33 House Bound

Vespa Snape had received the shocking news that her niece had disappeared from Beauxbaton Academy on Saturday morning. By Saturday night she had a full fledged plan in place that she knew would not fail. The thought of her foolish nephew kidnapping her heir/adopted daughter had brought more anger to her than she had ever thought possible. She was so angry in fact that she had actually killed her two favorite house elves with spells that had long been illegal. That had only added fuel to the fire and she vowed to make her nephew pay dearly.

Vespa knew that the best way to get to Severus was through the boy, Harry Potter. It had been easy to arrange for both Severus and Headmaster Dumbledore to be called away to the ministry. On Sunday Stanton had informed her that both wizards were in custody at the ministry and she apparated straight to Hogwarts to begin her plan. She figured that she might need to obliviate a few teachers that knew she had poisoned the boy and was ready to do so at a moments notice. She also thought that she would need to cast an Imperius curse on the boy so he would come with her willingly.

Vespa found Hogwarts poorly protected with a loathsome groundskeeper as the only person she had to convince that she was indeed the boy's aunt. That had been easy because legally she was the boy's aunt. When he led her into Professor McGonagall's office, Vespa cast a wandless legillimens and rifled through the professor's memories. She found that the teacher had no idea about the poison. She quickly informed Professor McGonagall that Severus had sent her to retrieve Mr. Potter and bring him home for a few days until Severus returned to the school. She explained that Severus did not want the boy to be alone during his absence.

McGonagall wasn't surprised that Severus had asked his aunt to come pick up Potter, as the man had been so worried about the boy before he left. She invited the elder witch to a seat and offered tea and biscuits. Once the tea was served McGonagall informed Madame Snape of Harry's latest condition and assured her that Harry was resting peacefully in the infirmary.

Vespa had masked her face and did not show the surprise she had over the boy being in the infirmary. She bluffed her way along and pretended that she knew all about the accident that Potter had suffered. She was surprised she hadn't picked up on that when she had cast the Legilimens on the professor.

"Oh that boy! Whatever are we to do with him? He seems bent towards putting himself into perilous positions," McGonagall said in a friendly but exasperated tone of voice.

Vespa nodded her head and said what the professor wanted to hear, "Oh yes, this past summer when we were together at Snape Manor, I was amazed at the antics the boy pulled. But, you know my nephew; he seems to let that boy get away with murder!" Vespa laughed at her own pun.

"Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees that Severus spoils the boy. Why just last night he gave his son chocolate frogs for a bedtime snack and let him escape from the infirmary," Minerva said in annoyance.

"Well not to worry my dear. Rest assured, now that I'm here the boy will need to abide by my rules. He will eat proper meals and I will be sure he gets the rest that he requires." Vespa had plans for the boy that did not include either of those.

Minerva liked this no nonsense witch and was only too happy to have Harry recover under her watchful eye. It would do the boy good to have to abide by rules without Severus interfering. She led the witch down the corridors leading to the infirmary.

Just before they stepped through the infirmary doors Vespa suddenly spoke up, "Oh Minerva, do you mind if I see the boy alone? I know how much I miss him and would love to have a few minutes privacy."

Minerva thought it wonderful that Severus' aunt was so close to Harry. "Why of course dear. Why don't I just run up to Gryffindor Tower and collect a few items that Mr. Potter may need on his stay with you?"

Vespa gave the professor a warm smile and watched as Minerva went up the winding staircase. Vespa slowly pushed the doors open and had her wand hidden in her sleeve in case she ran into the medi-witch. She could see the only bed occupied at the far end and no one else was around. She slowly walked towards the bed, ready to cast an Imperius as soon as the boy saw her.

Harry had been struggling against the potions that ran through his system ever since he awoke. He still couldn't move his arms or legs and tried to speak again but sounded garbled to his own ears. He went from scared to angry over the way he was being treated by the medi-witch. He couldn't wait to get out the hell out of here and vowed to never end up in the infirmary again. He still hadn't forgotten about the dream but tried not to think about it.

