A/N: Hiya Hiya Hiya! Glad you stuck around this long. This, everyone, is a pivotal chapter, everything hangs in the balance. Okay actually it's this chapter and the next one. You'll understand once you start reading. So go on, shoo!!!! *waves hands at the readers impatiently*
Remember: Peace, Love, and be a Marauder! I mean, why wouldn't you be?
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry, Sev, Albus, etc. Fine, I'll admit it, I don't own Harry Potter, that right belongs to J.K. Rowling.
/...../ means italics
*......* Sev's thoughts
Chapter16- The Question
"Harry? Harry!" Harry jolted out of his reverie to find Seri standing in front of him, helmet under arm. By the look on her face she'd been calling him for several minutes. The only reason he noticed her now was because of the fact she was tapping him insistently on the head with her fencing foil. When his mind returned to it's proper place so did his other senses, especially the ones around his head.
"Hey!" he jerked away, awkwardly holding up his on foil in response.
"Finally, I was beginning to think I'd have to call out the heavy artillery. I'm sure Kit would have happily dumped you in the lake. I'd advise not spacing out when she's teaching you, she can turn rather nasty. That is, unless you /want/ a donkey tail," she concluded. Harry smiled weakly. All though the thought of Kit giving someone a donkey tail was amusing, it was not amusing when he was on the receiving end, no pun intended. Seri sighed when she realized they weren't going to get anything else done. She grabbed Harry's elbow and dragged him to the shade of a tree. She sat him down and sat opposite him then began to stripe off her gear, revealing the black sleeveless shirt underneath. She closed her eyes as a breeze blew, cooling her body. Harry did so as well and began to apologize for not paying attention but she waved them aside.
"It's okay Harry, I know this happens when Severus leaves for a mission sometimes. It's gotten worse hasn't it?" she asked in concern. Harry nodded an affirmative.
"It's gotten to the point that I know exactly when he leaves and returns. I know for sure whether or not he's hurt. It's strange, it seems the closer we get the more connected we become." Seri nodded and watched silently as Harry leapt to his feet and began pacing in front of her.
"I can't stand the fact that I'm useless. I'm scared for Sev and I can't do anything about it," he growled, "And now, since my mage powers have awakened, I blank out every time he leaves. It's like I'm there with him but I'm not. I can almost see what's going on but I can't. I always know when he's hurt and yet I can't help him while he's there. It's so damn frustrating!" he exploded, dropping back on the ground. Seri smiled sympathetically, scooted over to him and looped an arm around his shoulders.
"I don't know why you feel this way little one, but it must mean something. You and Sev have a connection, that much is certain. Maybe his part of that connection hasn't been activated yet and your's is more or less grabbing at air," she shrugged, "Whatever it is, it's leaving you with absolutely no concentration and very ill tempered. I say we call it quits for the day and you try to get some rest, it's almost dinner time anyway. Come eat with Kit and me, I'll get the house-elves to whip up your favorite dish, all you have to do is order," she offered as they stood up and headed towards the castle. He respectfully declined, saying that he had a head-ache and that he was just going to try to get some sleep.
He walked to his rooms deep in thought. Could he have a connection with Severus? It was very possible, even plausible. The man had confessed to being drawn to Harry during his transformation but so had Dumbledore and Harry wasn't exactly having anxiety attacks about him; at least not yet any way. Well part of that, if not all, was the fact that the Headmaster wasn't throwing himself into danger at every possible opportunity, unlike some people he knew. He blinked, suddenly realizing he was in his room, dressed in pajamas and the covers pulled back on his bed. He'd done all of that without even realizing it. His mind must be out there, he decided as he climbed into bed. Just as he turned to snuff out the candle he noticed a bottle sitting on his night stand. He picked it up and read the note attached to it.
"Harry, Seri told me she had a feeling you'd need this and after hearing her little story about the afternoon, I tend to agree. It's a dreamless sleeping potion, remember to take it all in one gulp. Kit" He had to smile. Those two could tell what he needed usually before he himself could. He'd been wondering how he was going to /actually/ get to sleep. He uncorked the top and downed half the mint flavored potion then corked it and set it back. If he needed the rest, he'd take it later. Even as he laid his head down on the pillow his thoughts were slowing to molasses-in-the-snow rate and finally stopping all together.
