Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: I know, I know! This is incredibly late but I'm afraid I had a bit of writer's block and real life interventions, namely a sadistic english paper from the very depths of hell itself. Hopefully the next chapter will be out a lot sooner. Sorry! Anyway, thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! I'm thrilled that you like it! A huge thank you to my beta enb2004! Love you girl! As promised, here is Chapter 10! Enjoy!
Harry and Ron played chess long into the night, with Hermione occasionally rooting Harry on when she had come back from whatever it was she was doing in the dormitories.
More than once, Hermione and Ron had urged Harry to try to get some sleep but he wouldn't hear of it. He was very afraid of receiving another vision of Voldemort's nefarious plans and torture sessions. Just recalling the last one made his feel ill to his stomach as he remembered the all consuming pain.
"Harry please, if you take the dreamless sleep potion you shouldn't have any of your visions," Hermione pleaded yet again.
"I know Hermione, but I'm none to anxious to try that theory out just yet," Harry said wearily. Truth be known he was very tired but he wouldn't allow himself to fall asleep, not yet anyway.
"Oi Hermione, you heard the man. He doesn't want to sleep and frankly, I can't blame him. I wouldn't want to see what's his name in my dreams either!" Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't say anymore on the matter.
"Checkmate!" Ron exclaimed as Harry groaned. "Let's face it Harry, you'll never beat me," he crowed.
Harry just laughed. "You're probably right Ron. After all, you are the chest master."
"Damn right I am," Ron said laughing.
"Ron!" Hermione said.
"Lighten up Hermione, all I said was..." Ron started to say.
"Ah! Don't say it again Ronald or I will curse you as soon as we're back in school," Hermione threatened.
Ron rolled his eyes and exchanged looks with Harry. "Girls," they muttered together.
Hermione huffed and was about to give them both a tongue lashing when Harry suddenly doubled over in pain and moaned.
"Harry! What is, what's wrong?" Ron asked frantically.
"Voldemort. He's angry, very angry," Harry said holding his hand over his infamous scar.
"Do you know what he's angry about?" Ron asked.
"Ron! How on earth would Harry know! He's still awa..." Hermione trailed off as she saw Harry slump over on the bed.
"HARRY!" she screamed.
Ron jumped and stared at the infamous scar which had suddenly split open and was bleeding profusely. He did the only thing he could think of at the moment. He screamed for help. "MADAME POMFREY!"
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While Ron and Hermione were trying frantically to stop the bleeding and get help, Harry found himself back at Riddle Manor, much to his dismay. He had been awake dammit!
Harry soon saw the reason why he was in such pain. On the ground was a cringing and shaking Wormtail. It looked as though the Cruciatus curse had just been cast on him and Harry had felt it, even though he had been awake.
"Would you care to repeat what you just told me Wormtail," Voldemort hissed dangerously.
Harry watched as Wormtail gulped and quivered in front of his master. "Snape is the spy, my master. I heard him in his quarters reaffirming a promise to Lily Potter to protect her son."
Harry gaped as the implications of what Wormtail had said hit him. First off, Snape had made a promise to his mother. Second of all, Voldemort now knew that Snape was the spy. Oh, this was not good, not good at all.
"Come on Harry, wake up, wake up," he pleased with himself. He had to warn the Professor before Voldemort summoned him.
"Wormtail, give me your arm," Voldemort hissed.
"Oh god, please, wake up," Harry told himself, forcing all his concentration into waking himself up. At last, his magic responded as the oh so lovely view of the hospital wing came into focus.
"SNAPE!" Harry exclaimed as soon as he was fully conscious.
"Harry! Lie down this instant," Hermione commanded as she tried to staunch the flow of blood. So far, they hadn't been able to get through to Madame Pomfrey. She had sent Ron in search of any adult but so far, he hadn't come back.
"No, I can't, Snape, in trouble," Harry gasped as he stood up and took off from the hospital wing without a backwards glance.
"Harry! Oh, wait for me!" Hermione exclaimed while running after him. Ron was going to kill her for letting Harry get away, that is, if Madame Pomfrey didn't finish her off first.
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In the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, all of the adults were blissfully unaware of what was happening in the hospital wing. Ignorance truly was not bliss as they would soon find out.
Severus rolled his eyes as Mad-Eye moody shot him another dark look when he said he didn't have any information on what Voldemort was doing currently. He hadn't been summoned for a few days now so there wouldn't be any new information. Even a first year nit wit would have realized that.
As though the dark lord had read his thoughts, his dark mark suddenly throbbed painfully. Fighting not to grimace, he stoop up and nodded at Albus who nodded back sadly.
Hastily, he ran out of the meeting and down the stairs only to run smack into Harry Potter. "Potter! Move!" he ordered temporarily forgetting he had promised himself to call a truce with the boy.
"Professor! Wait, please!" Harry exclaimed as the potions master hurried past him making him run to catch up.
