Crescomellonnin: Oh, I hadn't even realized I spelled Remus wrong. Thanks,
I'll get on fixing that immediately.
Ginnygal189: Don't worry the slash will be very mild and off to the side.
Padfootfe: Well, there's one more tragic event I have planned before Harry starts to really loose it.
Opal: No, it's just going to be a nice Snape, although I was thinking of writing a separate HPSS, if anyone would be interested.
All: I'm glad everyone like the last chapter. Thanks for the reviews and please enjoy.
CHAPTER TEN-SURPRISING CONFUSSIONS
Neville waited until Snape had disappeared into the hospital wing before turning and darting at top speed to the Gryffindor common room. When he finally clambered through the portrait hole he was completely out of breath.
"Trying out for the Sprintzy track team are you", Fred joked seeing Neville panting.
"No...it's...about...Harry..."He said between breaths. At the mere mention of Harry's name, nearly everyone in the common room raced over to form a tight circle around Neville. Among those were Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and a few other first and second years.
"What about Harry", George urged.
"I think Snape killed him", Neville blurted out.
"What? But there's no way", Seamus shouted.
"Yah and anyways Dumbldore would never let something like that happen", Dean added.
"But I saw Snape carrying Harry into the hospital wing and there was blood dripping from him", Neville argued.
"Well everyone knows how much Snape hates Harry", One of the other students added.
"But he'd get life in Azkaban for that."
"What if Snape's really a death eater working for you-know-who." The comments soon erupted into a huge heated debate among the whole Gryffindor house.
"I say we all go to the hospital wing and see for ourselves", Ginny nervously stated, hoping with all her heart that Neville was wrong. Everyone nodded in agreement and the group marched out of the common room.
As they were rounding the corner to the hospital wing, Snape emerged looking as slimy and dangerous as ever. The group of Gryffindors stopped dead in their tracks.
Snape stared at them with a look that could kill, before hastily growling," Isn't class about to start? What are you all doing here? You can't possibly all be sick." No one said a word. Everyone was too afraid of what Snape might do to them if he suspected they knew. Loud gasps erupted throughout the group, as people began to notice the blood on Snape's robes. Immediately the group of Gryffindors turned and darted away.
As soon as they were far out of earshot George spoke, "Ok, let's meet at lunch outside the hospital wing when Snape is gone and check it out." The group once again nodded in agreement and dispersed just as the Hogwart's bell rang: signaling the beginning of class.
The next class of the day for fifth year Gryffindors was defense against the dark arts with the Ravenclaws. Neville, Dean, and Seamus scurried quickly to class, afraid that at any moment Snape was going to jump out from some hidden corridor and attack them. When they finally got to the classroom they found the door open and the students already in their seats. The three quickly went and took seats behind Ron and Hermione, both of whom were looking devastated.
Immediately the three boys began hastily whispering to Ron and Hermione about what had happened. "Harry...", "...Snape...", "...blood...", "...hospital...", "...dead...", and "...killed..." was about all Ron and Hermione were able to make out of the jumble of hushed voices.
"All right calm down. Now again, but one at a time", Hermione whispered back.
"All right", Neville began," I was standing by the hospital wing when I saw Snape approaching. He was carrying Harry and there was blood all over him."
"Yah and so we decided to go check it out and then Snape came out of the hospital wing", Dean continued.
"And he was covered in blood, so we've decided to go back to the hospital wing during lunch. Are you coming?" Seamus finished. Ron and Hermione looked at each other with shocked and terrified expressions, and after a moment of silence they both nodded.
Meanwhile, back in the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey had just finished changing Harry's bandages and fixing him up. He was still unconscious. She gave Harry a sad look and then spoke: more to herself then Harry.
"Why do you keep getting up? You need to stay in bed and get your rest or your going to hurt yourself more." Madame Pomfrey sighed as she cleaned up the old bandages, now soaked with blood, and left for her office.
Harry lay there fast asleep, but not for long. Only minutes later he woke up. He looked quickly around the empty room after remembering what had happened in the dungeon. He began to wonder if perhaps he had only imagined Peter being there. He sighed inwardly to himself before looking around himself again. There was no one anywhere. Harry didn't want to be alone, not when he had such a bad feeling. He got out his time card and after glancing at the clock once again, looked at his next class.
"Alright, Defense against the dark arts", Harry whispered to himself. It was by far his favorite class, ever since Professor Lupin had taught it. Harry once again got quietly out of bed, and made his way out of the hospital wing: this time being very careful not to run into Filtch again.
