Chapter Nine- Reunite
Summoning a dagger, he sprang from the bed and put the blade dangerously against a person's throat.
As swiftly as the metal pressed upon flesh, Harry's wrist was grasped in a steel grip. Long fingers pressed deeply around the bone, shooting pain through to register in Harry's dazed mind. Slowly cognizance reestablished within him, and he gazed up into glinting obsidian eyes. Suddenly he pulled away, recognizing the man before him. The grip on his wrist refused to yield, causing Harry to wrench his arm upwards defensively. As the blade he still held nearly pierced skin, the man jerked back, releasing Harry's wrist.
Stumbling slightly at the sudden freedom, Harry pressed back against a bed. Feeling a sliding of material on his skin, he glanced down, only now seeing that a sheet that had wrapped around him in his haste to stand was all he wore. Harry grasped at the linen, pulling it back up over his hips. Securing the flimsy material around his abdomen, Harry scanned the room skittishly, before turning his eyes back to the man standing in front of him.
"And a pleasure to see you as well, Mr. Potter." A lip curled upward in a sneer as his dark stare bored into the emerald gaze.
"Snape." Harry's voice came out husky, and his throat felt rather torn. His chest was afire, having only been closed and not yet healed. He ignored the pain in favour of regaining his bearings.
"As observant as ever, are we not?" Severus Snape scowled at the boy he had frankly hoped never to deal with again.
Shaking his head, Harry calmed himself, forcing his hand to place the dagger on the nightstand beside him. Snape's eyes followed the movement, sparking with malicious anger.
"Quite a lovely show. Do you wake this way often?" Snape silkily intoned, his voice dripping with cruel honey. That the boy had returned and that he was once more to inflict his presence upon the Potions master was dismaying; that he had threatened him, with a weapon no less, was abominable. Never mind that he had been confused, Severus gave that no care.
Unlike the years before when Snape had known him, Harry attempted no justification, just gingerly settling further against the bed. "I apologize, professor. I was uncertain of what was occurring."
"That much is apparent, boy." Snape spoke sharply, though his eyebrow raised at the apology. "Had you been aware, you would not currently be standing, I can assure you."
Harry renewed his grip on his covering, fighting an urge to roll his eyes. He again scanned around him, registering now that he was not so bewildered that he was in a room that looked familiar. Spotting his trunk near a wall, Harry realized he was back in Grimmauld Place. Sirius and Remus must have brought him back, he figured, though as to where they were now and what Snape was doing here, he had no idea. Noting that the man before him was fighting poorly concealed irritation at Harry's lack of further acknowledgment, he looked at him and forced his smirk to remain hidden.
The couple of years hadn't changed Snape much; he wore, as ever, the stiffly buttoned black robes and his ebony hair still cast his face into stark pallor. The slight wicked tilt of his lips and sharpness of his features made definite that being in his acquaintance did not bode well. Watching the man now, with his trained eye for details and loss of childhood perception, Harry realized the man carried himself with complete confidence. Snape was secure in the knowledge that he controlled his being and could maintain himself in any situation. His movements were smooth, his muscles defined where his robes stretched over them, and Harry wondered just what the man might be capable of.
Catching a shine in the vicinity of the man's side, Harry realized Snape was holding a carrier of vials, all filled what various coloured concoctions that promised distaste. Blinking, Harry looked at them for a moment before abruptly grasping why the man was there. He mentally shook himself, working to get all of his mind back to activity. Once again, Harry glanced up and met the professor's gaze. Snape's eyes glittered dangerously, but nothing else showed upon his face.
Severus refused to admit that the cool appraisal was disconcerting. The entire day had been a startling day of agitation, first the flicker he had noticed of Hogwarts wards, then the headmaster's meeting announcing the return of the bane of Snape's teaching existence. And finally, being called to administer to the intolerable boy, who had successfully managed to have a near death experience within hours of being back. In Severus' most unbiased opinion, Potter would do well to cut the near part of those events. But of course, fate was a cruel mistress and enjoyed observing the dynamic resulting from her manipulations. And so, Potter now stood before him, half nude, stoic, and faintly disturbing.
Scrutinizing the boy, Severus realized that he didn't seem the boy he remembered. His physical form had greatly matured, and he exuded more assurance than arrogance. Potter also had attained a grace, an apparent control of himself, which was seen even when working on instinct, as his smooth and swift attack with the blade had displayed. The Potions master allowed his face to sneer in memory; but the incident was intriguing. And the effortless wandless magic used to summon the dagger after such injury as Potter had sustained made Severus wish to split apart the mystery surrounding him, much as he would a new potions ingredient. The sneer modified to a smirk as he focused back upon the younger wizard.
"Now, Mr. Potter, I have been sent by the headmaster to give you these." Snape placed the carrier on the bed and selected a few vials. "Apparently your talent for trouble has generated a need for you to yet again diminish my stores."
"I assure you, professor, I wish nothing from you. I am certain I can manage." Harry stated calmly. "But perhaps you would be good enough to tell me of Remus Lupin and Sirius?"
Snape stiffened slightly, his lips thinning, before he thrust the potions he held toward Harry. "I wouldn't know where your mutts are, Potter. I'm sure they had more important things to do than watch over you, as I myself do. So if you will."
Harry took the bottles and placed them beside him on the bed. Eyes narrowing, Snape ground out, "If you do not wish to heal, that is your business, but do not take the liberty of wasting what others may need, boy."
"I'll take the potions, Snape."