Suddenly he heard the doors to the infirmary creak open and could hear foot steps coming his way. He couldn't turn his head to see who was coming but he could feel a dark presence. The feeling got stronger until he actually begun to shake involuntarily. The dark shadow of his dreams was now a reality, he could feel it coming. His senses were on high alert and the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up in warning. He tried once again to yell for help but all that was heard was a moan.

Then a hand with long sharp fingernails stroked his face gently sending chills down his spine. Now he could see who was touching him and he felt himself go into a panic with bile rising in his throat. Another moan escaped his lips.

"Hush my child. Aunt Vespa is here to take care of you now. Come now dear, don't look so frightened," purred the dangerous cold voice into Harry's ear.

Harry could feel her stiff gray hair brush up against his cheek and smelled the lavender perfume he remembered from their last encounter. He tried to scream as his eyes looked around wildly for help but nothing but a moan escaped his lips.

"Well now, isn't this a lovely surprise. It seems I won't need to use any spells on you to get you to cooperate! Lovely, just lovely." Vespa raised her wand and said, "Locomotor!"

Harry felt himself floating while still on his back. Vespa directed him towards the floo and stepped into the green fire along with him. They flooed into Hogsmeade but stayed less than a second. Vespa pulled a portkey out and they were gone before anyone had ever seen them.

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Minerva had packed a small satchel with Harry's clothes and bath supplies, and then she went back down to the infirmary. When she saw that Vespa and Harry were already gone she was only mildly surprised. But, knowing Harry he probably couldn't wait to get out of the infirmary and talked his aunt into leaving immediately. Oh well, at least the boy would be well cared for.

Minerva left a note for Poppy and let her know that Harry was with his aunt now. She decided that another hot cup of tea was just what she needed after this long day.

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Severus had the worst headache he could ever remember having. The damn ministry officials had given him three doses of Veritaserum and they still did not get the information they were after. Stanton was adamant that they try again but luckily the Auror in charge denied him. Stanton threw a fit and was finally kicked out of the interrogation room.

Severus was told he was free to go. He found Dumbledore playing a game of chess with the auror in charge of interrogating the Headmaster. When the Headmaster saw him he thanked the Auror for the lovely tea and game of chess and Severus and he flooed into Hogsmeade.

Severus was anxious to check up on Harry and he thought he would postpone checking up on Charlet until later. By the time they made it up to Hogwarts it was dark already and most of the students were in their dorms. Severus walked into the infirmary and saw Poppy restocking the shelves. She smiled at him and asked how Harry was doing.

At first Severus didn't understand the question and had a look of confusion on his face.

The medi-witch asked again, "Severus how is Mr. Potter feeling? That arm should almost be healed by now after the double dose of muscle relaxer I gave him. I could tell he didn't want to take it but he needed it to make him stay in bed and keep that arm from moving about!"

Severus looked around and saw all the beds were empty. He thought Harry must be waiting for him in his quarters again. That boy just didn't follow the rules! He was just turning to head down to his rooms when the medi-witch spoke up again.

"Minerva thought your aunt a lovely woman. I would have loved to have met her. Maybe when she returns with Harry we should all have tea together?" Poppy turned back around and continued restocking the shelves.

"My aunt? My aunt was here! Where the hell is my son!" Severus panicked and grabbed hold of Poppy's arm.

"Severus relax! I thought you sent her here to get Harry! Minerva spoke with her and brought her down here on your orders!" The medi-witch ran over to the floo and called Minerva down to the infirmary.

It only took a minute for Minerva to show up. She smiled at Severus, "Severus I so enjoyed meeting Vespa today. She is a lovely woman and so fond of Harry."

Severus felt his insides melt and his head spun even more than before. He would have dropped to his knees over the shock but knew he didn't have that luxury and pulled himself together, "Do you mean to tell me that you released my son to Vespa Snape? That you let her take him off school grounds!" His voice was so dark that Minerva stepped away from him.

"B-but she said you sent her? She said you wanted her to take care of Harry. Are you telling me she did not have permission to take him?" Minerva had never seen the look Severus was giving her before. She stepped further away and felt herself flinch as Severus stepped closer.

"When did they leave? What did Harry say when he saw her?"

"They left hours ago. I didn't see Mr. Potter when he saw her. Vespa asked if I would give them a few minutes alone and when I returned they were gone. She didn't even wait for his satchel," Minerva replied as she nervously wrung her hands.

