Harry Potter Is More Than a Little Tired Chapter 15
Weasleys
The family arrived in a tousled bunch, bursting forth in a dusty ashen pile through Snape Manor's extravagant main fireplace in the ballroom. The entire family could stand comfortably within the confines of the fireplace, and it was dually noted by all the Weasley children that Professor Snape must be really, really loaded.
"Why bother teaching when you have this?" George queried.
"Bet he shits Galleons," Fred mock-whispered to George.
"Cor, that would hurt!" Ron interjected.
"Look at this place, it's bigger than our whole house!"
"I think it's as big as HogWarts. Who would've thought the greasy old git had this kind of money? He could rival Malfoy!"
"With that kind of money, you'd think he could wash his hair!"
Ginny went red with embarrassment at the boy's banter, and Mrs Weasley was quickly turning puce from the lack of respect and poor manners her children were already displaying upon their arrival.
"Get some manners NOW, boys!" She spoke quietly, but the tone was deadly. "How dare you come in here acting like low class, gutter-raised trolls? Lack of money does NOT equate to lack of self-respect. Keep your mouths shut until we leave, or I will do it for you! "
All the boys quickly muttered apologies, and turned attention to removing the last of the ash from their traveling cloaks, while both Arthur and Ginny began to inspect the glorious engravings and architecture of the room they were in. With a sudden crack, a small well-dressed House Elf appeared before them, and offered to take their cloaks. She disappeared under the load of traveling garb, then literally disappeared, and returned back in a heartbeat before them.
"Master Severus asks that you Weasleys all follow me to the drawing room, where wes has some nice tea and refreshments laid out." The elf was very nervous, and so Arthur and Molly smiled kindly and nodded, and the whole family followed her through the ballroom, down a well-lit carpeted hall into a large drawing room. The fire was roaring in the hearth, and the boys were quick to dig into the array of cakes, cookies, sandwiches and sweets laid out on the table. Only Ginny held back and taking her mother's arm asked "when can we see Harry? Mom, shouldn't we be going to see Harry not having a party in Professor Snape's house?"
Arthur and Molly exchanged a look while the matriarch decided what to tell her youngest. They had both noted that Severus had not greeted them upon their arrival, a standard wizarding custom, and it was clear that a lovely lunch and tea had been set out to sate them during his absence. None of this boded well with the two of them, and Severus only broke tradition for very serious reasons. Trying to keep up the façade that all was well in the Wizarding World, Molly gave Ginny her most reassuring smile/
"Ginny, although you may not notice it at school, Professor Snape is a courteous wizard from very old lines. It is customary to provide libations to your guests, and this is truly lovely. We will see Harry very soon. Why not have a little treat? Arthur, will you please pour me a spot of tea? Thank you."
Arthur had already moved across the room and was pouring two cups of tea, ignoring the boys who were scarfing down as much food as they could possibly cram down their throats with asphyxiating. Another genial smile at Ginny, and she too took a biscuit and sat down on the edge of a Queen Elizabeth chair.
"If he's such a traditionalist, how come his House Elf greeted us?" Asked George, who knew all the appropriate etiquettes but chose not to follow them.
"George!" Mrs Weasley's voice was taking on a shrill tone, but she was relieved of any need to further reprimand the elder twin by the silken voice of the House's owner.
"My sincere apologies for not greeting you in person, Arthur and Molly," eyes skimmed over the children briefly before he turned back to the adults. "As you know, taking care of ailing" a slight flare of the left nostril, "children can be both taxing and demanding. Young Mr Potter has had a most difficult evening, and due to the ever-changing status of his condition has required my administrations until just now. I trust that my House Elf Ninny has provided you with acceptable food and drink for tea?"
Quickly placing his cup and saucer down, Arthur rushed forward with his hand extended and a genuinely strained smile upon his face.
"Severus, dear sir, thank you so much we have been well attended in the most courteous fashion. I trust that this finds you well?"
"Thank you Arthur, I am well. I trust that you and the family are all in good form?" At his most proper, Severus could be downright tolerable, and reached out and gave a firm and genuine handshake. Up close, Arthur noted instantly the signs of the extreme strain the other man had tolerated over the summer. The stress of the Order compounded by the charge of the suicidal Saviour of the wizarding world was apparent in the new lines marking the other man's face, and the subtle effects of a recently cast glamour charm over a newly re-broken nose and dark circles under the eyes.
Molly came forwards to shake his hand also, murmuring so quietly that the eavesdropping offspring couldn't hear. "Bless you Severus; you've done what none of the rest of us could." A rose hue appeared in the Potion Masters face for the briefest of moments, muttering "nonsense!" He then motioned for everyone to sit down. He paced across the room to the large alcove windows overlooking cliffs which dropped down to the sea far below. Pinching the bridge of his nose and carefully avoiding the intense stare of the youngest (and in his opinion, the most talented) Weasley, he began to address them about the matter of Harry Potter.
"It is of utmost importance," he began, trying to assure that he would convey the severity of the situation without inciting panic, "it is of utmost importance that Potter not be" he cleared his throat, allowing a moment to deduce the best wording "distressed."
Eyes wide, mouths agape ('typical, must be a Weasley' Lucious spoke in his mind) he had the full attention of the red headed clan. Taking another breath, slightly taken aback by his lack of poise in this moment he began again.