Although he was no longer bleeding and was wrapped in clean new bandages, the front and sleeves of his robes were soaked in blood. Harry didn't notice though, so he tried to make his way to class as if nothing had happened. He knew he was injured, but the only thing he ever wanted was to be normal, to be treated like everyone else. So the only thing on his mind was to get to class, even if he couldn't do magic, 'Sirius was probably right I just need rest', even if Wormtail was loose again,' It was probably just my imagination', even if he was injured,' I'm feeling a little bit better.' He soon reached the Defense against the dark arts' classroom.
The door was closed and he was leery to open it. He didn't know what to expect from his classmates or from his new defense against the dark arts professor, whom he had no idea who it was this year. They had had a new professor every year, and not all of them had been good.
He finally collected up his courage and opened the door. Instantly the stairs of dozens upon dozens of eyes were upon him. Whispers and gasps rang throughout the classroom. Harry lowered his head and made his way to the back of the classroom. He sat down in a seat far removed from everyone else. No one said a word.
After a moment he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Still looking down, he shivered as to what was undoubtedly his new professor standing over him.
"Sorry I'm late but I was held up and I didn't want to be any later so I didn't get a chance to get my book or my wand", Harry explained quickly, hoping he wasn't going to get into to much trouble. But what Harry heard next came as a huge shock.
It was Sirius's voice. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing here, Harry? You're supposed to be resting." Harry looked up into the sympathetic eyes of his godfather.
"Sirius? What are YOU doing here?"
"Well...surprise. I'm your defense against the dark arts professor." A smile spread across Harry's face. "I still think you should be resting though."
"Don't worry lunch is next and I promise I'll go take a nap and rest, but please let me stay." Harry's eyes were pleading and Sirius just couldn't say no to those precious little puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, but I want you to go to the hospital wing and stay there all of lunch and I'm going to check on you, is that..." Sirius had finally noticed the blood all over Harry's front and sleeves. "Harry! What happened? Why are your injuries bleeding again?" Harry lowered his head and starred at his desk while fumbling with his robes.
"Well...I...You see..."
"Come on Harry! Tell me please!"
"I guess I was just being careless, that's all." Sirius knew Harry was lying, but why? He decided not to press the matter.
"Alright, I'll have Madame Pomfrey lay out some fresh robes for you at the hospital wing, oh and here." Sirius pulled Harry's wand out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.
"Thanks Sirius", Harry replied taking it. Everyone in the class was watching him, but Harry and Sirius were talking too quiet for anyone to be able to hear what they were saying. Finally with one last reassuring smile, Sirius walked back up to the front of the class. Everyone kept glancing back at Harry, but he had once again lowered his head and was starring at his wand, which he had placed on the desk in front of him.
"Alright like I was saying I was thinking about reviewing what you guys learned last year, but no one could tell me, so I've got something new." Sirius walked around to the back of his desk and pulled out a rather large cage, which be then placed on the desk. The cage had a cloth on it, so no one could see what was inside. "Now the creature that I'm about to show you is rare almost anywhere you go. The reason I'm going to teach you how to defend yourselves though is because there are hundreds of these in the Forbidden Forrest and they are quite dangerous because they usually travel in packs. Now, I give you the Yukeron!" Sirius proudly announced as he pulled the sheet off the cage and revealed a dog size creature bearing its teeth at the class. It looked almost like a giant guinea pig except that it had catlike eyes and a long tail that ended in a sort of bladed horn. "Now they are quite aggressive and nothing except the knock back jinx has any effect on it, but there's a catch. The jinx had to be aimed for the horn on the Yukeron's tail, which will momentarily stun it." Everyone was starring intently at the creature as it continued to growl at them. "Alright now after a quick review of the knock back jinx each of you will get a chance to try and stop the Yukeron from attacking you. Nobody worry, it's a lot easier then it seems. I want to start you guys off easy."
Sirius placed a small wooden block on each person's desk and told them to use the knockback jinx to knock the block off the desk. Most of the students had no trouble; some even sent their blocks soaring across the room. Harry on the other hand couldn't even make the block budge.
'I'm sure I can do it when I'm faced with danger.' So Harry pushed the block off his desk with his hand when no one was looking.
After a few minutes Sirius looked around, and upon seeing all the blocks gone and on the floor, he addressed the class, "All right now, everyone come up to the front and gather around the cage, and one by one I will call you forward to face the Yukeron." Everyone went up quickly, except Harry who slowly made his way up far behind everyone else. Hermione and Ron both saw this and quickly made their way over to where he was.
"Oh Harry, what happened to you?" Hermione whispered as soon as they were next to him.
"Don't worry about it guys", Harry replied.
