Chapter seven
Dumbledore sat silently at his desk for some time after the potions master left. Without warning he stood and walked over to a cabinet off to his left, which was standing slightly ajar. Sighing once more he pulled out a stone basin that held a glittering, silvery substance. Carrying the basin over to his desk the headmaster took his seat. Then pulling out his wand he poked at the surface of the liquid, watching as it took form. He had successfully extracted a particular one of Snape's memories.
---MEMORY OF SNAPE'S DREAM---
Severus was at Twelve Grimmauld place. He was watching as they lowered an empty casket into Sirius' family plot in a final show of respect to Black. To Snape's right stood Lupin who, even to Severus, looked lost. Lupin held a very emotional Potter in his arms.
"Professor Lupin, I miss him so much! It's all my fault he's gone!"
At a complete loss Remus turned to Severus as they watched the grief stricken boy walk over to the casket. Harry bent down and taking a handful of dirt tossed it onto the slowly lowering pine box. Snape watched a single tear slide down Harry's face to mingle in the dirt. Then the former death eater noticed that the young Gryffindor was speaking.
"Sirius, I am sorry I didn't have more time to get to know you. Keep my Mum and Dad Company until I can be with you guys again okay? I'll miss you Snuffles."
As Severus watched the boy walk away he quickly followed and fell into step behind him. "You know Harry, if you need a dreamless sleep potion all you need do is ask and I will make you some."
"Thanks for the offer, Sir, but I'm tired of running, especially from my dreams," Harry said cryptically.
"What exactly do you mean Mister…?" Snape never got to finish his inquiry, however, because before he got the last word out Harry had turned his potions master to face him and pressed his petal soft lips to Severus'…
---END MEMORY OF SNAPE'S DREAM---
As the pensieve went black Albus sat lost in his musings,
'Hmmm, it seems as though I must devise a way to force Severus and young Mister Potter to work together in hopes of making them do what must be done. Now ... how do I do it?'
All at once his blue eyes lit to resemble the brightness of carved sapphires caught in the midday sun. The old man smiled as he started to pen the letter that would force two well known enemies to work together.
---Back in Gryffindor tower---
"Hermione! At last! I thought you would never be done with lunch!" Harry exclaimed as he jumped up to embrace the girl that had, over the course of the years, become like a sister to him. Hermione returned the hug telling him how happy she was that he was finally awake and how worried they had been, all the while guiding the both of them onto the couch in front of the fire.
"Alright Harry, spill it. The last time you looked this bad, You Know Who had just come back," the girl stated simply. "And I'm not talking about the fact that you've just woken up after being unconscious for three weeks!"
Harry thought about only telling her a little of what had happened but one look into her brown eyes told him that she would know it if he edited the story. Not knowing where to start, Harry just blurted out the first thing that came into his spinning mind, "Snape is a vampire, Mione.
Hermione nodded, "I know, Harry, I've known since third year, but that's beside the point… go on."
"Well that day in Hogsmeade as I came out of the potions shop I saw Sev-- uh Snape being attacked by two men. He was winning but then I saw a third man coming up behind him. To be honest I still don't know why I did it but I rushed in to help him and that's what landed me in the hospital wing for the past three weeks."
Hermione was growing impatient with her friend's ranting, knowing he was avoiding telling her the part of the story that was really bothering him. "Harry maybe you should just come out and tell me what the problem is?" She suggested becoming frustrated.
"Yeah, okay," Harry fidgeted nervously, "right, uh ... the thing is, the guy I fought in Hogsmeade was a vampire as well. At some point during the battle he bit me. Long story short the guy that bit me was killed so Severus had to give me his blood. Now if I don't want to die I have to mate with him."
Harry was amazed at how just telling someone something could make him feel one hundred percent better. He came back to himself as he heard his friend sigh and say, "Oh Harry James Potter what have you gone and gotten yourself into now? Well, we'll just have to put our heads together and see if we can't figure this one out. Now Harry you said you don't know why you saved professor Snape's life. So before we can start planning how to get you out of this mess I have to ask, Harry are you gay?"
"WHAT, Am I... NO! Of course not! At least I don't think I am... why do you ask Mione?" The wizard finished lamely.
"Hmmm, I think we can continue with our planning now, Harry. Because, let's face it, my friend, you and I both know that this has to happen and if you're at least somewhat attracted to Snape then it won't be so bad now will it?" Hermione looked at him pleadingly as she finished.
Harry looked at her incredulously.
"Just because I may be attracted to guys does not sugar coat the fact that I have to sleep with my most hated professor to stay alive! DAMN IT! Why does this stuff always have to happen to me?" Harry ranted.
"First off, Harry, technically he is not your professor. Not since you tested out of potions class last year. Secondly there is a very fine line between love and hate." As Hermione said this, she looked over to see Fawkes, the headmaster's phoenix swoop down upon her friend's knee, a letter clasped within his beak.
"What do you mean, Mione?" Harry asked puzzled.
"You'll figure it out, Harry, I believe in you."
With this said, she left to go to her room as Harry opened his letter from Dumbledore. As she reached the base of the girls dormitory stairs she gave a soft chuckle when Harry's curses, reached her ears.
'I know you are the one behind this Dumbledore and I cannot wait to see what you have planned for Severus and Harry. I don't know how but I am certain that that letter concerns our dear potions master as well as Harry.'