Harry Potter and the Soul of the Serpent
Chapter 5
A Necessary Evil
Standard Disclaimers Apply
oOoOo
The sun was shining. Harry wondered how he could ever have taken such a thing for granted.
The clean, fresh air was a welcome change from the decaying stench of his cell. His cell. How sad that he had come to think of it as his own. Harry opened his eyes to see the Hogwarts hospital wing. The soft white sheets were tucked in around him and a glass of water sat on the table by his bed.
Sitting up, he took a sip. The sweet water trickled down his sore throat. He had not tasted clean water for- how long had it been? He looked down at his wrist and saw that he no longer wore the heavy metal band that identified him as a criminal. He rubbed his wrist as the memory of when it had been placed on him flashed in his mind.
A man in plain black robes strode up to Harry and began talking, but Harry wasn't listening. He was focussed on the crowd out in the court room, whom he could hear through the wooden door. He looked down as something cold closed around his wrist and realised what it was. His heart began beating faster.
A moment later he was led out to the chair, a hundred people staring down at him. There were the Weasleys, Hermione, and Dumbledore in the front row. Behind them were a few of his teachers and a pale, dark-haired girl. Harry barely had time to wonder who she was before a woman began speaking to him. Harry vaguely recognised her as someone Bones.
Harry shook his head to clear the unpleasant thoughts away. He wondered why he had been released. Maybe they needed him to kill Voldemort. He snorted. Well if that was the case they could find someone else. He wasn't going to do their dirty work any more.
Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Spotting a spare set of robes hanging over a chair, he pulled them on. There didn't seem to be anyone in the room, and Harry decided he wanted to go for a walk. He walked barefoot to the door and opened it carefully. There was no one in the corridor.
Harry made his way down to the Great Hall. The enchanted ceiling was a welcome sight.
It was outside the Great Hall that Harry first ran into someone, and he realised that it must be the holidays, as there were no students around. He tried to shrink back into the shadows, but the man caught site of him.
"Potter!" His voice was just a sour as usual.
Harry stared at him, not answering, but stepped forward.
"What are you doing out here?"
Harry contemplated his answer before replying.
When he spoke, his voice was raspy. How long was it since he'd used it?
"I've no wish to speak to you, Snape."
He made to open the door, but Snape moved in front of him.
"Potter, you should be resting, not going outside."
Snape noticed the lack of expression on Harry's face and scowled. Potter was not one to hide his emotions. His eyes were dull and he was awfully skinny.
"How are you feeling?"
Harry looked at him, somewhat surprised.
"What do you think?" he asked calmly.
"I don't know Potter. I've never been in Azkaban before."
"How long?" Harry said abruptly.
"Excuse me?"
"How long was I in there?"
"Just over a year. The school year ended two weeks ago."
"A year…" he said softly.
"Yes, Potter, and I believe I asked how you felt. Come now, this is important."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why is it important?"
"Because you are not well, Potter! Now stop playing games, or I shall take you straight back to the hospital wing!"
Snape realised with a start what Harry was referring to. Surely the well-being of a murderer didn't matter.
"You should know that you have been cleared of all charges. I will let the Headmaster explain."
Harry nodded slightly.
"I feel fine. I know where the Headmaster's office is."
Harry turned and walked back through the Great Hall, leaving Snape standing there.
Liar, thought Snape. Potter was not fine.
oOoOo
Harry stood in front of the stone gargoyle, prolonging the moment when he would have to face Dumbledore.
"Fizzing Whizbee…"
"Chocolate Frog…"
"Er…Sherbet Toffees…"
The statue sprang to the side and Harry reluctantly stepped onto the sliding staircase.
It was all too soon that he stood in front of the doors leading to Dumbledore's office. Hesitantly he knocked on the door.
"Enter," came his voice from inside.
Harry slipped through the doorway to see Albus Dumbledore at his desk, writing what appeared to be a letter.
Harry stood there until Dumbledore looked up.
"Harry!" He said with a start. He stood up and gestured to the seat in front of his desk. Harry reluctantly obeyed.
"You came here on your own?"
"Yes. I woke up and decided to go for a walk. Snape caught me."
"Professor Snape, Harry."
Harry turned fierce green eyes on Dumbledore.
"Does it really matter? I spend a year in Azkaban and all you can say to me is that?" Harry fumed.
"Professor Snape deserves proper respect for all he's done, Harry."
Harry couldn't believe it.
"Like the respect he shows me? All he's done? I suppose what I have done pales in comparison, then."
"No, Harry. Nobody should have to go through what you have."
"You didn't believe me. No one did. You could have saved me from that, but you spoke against me!"
"That is true," said Dumbledore quietly.
"So why am I out now?"
"A few weeks ago there was an attack on Azkaban. Lord Voldemort wished for you to be dead. We caught a Death Eater who revealed that he had helped to frame you."
"Who?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
Harry drew in a deep breath and nodded slowly.
"What about Sirius? Is his name cleared too?"
"It is. If he were alive today, he would be a free man."
Fool! It's his fault Sirius is dead and he has the nerve to say that!
Harry looked away.
"There is one other thing," said Dumbledore.
"After you went to Azkaban, we found Sirius' will. He left most of his assets to you and Remus Lupin. I believe the Black fortune was quite extensive."
Harry nodded and got up to leave.
"Harry, you will be staying here at Hogwarts from now on. You may stay in Gryffindor tower. We will sort out other issues later."
Harry nodded and left the room. Dumbledore had implied just what Harry had been thinking. He had nowhere else to go.
Once free of the tyranny of Dumbledore's office, Harry breathed deeply. He needed to get out. He needed freedom. He needed… something. He felt empty inside. His life was one big game, and he was a pawn. He could certainly be sacrificed, that he now knew.
Slowly he made his way up to Gryffindor tower. With a start he realised he didn't know the password, but the Fat Lady let him in without it, telling him they didn't need passwords when there were no students. It was just as he remembered it; red and gold in all its glory. He did not belong here.
Surrounded by the strong, vibrant colours he had once been so proud of, he felt weak, downtrodden. With a start he remembered the promise he had made to himself so long ago. Did that count now? Could he really defy Dumbledore, who virtually controlled every aspect of his life? Azkaban, he realised, had repercussions that would carry on long into the future. He had missed a year of schooling. When would he catch up? Where were his belongings? His photo album, the one thing he treasured above all others, must be somewhere.
Harry turned and pushed the portrait open so fast the Fat Lady screamed, and he could hear her yelling after him until he reached the next floor. He wondered what was happening in the world. He had lost a year of his life, and again, it came down to Voldemort.
You have love, Harry. It is something that Voldemort cannot understand.
Harry gave a mocking laugh.
Yeah right.
Love wasn't going to defeat the Dark Lord. Love wasn't powerful. It wasn't love that had made him this way. Dumbledore may care about him, he wasn't sure, but he saw his way of life as a necessary evil. It wasn't love he needed; it was something far more powerful. Harry cursed the world for what it had given him, and realised the entirety of the change Azkaban, or something else, had wrought in him.
You taught me to hate.
oOoOo
Chapter 6: New Beginnings
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