"Are you sure? You look terrible", Ron added.
"Yes, really. I'm fine." Harry watched silently as one by one the students were called up to face the Yukeron. Hermione and Ron were watching Harry as though he was about to die at any moment.
Almost everyone had gone up and succeeded, even Neville, who only had a little trouble because he had his wand backward, but he was able to turn it around just in time before the Yukeron attacked.
Finally it was Harry's turn. He went to the center of the group and held his wand ready as the Yukeron shook himself, trying to gather himself from the last attack. The Yukeron starred intently at Harry and then without warning the Yukeron charged at him. Harry tried to perform the knockback jinx, but nothing happened. The Yukeron swung its tail into Harry's side sending him flying across the room.
Sirius immediately forced the Yukeron into its cage, as everyone rushed over to Harry.
"Harry are you ok?" Harry was quite dazed and was clutching his side in pain. Sirius fearing Harry might have broken a rib looked up at Ron," Ron please take Harry up to the hospital wing immediately."
"Yes professor", Ron answered back as he helped Harry to his feet.
The two of them left the class in total silence, which was suddenly broken by Ron," Harry, I'm your friend right?"
"Of course you are, Ron."
"Your BEST friend, right?"
"Yes, Ron."
"Then you would tell me if something were wrong, wouldn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing is wrong." Ron glared at Harry. "WHAT?" Harry asked.
"Look at you Harry. This is not nothing. Please tell me what happened!"
"Look Ron, it's ok. Nothing happened, nothing at all. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT!"
"AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH!"
"IT IS THE TRUTH!"
"IS IT REALLY?!"
At that point Harry had had enough. He pulled away from Ron and without even looking at him replied," The hospital wing is just around the corner. I don't need YOUR help, so just go back to class."
"Gladly." And with that Ron stormed off back down the hall.
'Oh man, what have I done', Harry thought as he walked into the hospital wing. 'Maybe I should've just told him. It's too late for that, now that he's mad at me.' Harry looked around the hospital wing, but there was no one there. Instead on the bed, which he had been previously sleeping in, there was a freshly folded Hogwarts robe. He changed into it behind the bed hangings, laid his old bloody robes on the bed, and sat down. A few moments later neither Madame Pomfrey nor Sirius had shone up, so Harry got up and decided he was in no mood to stay there on his own. He left the hospital wing and went in search of Sirius, since it was now lunchtime.
Ginnygal189: Don't worry the slash will be very mild and off to the side.
Padfootfe: Well, there's one more tragic event I have planned before Harry starts to really loose it.
Opal: No, it's just going to be a nice Snape, although I was thinking of writing a separate HPSS, if anyone would be interested.
All: I'm glad everyone like the last chapter. Thanks for the reviews and please enjoy.
CHAPTER TEN-SURPRISING CONFUSSIONS
Neville waited until Snape had disappeared into the hospital wing before turning and darting at top speed to the Gryffindor common room. When he finally clambered through the portrait hole he was completely out of breath.
"Trying out for the Sprintzy track team are you", Fred joked seeing Neville panting.
"No...it's...about...Harry..."He said between breaths. At the mere mention of Harry's name, nearly everyone in the common room raced over to form a tight circle around Neville. Among those were Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and a few other first and second years.
"What about Harry", George urged.
"I think Snape killed him", Neville blurted out.
"What? But there's no way", Seamus shouted.
"Yah and anyways Dumbldore would never let something like that happen", Dean added.
"But I saw Snape carrying Harry into the hospital wing and there was blood dripping from him", Neville argued.
"Well everyone knows how much Snape hates Harry", One of the other students added.
"But he'd get life in Azkaban for that."
"What if Snape's really a death eater working for you-know-who." The comments soon erupted into a huge heated debate among the whole Gryffindor house.
"I say we all go to the hospital wing and see for ourselves", Ginny nervously stated, hoping with all her heart that Neville was wrong. Everyone nodded in agreement and the group marched out of the common room.
As they were rounding the corner to the hospital wing, Snape emerged looking as slimy and dangerous as ever. The group of Gryffindors stopped dead in their tracks.
Snape stared at them with a look that could kill, before hastily growling," Isn't class about to start? What are you all doing here? You can't possibly all be sick." No one said a word. Everyone was too afraid of what Snape might do to them if he suspected they knew. Loud gasps erupted throughout the group, as people began to notice the blood on Snape's robes. Immediately the group of Gryffindors turned and darted away.
As soon as they were far out of earshot George spoke, "Ok, let's meet at lunch outside the hospital wing when Snape is gone and check it out." The group once again nodded in agreement and dispersed just as the Hogwart's bell rang: signaling the beginning of class.