"Minerva you may have just handed Harry over to a murderer!"

Minerva's eyes grew wide as she thought of what she had just done.

Severus stepped past the anxious woman and headed up to Dumbledore's office. He felt dread spread throughout him and barely made it into the headmaster's office before he collapsed on a chair.

Albus saw the look on Severus' face, "My boy, what in the world has happened? Is Harry alright?"

Severus dropped his face into his hands and shook his head side to side.

Albus was up on his feet in a flash over the emotions this stoic man was displaying. He grabbed Severus' shoulder and demanded, "What has happened!"

"The whole interrogation was a set up. We were set up Albus! Vespa waltzed in here and Minerva handed my son over to her on a silver platter! He's gone Albus, Vespa has him!"

Albus sat down hard onto the chair next to Severus and felt every year of his age at that moment. This just couldn't be happening. Harry didn't deserve any of this.

Severus looked into the Headmaster's eyes, "Albus, he begged me not to leave him. My son begged me! He cried like a small child and pleaded with me. Do you know what I did? I opened my arms to him and once he embraced me I tricked him into the infirmary. Albus, if you could have seen the look in his eyes of betrayal …" Severus shook his head and wondered if Harry would ever trust him again. He couldn't even imagine what was being done to the poor boy right now and all because of him.

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As soon as Harry felt the pull on his navel he knew he had been portkeyed. When he opened his eyes again he saw the ceiling of a large mansion. He felt himself float past the fancy room down a dark stairwell. The air became frigid and he could see that he was in a laboratory of some sort. Now he could see hundreds of chandeliers crowded together on the ceiling. They looked to be old and half of them were not lit. The ones that were lit cast an eerie light around the room. He saw shelves stocked with odd dead creatures in glass jars along an entire wall. The other wall that he could see was stocked with all sorts of ingredients to make potions. The sounds of the cauldrons bubbling and the odd glass jars filled with unusual creatures filled him with dread.

Vespa released the locomotor spell and watched the boy slam down on a long metal workbench. She waved her wand and magical bands snaked out holding the boy down to the table. The fear she saw in the boy's eyes made her laugh with glee. Just the thought of striking that much fear into the son of her pathetic nephew made her glad she had gone through with this plan.

Harry looked around frantically for a way to escape. The thought of being bound up like this was starting to make him panic. How did Vespa know this was the worst possible punishment she could do to him? He watched as Vespa stood over him laughing that high pitched evil sound. His heart raced over being held down again and his eyes scanned the room quickly. He saw horrible looking instruments lined up on the other table, long silver knives and hooks. He began to shake with fear.

"Let's see how Severus saves you from this? You should never have put your trust into someone like him." Vespa got great joy over watching the boy hold back his fear and knew that she was pressing just the right buttons by the way the boy was reacting. She wanted to make him pay for all the wrongs Severus had dared to inflict on her.

Harry concentrated on making himself calm down; he didn't want Vespa getting any pleasure from his discomfort. He began to occlude his mind, building the walls Severus had taught him.

"Open your eyes boy! Look at me; I want to see the fear in your eyes when I tell you how you will die today!" Vespa grabbed hold of Harry's face with her long nails, leaving deep red scratches along his cheek.

When Harry looked her way he was temporarily blinded by a bright flash. He saw Vespa smile over the fright he showed as she took another picture of him.

Harry looked at her with hate filled eyes, knowing that he was trapped. He watched as the evil witch took hold of a whip with metal tips. He knew that she would beat him with it; he knew that he would suffer as he did with Vernon. But he vowed not to give her the satisfaction of seeing him cry out. He continued to occlude his mind, blocking out all feelings for Vespa, even the hate.

"I want you to know boy that you will pay for all that Severus has done. You will pay for his mistake in crossing me. When I am finished punishing you I will send him a nice memento of all that is left of you." Vespa smiled down on the unusually calm boy, vexed by his sudden composure.