(Dream)
Harry cursed in every language he knew, which was quite a few by now. He'd taken a dreamless sleeping potion, this wasn't supposed to be happening! He sighed in defeat as the air around him solidified. It wasn't another prison by the looks of it. In fact, he was standing in the middle of a small village. The night was well lit by several homes that had been set ablaze. He could vaguely make out two groups of people hunkered down behind odd objects. The Death Eaters had hidden behind an over turned wagon in front of one of the cottages. Dumbledore's group, at least, Harry assumed they were, were camped out behind several stacks of hay. As he watched he noticed several Death Eaters go in and out of the small cottage. Curiosity taking over, he walked in just behind another Death Eater.
"You there!" a voice barked. Harry jumped and it took him a moment to realize that the person was talking to the /Death Eater/, not to him. The Death Eater snapped to attention to his obvious superior.
"Sir!"
"Cast the Cruciatus on him," the man pointed to a huddled figure in the corner. The Death Eater nodded and strode forward.
"Crucio!" It hit Harry with all the force of a class five cyclone. His body was a raging inferno. This shouldn't be happening, his mind screamed in agony. It had never, /never/ hurt this bad in his dreams before. It was like being under the Cruciatus directly, only slightly distant, not quite as all consuming. Which allowed him to think somewhat. He had only one thought: he had to stop this /now/. Before he could move the curse was lifted and he collapsed in relief. He could hear the man in the corner breathing heavily.
"I don't understand it! Every time someone casts it he doesn't react," the Death Eater growled.
'Like hell he doesn't react,' Harry thought grimly as he crawled to the man. He had to get there, he had to help this person. The man moaned and shifted towards him, almost as if he sensed him. Another one of the houses went up in flames and illuminated the cottage, allowing Harry to see the man's face. He gasped, it was Severus. A deep seeded rage started in the pit of his stomach and boiled up into his chest, consuming him. No one would hurt /his father/ and get away with it.
"We'll cast it together this time. On three," Harry picked himself up, swaying unsteadily.
"One....." Harry took an unsteady step forward and stumbled.
"Two....." He launched himself in front of the shivering man.
"Three! Crucio!" the two shouted but they were too late. Harry just managed to wrap his body around Severus' when the two curses hit him simultaneously.
Severus closed his eye as he heard the man say they'd cast the curse together. There was no hope, this time he would crack. Even he, with as much practice as he'd had, couldn't stand up to a double Cruciatus curse, he did have limitations. As they counted down he could just make out a faint scraping sound coming towards him. He dismissed it, thinking it was just those two bastards coming towards him. Just before they uttered three something /warm/ wrapped itself around him, putting a barrier between him and his tormentors. They cast the curse and he waited for the pain to come. It never did. The entity around him spasmed and twisted this way and that but never relinquished it's hold on him. Severus opened his eyes and looked down. Oh dear God in Heaven above no, it was Harry.
It was like being ripped in two, that was the best way to describe it. Like someone playing tug-o-war with his body. It hurt, more than anything else in his entire life had. More than Uncle Vernon's beatings, more than Voldemort's tortures. He wanted it to /stop/ but he couldn't let go, he couldn't leave his father alone.
Severus watched with an almost detached horror as Harry continued to jerk and writhe from the effects of the curse. Then it hit him all at once and he was /angry/. No one was going to hurt /his child/ and get away with it. He reached inside himself, searching for any dregs of energy he still possessed and pulled them to the surface. Carefully and precisely he built a magical barrier between the him and his child and the Death Eaters. He hadn't had the presence of mind to do it before but he had it now and he intended to keep it. With one final soft spoken incantation the barrier snapped into place, cutting off the curse. Harry collapsed against him and he worriedly checked him over. Pulse still racing but gradually slowing and breathing irregular. Try as he might he could not get the boy to respond, which not only fueled his concern, but anger. He watched the two wizards pounded fruitlessly at his barrier, letting his rage build to the breaking point. The anger touched something deep inside him and he found energy and magical reserves he hadn't even known he'd possessed. They want in so badly, Severus thought as he clutched his child tightly to his chest and dropped his barrier, then let them come.
