Harry Potter and the Soul of the Serpent

Chapter 11

Betrayals and Unwanted Debts

Standard Disclaimers Apply

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"The Dark Lord grows ever more suspicious, though of who I cannot tell," Snape told Dumbledore, who nodded gravely.

"Your work is valued, Severus."

"I fear he will find out about Katherine."

"She is well protected, Severus. She cannot be hurt."

"Potter can hurt her."

"He won't hurt her, Severus."

"Maybe not intentionally. He is becoming a cause for concern."

"We must let him come to his own conclusions this time."

"What if he comes to the wrong conclusions? I know what the Dark Lord has offered him."

"Have faith, Severus. The boy will pull through."

"How can I have faith in someone who has lost all of theirs?"

"I'm not sure he has."

"He told me he has."

"Indeed."

"His actions greatly disturb me. He is greatly accomplished at Occlumency now, yet he still has visions."

"Yes. I have wondered about this. Maybe he intentionally lets them in. Maybe it is simply something that we know nothing about, something not to do with the mind."

"The soul?"

"I have wondered, Severus. Harry obviously does, too."

"You think he can defeat the Dark Lord with the Dark Arts?"

"No."

"I think we underestimate his abilities."

"How so?"

"He has trouble with simple charms, yet is quite adept at more advanced magic. It is strange, Dumbledore."

"Indeed it is, Severus old friend."

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The Potions class was all but over, and the students were packed up, waiting for their sour-faced professor to speak. He did not look up from his work, however, and soon whispers had broken out.

Harry Potter, however, was not talking. He was listening, with avid attention, to a conversation a hundred miles away.

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Severus Snape was startled into looking up as a harsh hissing sound echoed from the rear of his classroom. He stood up immediately, as students turned to look at Harry Potter with startled expressions.

"Out!" Snape ordered at once. "Class dismissed. Get your things and leave."

The class responded to the venom in his voice, and all but three left immediately. Snape was halfway across the room before he saw them lingering.

"Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, Katherine, leave now," he hissed. Katherine left with a worried look at Harry, Granger shot a venomous look at Snape, and Malfoy, the spoilt brat, looked as though he was missing out on a particularly juicy sweet.

Snape sealed the door behind them and knelt in front of Harry's desk. The hissing issuing forth from Harry's mouth became louder, and its sound was indescribably evil.

"Potter! Potter, wake up!"

Harry was sitting in his chair, back stiff and straight, arms rigid and clasping the front of his desk. His eyes were wide and staring at a point straight over Snape's shoulder. With a start, he realised his scar was a vibrant red against his face, small droplets of blood forming around the edges. Suddenly his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and Snape felt chills run down his spine at the eerie sight.

Snape grabbed Harry's wrist- it was cold as ice. Nothing he did proved to have any effect, and Snape was finally forced to accept the fact that he would simply have to wait for the episode to pass.

Suddenly the hissing stopped, and in the abrupt quiet that followed, Snape leaned in front of Harry. His eyes snapped back to the front again, staring straight into Snape's.

And as Severus Snape grabbed his arm in pain, Harry Potter uttered two damning words.

"He knows."

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A/N: I apologize for the length, but I just had to end it therePlease review!

Chapter 12: A Man Worth Saving