Harry heard the wickedness pouring from Vespa's loathsome mouth and something odd occurred to him. He saw very clearly that Severus was not at fault for any of this, and that he was not at fault for any of this. The only one at fault was Vespa. The more Vespa spoke the clearer Harry saw that he was not to blame. He felt vindicated in a sense, he felt like he was set free from the responsibility of taking the blame. Before this moment he had actually thought he had brought the poison on himself. His uncle had drilled such horrible thoughts into his head that he felt responsible for all the bad things ever done to him. But just listening to Vespa speak about Severus made him see that no one but Vespa was making this happen.

He suddenly thought of something Severus had said to him once and everything came clear.

Harry, stop thinking you are the cause for all things evil in this world.

He knew now what his father was trying to tell him but he couldn't let himself believe it before today.

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw Vespa raise her arm with the whip. He felt a ripple of magic course through his inner being. The magic crackled in the air and he watched as Vespa stopped and looked around. When nothing happened she raised her arm once again. Harry could feel the magic building within himself. It was bursting to be released and he had no control over what it would do next. With a feeling of euphoria he recognized the magical surge. This was exactly how he felt when he accidentally blew up Aunt Marge. He was almost excited to see what would happen next.

Vespa felt an odd magic in the room and looked to her house elf. She knew it wasn't the boy for he had no wand and was immobilized. She raised her arm higher intent on causing the most harm possible. As her arm came down an odd wave of magic burst forth and she was violently thrown back. The creatures in the glass slide to the floor as jars burst open pouring forth foul smelling liquid. The chandeliers shook and several fell crashing to the floor. Most of the cauldrons burst, sending hot liquid in all directions.

Vespa was hit with all sorts of vile smelling liquid. She grabbed her house elf and began screaming at him for causing such calamity.

Harry felt a warm magical glow blanket over him, protecting him from all the flying debris. The happiness over having the uncontrollable magic return made him smile. He felt so happy to have been able to protect himself at a time when he was sure he would be victim to another beating. His happiness spilled over and he laughed. He didn't mean to but he couldn't stop himself.

Vespa stopped yelling at the elf and gave her full attention to the boy. "What are you laughing at? Did you cause this to happen? Was this you're doing? You will be punished for that!" Vespa shook with anger as she cast a body bind on the boy. "I don't know how you did this but you will pay!"

Vespa released the bands and yelled out, "Locomotor!"

Harry felt himself floating on his back and could no longer move any part of his body. He went down a long dark stone hallway, past several wooden doors with heavy locks. He could hear the house elf following behind, mumbling profanities about him and spitting. When they came to a large door at the end of the hallway he heard the elf take a sharp breath in.

"Me no go in there Master! Me be a good elf."

Vespa turned with rage and grabbed the elf by the ear. "You'll go where I tell you!"

Harry's heart began to race again. Whatever was in that room scared the house elf silly. The poor thing was hanging on the doorframe refusing to go any further. Harry suddenly wished his uncontrollable magic would keep him from having to enter into that room. He heard a thud as the house elf was forced into the room and suddenly he was following right behind.

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Severus and Albus walked into the secret hide out to check on Charlet. She was still asleep and Dobby was pacing the floor. The room they had supplied for her was an exact replica of the room she had shared with Vespa at Snape Manor. It had all the creature comforts her heart desired along with any food she wished to order.

Dobby ran to them and begun to tell the Headmaster how the girl behaved badly.

"She be a bad witch Master! She demand to go homes but I tells her not yet. She throws everything Masters. Dobby had to fix all the broken bottles pretty vases!" Dobby grabbed his ears and pulled in his upset state.

Severus knew things were only going to get worse. He cast a sleeping spell on the girl and apparated back to Hogsmeade. He was anxious to get back to the school and see if Vespa had made contact yet.

Severus stayed awake all night long and never left his dungeons. He paced the floor knowing what lie ahead for his son. He couldn't get the image of Harry's look of betrayal out of his head, knowing he would do anything just to see the boy again. Damn it, why the bloody hell didn't he listen to his son? Why did he have to be so unyielding and let those old hags talk him into forcing Harry back into the infirmary! He didn't think he would ever be able to forgive those two witches for the horrible advice they gave him on punishments. He should have listened to his own intuition and called Molly to stay with Harry while he was at the ministry. If he was given a second chance with the boy he knew that things would be different.