(End of Dream)
Harry opened his eyes and immediately shut them again to stop the room from spinning. Man did his head hurt. Wait, scratch that, his whole /body/ hurt. Almost like he'd been under the Cruciatus curse. Harry's eyes snapped open. The Cruciatus curse, the village, /Severus/. He had to tell Dumbledore. Throwing back the covers he sat up, waiting impatiently for the world to stand still. When it did he summoned his house shoes and robe. It was chilly in the castle, even though it was summer and he didn't intend to walk through it barefooted. Calling his cane to him he used it for support as he trudged out of the rooms and up the stairs. Before long he stood in front of the stone gargoyle. To tired to say the password he tapped each eye once, the alternative to the password, and headed up the stairs. He hesitated for a moment, thinking the headmaster would not be up, then rapped lightly on the oak door. A "Come in," came almost immediately and Harry pushed the door open. There was Dumbledore, on the couch by the fire, with a worn novel in hand. As soon as he walked in Dumbledore took one look at him, set his book aside, and rose to help him to the couch.
"Merlin's beard Harry! What happened? You look like you just battled a group of Death Eaters without a wand," the headmaster fussed, pulling the boy to sit down beside him. Harry sighed and gratefully leaned against the warm body next to him.
"I had a dream about Severus," he stated simply. The body stiffened.
"Is he okay?" Harry was surprised to hear Dumbledore's voice actually crack. But then again, he shouldn't. The headmaster and Severus were really close.
"He wasn't when I got there. There was a stand off between the Death Eaters and the Order's people. While I watched I noticed several of the Death Eaters were going in and out of this house behind them. They had over turned a wagon in front of it and were holding them off from there. I followed one in and his superior ordered him to cast the Cruciatus curse on this person in the corner. He did and I /felt/ it. not like normally were I feel the echoes and it was worse than with the Dursleys. It was like the Cruciatus curse had been cast on /me/....." he trailed off as the headmaster suddenly lifted him up and set him in his lap. Harry sat stiffly for a moment but eventually relaxed under Dumbledore's soothing hand and slow feed of energy. As the energy came to him, white and light, he suddenly realized just how /exhausted/ he was. It was a miracle he'd made it up to the office with out collapsing.
He moaned softly and buried his face in the man's beard. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Didn't realize how tired you were, did you little one? I'm ashamed I didn't notice before, you would have been in my lap if I had."
"No sir Professor, I didn't know I was /this/ tired," he answered. He felt the older man sigh.
"Call me Albus Harry. I think of you as my grandchild as I think of Severus as my own child," Dumbledore said. Harry looked up at him with a slightly amazed expression.
"Really?"
"Yes really little one," Albus answered. A mischievous grin spread across Harry's face.
"Does that mean I get to call you Grandpa Albus?" he asked innocently. Albus started then gave Harry a glare much like the Potions Master's.
"You do and I'll petrify you and shove you out the window," he said coldly, yet another good imitation of the Potions Master, but the twinkle in his eyes said otherwise. Harry chuckled and laid back against him, wrapping his arms around the headmaster's thin form. The man obliged by doing the same.
"Albus it is then."
"Just Albus. And not around the other students or teachers. Around Severus and the twins is fine, but no one else," the man said in warning. Harry nodded and contented himself to listening the steady beat of the man's heart.
"We got a little side-tracked. Go ahead and finish your story." Albus shifted slightly to get more comfortable. Harry told him the entire tale, from beginning to end. When he reached the part about him being hit with the double Cruciatus curse the headmaster sucked in a breath and gathered Harry closer to him. Harry didn't mind, he liked the contact. The man moaned aloud when he heard Severus was the person in the corner. Harry did his best to comfort the man and tell him that Severus was alright and that he was on his back.