The next class of the day for fifth year Gryffindors was defense against the dark arts with the Ravenclaws. Neville, Dean, and Seamus scurried quickly to class, afraid that at any moment Snape was going to jump out from some hidden corridor and attack them. When they finally got to the classroom they found the door open and the students already in their seats. The three quickly went and took seats behind Ron and Hermione, both of whom were looking devastated.
Immediately the three boys began hastily whispering to Ron and Hermione about what had happened. "Harry...", "...Snape...", "...blood...", "...hospital...", "...dead...", and "...killed..." was about all Ron and Hermione were able to make out of the jumble of hushed voices.
"All right calm down. Now again, but one at a time", Hermione whispered back.
"All right", Neville began," I was standing by the hospital wing when I saw Snape approaching. He was carrying Harry and there was blood all over him."
"Yah and so we decided to go check it out and then Snape came out of the hospital wing", Dean continued.
"And he was covered in blood, so we've decided to go back to the hospital wing during lunch. Are you coming?" Seamus finished. Ron and Hermione looked at each other with shocked and terrified expressions, and after a moment of silence they both nodded.
Meanwhile, back in the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey had just finished changing Harry's bandages and fixing him up. He was still unconscious. She gave Harry a sad look and then spoke: more to herself then Harry.
"Why do you keep getting up? You need to stay in bed and get your rest or your going to hurt yourself more." Madame Pomfrey sighed as she cleaned up the old bandages, now soaked with blood, and left for her office.
Harry lay there fast asleep, but not for long. Only minutes later he woke up. He looked quickly around the empty room after remembering what had happened in the dungeon. He began to wonder if perhaps he had only imagined Peter being there. He sighed inwardly to himself before looking around himself again. There was no one anywhere. Harry didn't want to be alone, not when he had such a bad feeling. He got out his time card and after glancing at the clock once again, looked at his next class.
"Alright, Defense against the dark arts", Harry whispered to himself. It was by far his favorite class, ever since Professor Lupin had taught it. Harry once again got quietly out of bed, and made his way out of the hospital wing: this time being very careful not to run into Filtch again.
Although he was no longer bleeding and was wrapped in clean new bandages, the front and sleeves of his robes were soaked in blood. Harry didn't notice though, so he tried to make his way to class as if nothing had happened. He knew he was injured, but the only thing he ever wanted was to be normal, to be treated like everyone else. So the only thing on his mind was to get to class, even if he couldn't do magic, 'Sirius was probably right I just need rest', even if Wormtail was loose again,' It was probably just my imagination', even if he was injured,' I'm feeling a little bit better.' He soon reached the Defense against the dark arts' classroom.
The door was closed and he was leery to open it. He didn't know what to expect from his classmates or from his new defense against the dark arts professor, whom he had no idea who it was this year. They had had a new professor every year, and not all of them had been good.
He finally collected up his courage and opened the door. Instantly the stairs of dozens upon dozens of eyes were upon him. Whispers and gasps rang throughout the classroom. Harry lowered his head and made his way to the back of the classroom. He sat down in a seat far removed from everyone else. No one said a word.
After a moment he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Still looking down, he shivered as to what was undoubtedly his new professor standing over him.
"Sorry I'm late but I was held up and I didn't want to be any later so I didn't get a chance to get my book or my wand", Harry explained quickly, hoping he wasn't going to get into to much trouble. But what Harry heard next came as a huge shock.
It was Sirius's voice. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing here, Harry? You're supposed to be resting." Harry looked up into the sympathetic eyes of his godfather.
"Sirius? What are YOU doing here?"
"Well...surprise. I'm your defense against the dark arts professor." A smile spread across Harry's face. "I still think you should be resting though."
"Don't worry lunch is next and I promise I'll go take a nap and rest, but please let me stay." Harry's eyes were pleading and Sirius just couldn't say no to those precious little puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, but I want you to go to the hospital wing and stay there all of lunch and I'm going to check on you, is that..." Sirius had finally noticed the blood all over Harry's front and sleeves. "Harry! What happened? Why are your injuries bleeding again?" Harry lowered his head and starred at his desk while fumbling with his robes.
"Well...I...You see..."
"Come on Harry! Tell me please!"
"I guess I was just being careless, that's all." Sirius knew Harry was lying, but why? He decided not to press the matter.
"Alright, I'll have Madame Pomfrey lay out some fresh robes for you at the hospital wing, oh and here." Sirius pulled Harry's wand out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.