With a parting sneer, Severus swept from the room and the agitating presence of the Gryffindor golden boy. Realizing outside of the door that he had left the rest of his potions on the bed, he jerked out his wand and snarled a quick summoning charm. As the metal basket reached his hand, he continued stalking down the hall. Turning a corner he pulled up short just before running into a person. Startled blue eyes met his, and glaring at the man, Snape made to move past him.
Sirius blinked then grabbed the Potions master's arm. Severus pushed the man away, pulling his arm up out of the grip, much as Potter had from his. The thought garnered a twist of his lips, and his general disposition appeared quite murderous as he looked at his old nemesis.
"What in Salazar's name are you doing manhandling me, you despicable mongrel?"
Sirius raised his chin slightly, "Oh, shut it, Snivellus. I just wanted to know if you gave Harry those potions Albus told you to."
"I didn't realize the headmaster had set you to watch what I did, Black." Severus made to move down the hall, then turned back. "But don't worry, I did what I was bid. Not that it will do much good in Potter's poor state, I'm afraid." His lips quirked as concern lit in Black's eyes and the man strode away from him. Walking more sedately, he once again moved down the hall.
Sirius reached Harry's room in a rush, bursting through the door. Confused, he watched his godson look at him inquisitively from where he sat on the bed, a vial midway to his lips.
"You're alright," stated Sirius, then he glanced back towards the hall and narrowed his eyes. "That damned snake. Should've known." Turning back to Harry, he said, "Harry, you're awake, thank Merlin. I was so worried."
"Sirius. What's going on?" Harry asked, quickly downing the last potion and raising an eyebrow at his godfather.
"Snape acted like you were in really bad shape," Sirius explained, sitting on the edge of the bed and clasping Harry's hand. "You had been for awhile. I don't really know what was going on, you didn't have a fever or anything. But that wound was so deep and you did lose a lot of blood. Hell, you really scared all of us."
Harry smiled slightly, glancing at the bedspread before again meeting his godfather's eyes. "Sorry, Sirius. I didn't exactly mean for that to happen. And just how long has it been?"
"A little over a day."
Harry's eyes widened as he shook his head. "Damn, that took longer than I thought."
"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked, tilting his head in a manner rather reminiscent of his animal form.
"Nothing, Sirius. Look, I really need to see Dumbledore. As soon as possible."
Sirius raised his eyebrows, but nodded. "All right, I'll go send a message to him."
Harry shook his head, "No, I'd rather go see him, now." As Sirius looked to argue, Harry gestured to his still bare chest, now devoid of angry marks. "I'm fine, truly. Snape's potions completely healed everything. All I need are my clothes. Come on." He stood, still holding up the sheet.
"Okay, okay," Sirius muttered in resignation, relenting his grip on Harry's hand. "But your clothes are past repair, spells aren't good enough to remove that amount of blood. Remus managed to get you some items from the size of those, though. They're on the dresser there." He pointed to the other side of the room. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
Harry sighed and Sirius left the room accepting that as a yes. Moving over to the bureau, Harry saw a pile of clothing with his wand laying on top. Going through it, he extracted a few pieces and quickly dressed. Once done, he threw the sheet back on the bed, replaced his wand and dagger sheaths to their proper places, and twisted slightly to determine if his range of motion had returned. When nothing hurt, he picked up a light cloak and slung it over the simple brown robes he now wore. Opening the door to the bedroom, he was met with the concerned features of his godfather.
"See, all in one piece." Harry stated, smiling wryly. Sirius nodded and walked with him down the hallway, but didn't drop his worried attitude.
Harry sighed again, silently this time, and tried not to think about how he was going to explain anything to his godfather and to Remus without giving up more than he wanted to. When they reached the dank kitchen, they walked over to the fireplace. Each grabbed a pinch of Floo powder.
"Okay, now Professor Dumbledore instructed anyone coming in, to Floo to an empty room adjacent to his office. Apparently he's had to meet with some people through out the day. That way we won't land in the middle of something," Sirius stated, then gestured for his godson to go first. "Just say 'Hogwarts Private Grate'."
Harry nodded and stepped into the hearth. Once he had landed in the other grate, he moved out of the way, brushed soot off his cloak, and glanced around the room he found himself in. It seemed rather nondescript, lending to the suspicion that the headmaster didn't much use it.
With a flare, Sirius arrived and dusted himself off. After a moment, he moved to the door, which apparently had a magical means of seeing through it from their side. Moving next to his godfather, Harry gazed out the fuzzy aperture. The headmaster's office did indeed hold others, as they had been warned against. Harry stilled as he recognized the occupants. Before Dumbledore's desk stood two very familiar forms. Even through the haze of the spying charm, Harry knew the red hair of the taller student and the wavy hair of the other.
Noticing his apprehension, Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a small smile. Slowly he opened the door, allowing them time to hear the last of the conversation before revealing themselves.
"Professor, are you serious? Harry's really back?" Hermione's voice sounded slightly shaky.
"Yes, my dear, I am most serious." Dumbledore glanced at the two in the opening door and the twinkle in his eyes doubled. "But neither of you need believe me. Perhaps you'll trust your senses." With that he gestured behind the two students.
Hermione Granger spun around and stared at her long lost friend. Ron Weasley turned slowly, stiffening upon seeing Harry. Next to Harry, Sirius smiled and nudged him. Glancing at his godfather, he moved forward a couple steps. The next moment he was enveloped in a suffocating hug, blinking brown hair out of his eyes. Hermione clung hard, shaking a little as she cried. Once she was composed enough to pull back, Harry softly grinned at her, then was again strangled in an embrace.
Ron finally stepped back, gazing at his best friend. Abruptly he raised his arm and punched Harry soundly across the jaw.