"How do you know?" Albus asked. Harry went on to explain what had been happening to him since his mage powers had been activated. Albus frowned.
"I can sense Severus so long as he's on school grounds but beyond that I'm just grasping at air," he admitted. Before Harry could say anything to that the door opened; Kit and Seri poked their heads in.
"Albus the Aurors called, we have to go. We should be back by morning," Kit informed him. Albus nodded.
"Harry are you alright?" Seri asked, her tone hinting to her concern. Harry nodded, burying himself again in Albus' beard. The man absent-mindedly stroked the boy's hair. Seri looked at the headmaster then back at Harry and nodded. The twins withdrew and quietly shut the door behind them.
"They'll find Severus if he's injured," Harry assured. Albus sighed.
"I wish he wouldn't put himself in so much danger. But every time that mark burns he feels an obligation to go and stop Voldemort. What's worse is that each time it does burn, it's more painful than the last."
"I think I might have a cure for that."
"What?!?" Harry shifted to look up at the older man.
"When I'm in the library I'm not /just/ searching for the Dursleys or doing my school work. I've been searching for a way to stop the dark mark from burning. I think I've done that /and/, according to my research, the spell will eventually make it go away. It'll fade more and more each time I do it." Albus beamed down at him.
"That's wonderful news Harry! How much longer is it going to take you?"
"Another week at the most. The spell is pretty complicated and requires my total concentration. To tell the truth I got rather tired of tracking Sev down each time Voldemort called." Albus hugged Harry tightly to him.
"Thank you Harry. You've done something I've wanted to do for a long time. I envy you." Harry's cheeks grew red at the complement. The two fell silent and Harry began to drift off.
*********
He jerked awake as Albus gently shook his shoulder.
"Little one? Wake up, Severus is back. He should be here any minute," the headmaster whispered before drawing away. Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes, he hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep. He was lying on the couch where Albus had been sitting. As his mind began to work more he reached out with his senses to locate Severus. He found him but was disturbed by what he found. He looked up, wide-eyed, at the headmaster. Albus shared a similar look of concern.
"You sense it too? I thought for a minute it might just be me. Something's wrong and we'll soon find out what." Harry nodded, silently praying that Severus was okay. There was a brief knock on the office door.
"Come in," Albus called. The door swung open and in marched ten of the dirtiest people Harry had ever seen. Each on was covered in various degrees of soot, mud, and dirt. Two of them supported a third who, consequently, was the dirtiest of them all. Harry probed cautiously and instantly recognized the presence, Severus. Harry waved to the two to bring the professor to the couch. They brought him over and eased him down.
"Something's wrong with him but we don't know what," one of the two, a woman, informed him. Harry nodded absently and began to gently scan, searching for any injuries. Seeing that they were being ignored the two shrugged and headed over to where their friends were telling what had happened.
"It was a stalemate, neither side would give an inch when the house behind the Death Eaters began to glow silver. Then there was this tremendous /explosion/, you should have seen it Professor! The silver stuff extended out from the house, even past us. While it tore the closest Death Eaters to /pieces/ and I do mean pieces literally, it didn't touch us. It did pass through us and I felt it's power. Who ever cast /that/ curse was packing some serious punch behind it. We think it went all over the village because when we were searching around we found dead and unconscious Death Eaters littering the ground. Well, we were looking for Professor Snape and we found him just like that. Just sitting and staring off with a dazed expression," the man stopped and looked over at Severus who was being taken care of by Harry.
"Thank you Burnbee," Albus said loudly, drawing the group's attention back to him, "I'll expect you written report some time tomorrow." The group knew a dismissal when they heard one. They stood up, saluted the headmaster, nodded to Harry and marched out. The second the last one left Albus was at Severus' side. Harry thought he'd apparated, he could have sworn the man had just been behind the desk.
"Child?" he whispered, lightly touching the Potions Master's shoulder. He didn't react.
"Magical shock," Harry informed him, "He used up just about every scrap of magical energy in him. It looks like /he/ caused the explosion." Harry touched Severus' chest and the man whimpered pathetically. Albus stood and gently lifted the younger man up.
