this story, but he and/or his Death Eaters may make a brief appearance later on ...