"Young Mr Potter, Harry" He noted that Ronald looked across at his twin brothers and mouthed the word "Harry?" but continued on. "Harry has overcome some rather extreme physical and health problems over the past month. He is far from healed, and came to me in a malnourished and severely injured state." Tears from the Weasley girl at this ('Yes little one, it is as bad as you thought it was') and hand-wringing from Molly followed by copious shoulder-patting from her husband.
"Three times now he has nearly died since arriving in my care. His heart has been damaged most grievously. He needs quiet, he needs support, and in all honesty he needs to be left alone to expert care. When we arranged this meeting, we were unaware, rather, with the events that have transpired in the last 24 hours we would have told you not to come. Both Madame Pomfrey and I have been working diligently overnight to repair the damage. Physically there is a strong chance that Harry will survive, however, he only briefly became aware of his surroundings, and has since then been unconscious."
Shock was written clearly on all their faces, three which were now tear-streaked, and the boys were all on their feet. The youngest Weasley had gone shockingly pale, and Severus hoped that she didn't faint and he would have a second patient to be concerned about. He had already spent far too much time away from Potter, and his sense of foreboding was growing. This was all taking longer than he should like, and a headache was blossoming into a tempest behind his eyes. Deciding it was time to leave, he concluded his speech.
"Should you wish to see Mr Potter, you must come one at a time, it will only be for a moment so that you can reassure yourselves he is still alive, and be prepared. It is clear to the eye that he has been on his deathbed." Turning to leave, he motioned at them. "My House Elf shall return momentarily. Should you wish to see Mr Potter, she will escort you to his suite. I bid you all good day, and extend an offer to relax and enjoy the refreshments as long as you should choose."
As the door closed behind him, the only remaining Snape took a deep breath, vowed to create an ant-acid potion sooner rather than later, muttered a calming spell over his now throbbing headache, and dimmed all the lighting in the halls to Potters quarters. He willed the Weasley's to leave his home and never return, and his long stride broke into a trot as he raced back to ensure that his charge was still alright. Reaching the door to Potters rooms, he released the wards and flung the door open. To his relief, all was as he had left it.
Potter had cleaned up surprisingly well after nearly dying of a coronary. Severus' spell work was second to none (8 O's in the Ordinary Wizarding Level can't be wrong) and as a result the boy was clean, hair combed and even tidy for once, and the bedding and bedclothes had been replaced with fresh new linen. A refreshing charm had sweetened the air in the room, a small fire glowed in the fireplace, and everything appeared positively serene. The added affect of skin Glamours added color to the boy's cheeks (rather than the fever flush which had resided there the previous week) and made him appear less skeletal. He looked more like he was recovering from a bout of the Dragon Pox, rather than heart failure.
As he approached the boy, Severus noted the rhythmical rise and fall of his chest, turned to the House Elf at her post and told her to go and attend the Weasley family.
"I hope that they do not decide to pay a visit to our charge, but should they elect to, please escort them here yourself Ninny."
"Yes sir, I will be doing that sir!" With that she disappeared.
"Your infernal friends are here to see you, Harry. I doubt that you can hear me, less comprehend what I am saying. I am going to charm you to stay unconscious. We don't need any blood pressure spikes, or emotional outbursts. You won't be able to move your limbs or awaken from your dreams, so I hope they are sweet. It is not my choice to do this, it is a necessity. Somnulus!"
Down in the parlor a heated discussion had begun.
"I'm not leaving 'til I see him!" Ron was shouting "Merlin only knows what that git has done to Harry!"
"Ron!" Molly raised her voice. "Apologize now!"
"I need to see Harry Mom, what if he dies?" Ginny was her palest yet, attempting to stand but her knees buckled and she sat back down hard. "I need to see him, to tell him things"
"You love him don't you?" Fred cut in incredulously.
"Quite the choice of boyfriends, Gin!" George interjected "you like the high profile angst-ridden type hey?"
"I will deal with you two when I return to the burrow!"
Ginny began crying in earnest, and Molly sent the two twins to the ballroom to floo home immediately.
"I can't believe he would do this to me!" Ron spoke up. "Harry was my best mate!"
"You can go home now too! This is not about you Ronald Weasley, haven't you learned anything? Join your brothers now; you will not be seeing Harry today! Of all the terrible things I've heard from my children, you are a real traitor to Harry, Ron! I am embarrassed you are my son today!" Molly's fury was palpable in the room.
"I feel that we should respect Professor Snape and return another time to see Harry children." Arthur's logic attempted to cut through the din. "If he is as ill as we have been told, he shouldn't be disturbed. Your Professor seemed truly concerned about him, and with the prophecy, should we lose Harry we will lose our world as we know it."
At that, Ginny did faint dead away, and Arthur walked over and scooped her up in his arms. Severus' House Elf had reappeared, and Arthur summoned her to bring their cloaks as they were leaving. Ushering Ron out into the hallway, Molly shook her head at the embarrassment known as her family. Her children were going to receive a rude awakening on the morrow. Etiquette lessons were going to begin in the Weasley household. That is, once they had revived Ginny.
With a final flame of green, Ninny bade farewell the clan which had so greatly disturbed the sanctuary of her home. Wishing that they never returned again, she returned her master's drawing room to its previous pristine state, and then went to inform her master of their mutual good fortune.
"Bless Circe!" Severus sighed upon hearing the glad tidings. He truly was in no mood for any more raucous banter, and his charge couldn't handle any setbacks. He checked Harry once again, contemplating removing the sleep charm. As his head throbbed and the pain began to escalate further, he opted for a few hours of undisturbed rest, and settled back into his preferred wing-back, promptly fell into a deep sleep for the first time since Harry Potter's arrival.