"Come on Harry, let's put him to bed; he'll be staying up here tonight," they were moving into the headmaster's room as he spoke, "Why don't you pull the covers back on the bed while I give Severus a bath. I hardly recognize him with all this dirt." Harry nodded and broke away from the two, and Albus lead the unresisting wizard into the bathroom. As Harry turned back the heavy bed covers he heard the water splash into the tub and then turned off a few minutes later. When he finished he went to the door, knocked a few times and poked his head in. Albus was kneeling beside the white marble tub and all Harry could see was the top of Severus' head.
"Albus do you want me to get him some clothes to sleep in?"
"Yes, look through my dresser. On the left there should be some shirts in the first drawer, underwear in the second and leggings in the third." He nodded and retreated back into the bedroom. After briefly digging through the /large/ chestnut dresser, he went back into the bathroom. He laid the bundle of clothes on the white marble 'throne' and kneeled next to the headmaster.
"Can I help?" he asked.
"Certainly; why don't you wash his hair? I'm beginning to think it really is that color," the headmaster suggested, gesturing to the brown mop. Harry grabbed the shampoo bottle, dumped a generous amount in his hands and began it work it into the man's hair. Severus' hair had already had a few cups of water dumped over it and Harry worked the shampoo into a thick lather. He grabbed the cup that was floating around the tub and rinsed the man's hair, careful to get none of the soapy water in the man's eyes. It took him five more shampooings before he was satisfied there was not a speck of dirt in the professor's hair. After running two handfuls of conditioner through it he decided he'd finished. He looked over at Albus and saw the man had finished as well.
"Grab some towels Harry," he commanded as he levitated his child out of the bath and let the water drain out. Harry disappeared, only to reappear a few seconds later with three towels. Together they dried and dressed the still very out of it Potions Master. Albus levitated Severus back into the bedroom. Carefully he lowered him into the center of the bed and climbed in on his left, covering both of them up. Harry stood by, nervously shifting from foot to foot, wandering exactly what he was suppose to do now. Albus sensed his quandary immediately.
"You can sleep with us if you want Harry. I'm sure Severus won't mind and I certainly don't." Harry smiled in relief and climbed in on the other side of the Potions Master. He wanted, no /needed/ to be near his father now, if only to reassure him the man was alive and would be okay. He snuggled down next to the Potions Master's, too cold for his liking, body.
"Goodnight Albus," he whispered.
"Sleep well little one," came the tired reply.
"Goodnight father," Harry whispered as he slipped off to sleep. Albus heard him and a broad smile spread across his face. Oh yes, his plan had worked perfectly. He turned on his side, facing his child, and was soon asleep.
*************
He was still asleep, he knew that. He could sense the surface of consciousness above him like a distant mountaintop. He battled his way along the path that would lead him there. He needed to get out, he had to wake up. After throwing the last of sleep's long arms aside he reached the top. Slowly he opened his eyes. Ceiling looked familiar. So did the room. Oh, the headmaster's bedroom. He'd been here a few times. Then the soft thing next to him that tickled his nose must have been Albus' beard, and if that was Albus' beard he was with Albus. That meant two things: he was home, and he was safe. Letting that fact wash over him in a gentle tide, he laid quietly. Unfortunately as he regained his precious consciousness his body began functioning normally again, and it was telling him one thing. Nature was calling. Sighing in defeat, Severus rolled to the right of the bed and sat up, knocking something to the floor in the process.
"Owwww!!! Thanks Sev, that was a wonderful wake up call," Harry grumbled, climbing back into the massive bed and pulling the covers over his head. Severus blinked at him for a moment, not comprehending what had just happened. Shrugging his shoulders and deciding not to tax his brain, he hauled himself towards the bathroom. He emerged a few minutes later, greatly relieved, and climbed back into the bed. To do that he had to go over a certain someone.
"Sev will you watch it! Some of us want to sleep you know," Harry growled, turning away from him. Severus ignored him, wondering who else would be in the headmaster's bed, and snuggled down next to Albus. Approximately five seconds later it hit him and his eyes snapped back open. He turned back over and grabbed Harry's shoulders, pulling both of them upright. He then began to poke and prod the boy, to see if he was really there and alive and not just a figment of his imagination.