"Thanks Sirius", Harry replied taking it. Everyone in the class was watching him, but Harry and Sirius were talking too quiet for anyone to be able to hear what they were saying. Finally with one last reassuring smile, Sirius walked back up to the front of the class. Everyone kept glancing back at Harry, but he had once again lowered his head and was starring at his wand, which he had placed on the desk in front of him.
"Alright like I was saying I was thinking about reviewing what you guys learned last year, but no one could tell me, so I've got something new." Sirius walked around to the back of his desk and pulled out a rather large cage, which be then placed on the desk. The cage had a cloth on it, so no one could see what was inside. "Now the creature that I'm about to show you is rare almost anywhere you go. The reason I'm going to teach you how to defend yourselves though is because there are hundreds of these in the Forbidden Forrest and they are quite dangerous because they usually travel in packs. Now, I give you the Yukeron!" Sirius proudly announced as he pulled the sheet off the cage and revealed a dog size creature bearing its teeth at the class. It looked almost like a giant guinea pig except that it had catlike eyes and a long tail that ended in a sort of bladed horn. "Now they are quite aggressive and nothing except the knock back jinx has any effect on it, but there's a catch. The jinx had to be aimed for the horn on the Yukeron's tail, which will momentarily stun it." Everyone was starring intently at the creature as it continued to growl at them. "Alright now after a quick review of the knock back jinx each of you will get a chance to try and stop the Yukeron from attacking you. Nobody worry, it's a lot easier then it seems. I want to start you guys off easy."
Sirius placed a small wooden block on each person's desk and told them to use the knockback jinx to knock the block off the desk. Most of the students had no trouble; some even sent their blocks soaring across the room. Harry on the other hand couldn't even make the block budge.
'I'm sure I can do it when I'm faced with danger.' So Harry pushed the block off his desk with his hand when no one was looking.
After a few minutes Sirius looked around, and upon seeing all the blocks gone and on the floor, he addressed the class, "All right now, everyone come up to the front and gather around the cage, and one by one I will call you forward to face the Yukeron." Everyone went up quickly, except Harry who slowly made his way up far behind everyone else. Hermione and Ron both saw this and quickly made their way over to where he was.
"Oh Harry, what happened to you?" Hermione whispered as soon as they were next to him.
"Don't worry about it guys", Harry replied.
"Are you sure? You look terrible", Ron added.
"Yes, really. I'm fine." Harry watched silently as one by one the students were called up to face the Yukeron. Hermione and Ron were watching Harry as though he was about to die at any moment.
Almost everyone had gone up and succeeded, even Neville, who only had a little trouble because he had his wand backward, but he was able to turn it around just in time before the Yukeron attacked.
Finally it was Harry's turn. He went to the center of the group and held his wand ready as the Yukeron shook himself, trying to gather himself from the last attack. The Yukeron starred intently at Harry and then without warning the Yukeron charged at him. Harry tried to perform the knockback jinx, but nothing happened. The Yukeron swung its tail into Harry's side sending him flying across the room.
Sirius immediately forced the Yukeron into its cage, as everyone rushed over to Harry.
"Harry are you ok?" Harry was quite dazed and was clutching his side in pain. Sirius fearing Harry might have broken a rib looked up at Ron," Ron please take Harry up to the hospital wing immediately."
"Yes professor", Ron answered back as he helped Harry to his feet.
The two of them left the class in total silence, which was suddenly broken by Ron," Harry, I'm your friend right?"
"Of course you are, Ron."
"Your BEST friend, right?"
"Yes, Ron."
"Then you would tell me if something were wrong, wouldn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing is wrong." Ron glared at Harry. "WHAT?" Harry asked.
"Look at you Harry. This is not nothing. Please tell me what happened!"
"Look Ron, it's ok. Nothing happened, nothing at all. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT!"
"AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH!"
"IT IS THE TRUTH!"
"IS IT REALLY?!"
At that point Harry had had enough. He pulled away from Ron and without even looking at him replied," The hospital wing is just around the corner. I don't need YOUR help, so just go back to class."
"Gladly." And with that Ron stormed off back down the hall.
'Oh man, what have I done', Harry thought as he walked into the hospital wing. 'Maybe I should've just told him. It's too late for that, now that he's mad at me.' Harry looked around the hospital wing, but there was no one there. Instead on the bed, which he had been previously sleeping in, there was a freshly folded Hogwarts robe. He changed into it behind the bed hangings, laid his old bloody robes on the bed, and sat down. A few moments later neither Madame Pomfrey nor Sirius had shone up, so Harry got up and decided he was in no mood to stay there on his own. He left the hospital wing and went in search of Sirius, since it was now lunchtime.