"Not now Potter," Severus said without even looking back. He had to get past the wards and aparate as quickly as possible. He was already late as it was.
"SIR! HE KNOWS! IT'S A TRAP!" Harry yelled desperately. Severus came to a dead halt and whirled around to face Harry, his eyes wild and his normally pale features nearly transparent.
"What, did you say Potter?" he asked, his voice a dead whisper.
"He knows. Somehow, Wormtail got into your quarters and overheard you reaffirming a promise that you made to my mother," Harry said, his whole body trembling.
It was only then that Severus took note of the blood gushing from Harry's scar. "Sweet Merlin," he breathed. "I believe you Harry. Right now though, we need to get you back to the hospital wing," he said just as Harry finally collapsed to the ground.
Severus swore and hastily checked the boy's pulse. While it wasn't as strong as he would have liked, it was there, which was something at least. Considering everything the boy had gone through over the years, he should have been dead several times over. Severus was honestly surprised that Harry's body hadn't given out yet.
"HARRY! Oh thank goodness, Professor, Harry really needs to get back to the hospital wing," Hermione said while gasping for air. Harry was a fast runner, even when bleeding and injured severely. How he managed to do some of the stunts he pulled was beyond her logical reasoning.
"I am aware of that Ms. Granger. I shall take him back to the hospital wing. I would like you collect Madame Pomfrey and Albus, they are in his office. The password is Snickers," Severus said while lifting Harry up.
Hermione nodded and quickly said the password the stubborn gargoyle before rushing up the stairs to the headmaster's office.
Severus didn't wait for Granger to return with Poppy. Instead, he jogged to the hospital wing quickly. He couldn't even begin to process all of what had just happened until Harry was being taken care of.
Severus sighed yet again as he entered the hospital wing. Once more, everything was spinning out of control and he had no say in it whatsoever. His life had suddenly just become far more dangerous than ever, and so long as Voldemort was alive, there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
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Albus was still in the meeting with the rest of the Order members when Hermione came running in, looking more than a little wild and very panicky.
"Ms. Granger, what is the meaning of this?" Professor McGonagall asked strictly.
"I'm sorry Professor but it's Harry! He had a vision and his scar split open," she said hurriedly.
Madame Pomfrey immediately stood up. "Where is he now Hermione?" she asked urgently.
"Professor Snape is taking him back to the Hospital Wing," she said breathlessly.
"Poppy, you may go see to Harry. Everyone else, we shall reconvene at a later date when things have settled down somewhat. You're free to go, except for you Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said.
Hermione nodded, she had been expecting that. Idly, she wondered where Ron had gone. Hopefully he too had found someone and was on his way back to the hospital wing.
"Now Ms. Granger, tell me everything that happened," Dumbledore said.
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Ron had searched the castle desperately for anyone to help Harry. To his surprise, not to mention shock, he came across Professor Snape and Hermione who were both leaning over an unconscious Harry and talking hurriedly.
He stayed in the shadows as he watched Hermione run up the steps, presumably to get Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. Ron didn't want to get in the way for he knew that his added presence would only mean a delay in them getting to Harry.
Very shortly afterward, everyone rushed out of Dumbledore's office, save for Dumbledore and Hermione, and headed in the direction of the hospital wing. Seeing this, Ron sighed in relief and followed them. Harry would be all right.
He knew that Hermione was more than likely describing to Professor Dumbledore what had happened. Ron shivered as he thought about what had happened to Harry. That had been one of the scariest things he had ever seen.
As Ron walked back to the hospital wing, he thought about his actions the previous year and couldn't believe what a prick he had been. Harry had needed his support and what had he done? Kicked him to the curb in a fit of petty jealously. Harry had forgiven him though even without an apology. That was Harry for you though, to damn noble for his own good at times.
Ron was still looking for a way to make it back up to Harry even though Harry had forgiven him, especially now that they were brothers. Ron had always seen Harry as a younger brother and his parents getting guardianship over Harry had finally made it official, legally that was.
His eyes widened and his feet stopped moving as an idea suddenly slammed into him. Of course! Harry was family in all but blood and he knew how important that was to Harry. As soon as Harry was well enough, he would contact all of his brothers and make Harry their blood brother. That was the last step in making Harry an official member of the Weasley clan, save for marrying Ginny of course. That would be the very last step which would not happen for quite a while if he had any say in the matter.
Ron smiled as he suddenly found the energy to run all the way back to the hospital wing. He had to tell his brothers his plan and he couldn't wait to tell Harry! They'd have to be careful with his mum and dad around though. If they got wind of what they were going to do, well, it wouldn't be a pleasant experience for any of them.
Blood brothers. Harry would be family in every way that mattered. Never again would Harry be able to claim that he had no one who shared his blood (the Dursley's didn't count). Ron knew that it would be the best gift Harry had ever received and he couldn't wait to give it.