"Hey Sev, is something wrong? What are you doing? Stop it that tickles. Hehehe, Severus! Stop it, you're, hehehe, tickling me!" Harry managed to get out between small bursts of laughter. Severus ignored him and continued to poke. The boy had to be alive, but it could be a trick. He had to be sure. Especially when it was his child. Suddenly strong hands appeared out of no where and restrained him gently. He blinked and looked up to see Albus' amused expression.
"It's okay my child, Harry is fine. You're both safe and sound, for the most part. Do you remember what happened?" Severus blinked at the man he thought of as his father in confusion. What had happened? He couldn't really remember, it was all fuzzy. The only thing that stood out loud and clear was a distinct panic for Harry. When Harry laid a hand on his shoulder the memories flooded back with painful clarity. The Death Eater raid, being caught, the torturing and finally Harry. Harry had been there, if not physically then at least in spirit. Severus wasn't sure how, but the boy had managed to protect him. He'd done the same in return. Slowly he nodded his head. Albus gathered him into his arms, tucking Severus' head under his chin. He let it go then, the pain of the curse, the lost hope, and the pain of seeing his precious little one taking the blast for him. The tears cascaded down his cheeks and fell onto the headmaster's nightshirt, soaking it. Albus ignored the fact and continued to rock the distraught man back and forth, humming to him quietly. Much like Severus had down for Harry at one time or another. Another warm body pressed against his side, giving unspoken support. When he finally cried himself out, Harry handed him a Kleenex. Blowing his nose loudly and dabbing his face, he finally realized what a big fool he must look like. The thought must have showed on his face because Albus paused in his tune.
"Severus it's okay to cry, you've earned the right. You should have done it long ago really," the man assured. Severus accepted his answer, reluctantly. Once Albus finished his tune he went on cheerfully.
"Well now, how about some breakfast? I don't know about you two, but I'm famished." Harry nodded eagerly and Severus reluctantly. He wasn't really in the mood for food right now. Seeing the Potions Master was going to be difficult, the headmaster rose from the bed.
"I'll be back in just a moment, excuse me." He hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him. Severus stared after him. Harry cleared his throat to catch the man's attention.
"Sev, are you okay?" he asked, his voice brimming with concern. Severus turned to him and nodded.
"What's the matter? Did magical shock take away your ability to speak?" the boy teased. Severus blinked and opened his mouth, only to close it again. His face scrunched up and he appeared to be thinking.
"Are you really alright Harry?" he finally asked. Harry nodded.
"Yes Sev, I am." The Potions Master reached out and pulled him into a hug. He was alive, Harry was alive. The cold space that had appeared in his heart after seeing Harry hurt, filled with fire at that knowledge. Someone knocked on the door and pushed it open. Kit bounced in with a tray of food, followed by Seri and Albus, both carrying trays as well. Severus released Harry and propped himself against the headboard.
"Breakfast is here! You even get to eat in bed today!" Kit sat the tray in front of the Potions Master, beaming happily at him. Severus stared at her, her happiness a little to much to take. Seri put a hand on her shoulder.
"Tune it down sis, you're overwhelming him," she commanded. Immediately the happiness that had flooded the room when she had entered, dimmed and Severus breathed a sigh of relief. Someone sat down beside him and he felt a cool hand on his forehead and one on his chest. The familiar presence of Seri flowed over him, soothing his few aches and pains.
"It's magical shock alright. Not surprising considering the damage he did to those Death Eaters," she drew her hands away, "The only treatment of course is a few days of bed rest. I suggest you stay up here, I don't want you wondering around the castle like you have a tendency to do. This way Albus can keep an eye on you for us, Harry too. Harry can sit in on any meetings we have for the next week until Kit or I think you're ready to go back. Is that understood?" she glared at him sternly. He nodded and she leaned forward, giving him a quick kiss on the forehead.
"That's my good patient. Now, I say we eat something already." She pulled away and Albus sat in her place. The twins moved to the end of the bed and sat the trays in between them.
"Let's dig in," Kit proclaimed. The others agreed whole-heartedly and began eating. His appetite returned, Severus joined them, eating like a starving man. Once he'd finished he became drowsy and began to slip off. Albus took the plate from him and eased him to lean against him. Severus fought sleep at first, then gave in, burying himself against the headmaster. Once the others were sure he was asleep they too stopped eating.
"How bad is it, really?" Harry demanded. Seri sighed.
"It's pretty severe, he's going to be in bed for at least a week. Longer if I think he should be. I want you two to stay with him. Harry, I suggest you move a few of you're clothes up here and some of Sev's, if that's alright with you headmaster," she turned to him. Albus nodded.
"I was going to suggest it anyway. I want to keep an eye on both Severus and Harry. Harry was hit with a double Cruciatus curse," he informed them. Seri immediately pulled Harry to her and scanned.
"I can feel it, you should be sleeping too young man." Harry scooted away from her when she released him, glaring at her in annoyance.
"I'm fine, it's nothing compared to what Severus went through," he argued. Seri returned his glare but finally nodded.
"Very well."
"Don't worry so much sis, I'll make them both an energy potion. That'll get them both going again," Kit offered. Seri smiled at her.
"Great idea! They'll need it. Now, back to what we were talking about before. You know how Severus is Albus, you've dealt with him before. The second he starts to feel better he's going to want to get out of bed. You can't let him." Albus grimaced.
"The last time he was stuck in bed for a week I had to strap him to it on the third day to keep him in it. When I finally let him out he wouldn't speak to me for a week." Harry snickered at the mental image that brought up. Poor Albus.
"Exactly, that's why I want at least one of you in here with him at all times," Seri continued. Both student and headmaster nodded. Kit reached out and brushed a lock of Severus' black hair from his face.
"He's so tired, even I can sense it and I'm not as good as you," she whispered, "I don't think he'll give you that much trouble this time around." Albus sighed.
"I hope not, I seriously hope not."
************
True to Kit's prediction, Severus didn't give them trouble. Though, by the fourth day, he chased them out of the bathroom, claiming he could clean himself. Harry could have swore he heard the man mutter, "Mother hens," on the way out. He continued to do his school work, only up in the bedroom now. When he had to go out for a lesson, Albus always sat in his place. There were only two meetings that week and he filled in Severus' place during both of them. When someone asked were the Potions Master was he only replied,
"Not feeling well. The good doctors have ordered him to rest." They accepted the answer and left it at that. Harry found that, during these meetings, when ever his advice was asked he could give it readily. What was strangest was the fact that he could plan attacks and counter-attacks with relative ease. He finally got the nerve to ask Severus about this.
"Sev, I've got a question." The man looked up at him.
"Shoot Harry."
"How is it that I'm able to make all these complicated plans, deploying troops and what not and I can't even beat Ron at a simple game of chess?" he wanted to know. Severus scratched his head thoughtfully.
"Well Harry, it was just a part of you that lay dormant until it was needed," he replied. Harry cocked his head to the side.
"Really?" The man nodded.
"Why don't you challenge Ron to a game of chess when school starts again, and see who wins then."
*************
During this time, the real reason he was keeping so quiet was this: he was thinking about Harry. He cared for the boy deeply, thought of him as his little one, but did Harry care for him back?
*Well of course he does, otherwise he wouldn't be taking care of you.* an extremely familiar voice inside his head reminded.
"I thought you went away," he wondered aloud. The voice snorted.
*I did, now I'm back. You need some help,* the voice informed him. Severus sighed.
"If I'm listening to a voice in my head, and actually having a conversation with it, then yes I do." The voice puffed in indignation.
*Well excuuuuuse me, I was only trying to be helpful.*
"Is that right?" Severus replied sarcastically.
*Yes. You love Harry, but you don't know what to do about it,* the voice stated the obvious.
"Okay, that's true, partly. I do have an idea, but I doubt he'll go for it."
"Doubt who will go for what child?" Albus asked as he came into the room. Severus jumped, then blushed.
"Who are you talking to Severus?" the headmaster continued. Severus blushed again.
"Myself," the man answered timidly. The headmaster raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Not unusual, I tend to do the same at times. Want to tell me who won't go for what?" Albus prodded on.
"It's Harry, I....I just realized that I...." he trailed off.
"Love him?" the headmaster supplied. Severus nodded.
"How did you know?"
"Oh Severus, I've known for a long time. I was actually wondering when you'd realize it," the headmaster answered. Severus blanched.
'Was I that transparent?' he wondered to himself.
*Yes you were,* the voice informed him, smugly.
'Shut up.'
"Okay, so what won't Harry go for?" Albus wanted to know. Severus hesitated, then told him of his idea.
'It's a crazy idea, really it is.' he thought glumly.
*Know it's not, it's a wonderful idea!* the voice rebuked.
"Why Severus that's a wonderful idea!" the headmaster proclaimed.
*See.*
"When do you plan to ask him?" Albus asked.
"Not anytime soon," Severus stated. Albus' brow furrowed.
"Why Severus? School will be starting in another two weeks. You won't have as much time together then, not if you don't do something about it. People are going to wonder about your sudden change in attitude towards the boy. Many theories may arise, none of the savory," the headmaster warned. Severus almost gagged as the implications hit him. Yes, people would wonder about him and Harry. No telling where they might look for the reasons....
"I'm just afraid he'll laugh at me," Severus whispered, hanging his head. A hand reached out and lifted his chin up so that he stared into the headmaster's cerulean blue eyes.
"Do you love him child?" the man asked.
"Yes," Severus answered with out a second thought.
*Yes, of course you do.*
"Then ask him," Albus pleaded. Severus still wasn't sure, what would he do if the boy really /did/ laugh at him.
*He won't, give him more credit than that. This is Harry were talking about. He loves you back you idiot. If you'd open your eyes and your heart you'd see that.* Severus bit his lip, then nodded.
"Okay Albus, I'll ask him."
***********
When he was away from the headmaster's bedroom, Harry spent his time in the library. The spell, thank goodness, had been completed today. He'd already had a talk with Fawkes and the bird was willing to help him. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been able to pull this off. Once he'd finished that, he'd concentrated on finding the Dursleys.
"I need a break," he proclaimed. Dowsing took energy, and so far he'd been at it for two solid hours. He'd narrowed the scope of the search into one little area.
"Just a few more minutes and I should have them," he told himself. Pulling on further energy he concentrated harder. The jagged crystal continued to swing over the forest of the map, Salazar's Realm it was called. The swinging gradually became tighter and tighter until finally it stuck to the map, over a prison building. Harry opened his eyes and stared down at the map in disbelief.
"I found them," he whispered. After so many weeks of searching, his stubbornness was finally bearing fruits. He sat the crystal aside and circled the place with his quill, then rolled up the map. He had to go get Sev.
"Harry...." Speak of the devil.
"Harry," Severus started again. The afore mentioned boy turned to his teacher.
"Yes Sev?" Severus swallowed nervously and cleared his throat, reaching out for a table to steady himself with. He'd only been let out of the bed yesterday and he was still a little woozy.
"Harry I want to ask you something," Severus managed. Harry watched curiously as the man continued to fidget nervously.
"What Severus?"
'Oh God,' he thought, 'this is going to be harder than I thought it would be.' He swallowed again. Harry raised an eyebrow at him when he didn't answer immediately.
"Is something wrong Sev? Are you alright? Is Albus alright? The twins?" he asked in concern. Severus shook his head.
"There fine, I just wanted to ask you something." The man was stalling, that much was obvious.
"What? Spit it out Severus," Harry said in exasperation. Severus drew in a deep breath.
"Harry, would you let me adopt you?"
A/N: Hah! Thought I was going to end it there didn't you? With just a little cliffy. I'm not that evil.
A/N: Wait a minute, I am that evil. HEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!!!! Cliffy!!! You have to wait.
*rattles collection tin fiercely* Please review or I might be tempted to leave it at that.