Another chance to be a father to the boy he had opened his heart to seemed almost impossible at this point. Severus knew just how brutal Vespa could get and with the poison weakening Harry's body he could only hope that Harry could survive it. How did everything get this bad, how could he have put his son in this position? Leaving Harry helpless in the infirmary had been a huge mistake that the poor boy would pay for.

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Harry started to shake uncontrollably with fear of what he was about to face. As he floated into the room he was still on his back and couldn't see anything but the ceiling. He was lowered down and was surprised when he went further down than the floor. He suddenly knew he was in a deep pit in the ground. He was lowered another ten feet into a dark black hole, feeling himself hit the ground. Now he was laying on feces and something crinkly. The smell was awful and thick. He could hear odd voices hissing at him. Vespa turned the light up so he could see where he landed then removed the body bind.

"I'll be back later to see if you are still finding this situation to be humorous!" The witch gave Harry an malicious smile then shut the door on her way out with the elf close behind her.

Harry looked around … and almost started to laugh again. Then he did start to laugh. He blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing correctly and unsteadily sat up and looked around. The pit was filled with snakes! The pit looked to be dug straight into solid dark stone with the sides too smooth to climb out of. He watched as several snakes slithered towards him and was glad that feeling had returned to his limbs. He immediately stood up and said in parseltongue, "I am a friend. Pleasssse don't hurt me."

The largest snake about half the size of Nagini slithered up to Harry's feet. "You ssspeak our language."

Harry nodded and said, "Yesss, I wish to be friendssss."

"We are hungry yesssss." Harry thought the snake looked at him as if he were Christmas dinner.

Harry quickly replied, "I will get you ssssomething sssoon."

This seemed to make the snake happy for a little while and more snakes came forward to speak with him. He found out some had been in captivity their whole lives while others had recently been captured. Harry asked questions about any secret tunnels they may know of or any way for him to escape. One small black and red snake knew of a passage way in the laboratory that led out to the forest. Harry wasn't sure if he understood exactly where it was but felt a little better knowing that there might be a way out. He asked the little snake to wrap around his leg so the snake would be able to show him if he ever got the chance. The snake went willingly, happy for the warmth of the boy.

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Severus had just finished working on a potion that might come in handy when a lavender owl appeared on his work bench. He quickly grabbed the note, unrolling it with urgency.

The picture before him showed a frightened boy with deep scratches on his face. Severus couldn't stop looking at those deep green eyes, filled with fright and pain.

He finally turned the photo over and saw the short message:

You have three hours to return Charlet

The note was not signed nor had any indication on how they would make the switch. Severus quickly jotted down a note and tied it to Vespa's owl. The bird disappeared with a pop.

Severus had come up with a plan but it would all hinge on Vespa's response to his note. Now the waiting began again. He had to reach down to the darkest part of himself to complete his plan. It might mean the blood of an innocent child on his hands but he was willing to suffer those consequences if it meant getting Harry back.

He turned the photo over once again and looked into the eyes that would haunt his dreams forever.

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Vespa received her owl back but was furious with the response her nephew gave her. She read the note once again as the anger boiled within.

How dare her nephew demand anything! The nerve of the man to demand that they make the switch in a public place. She should just kill the boy and send his body back! But no, she needed Charlet back. She and the girl had made a blood oath to each other and Vespa needed the girl to remain unharmed. Although she thought Severus to be pathetic, she didn't put it past him to kill the girl out of revenge.

Vespa read the note again:

Vespa,

It saddens me to have to play this reckless game at the cost of innocent children's lives. But since you insist I see no other option than to poison Charlet just as you have poisoned my son. I will give you one hour to send confirmation that Mr. Potter's blood is cleared of all poisons or I will be forced to poison your heir apparent.

I am willing to make the switch at Hogsmeade Leaky Cauldron in two hours.

Of course the note was not signed but neither had Vespa signed her own note. Vespa knew there was no way to trick her nephew into thinking Potter was free from the curse. She would need to expel the poison from the boy's system and send a sample of his blood for Severus to check. She begrudgingly made her way down to the snake pit to retrieve the boy.

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Harry was sitting on the ground talking with his new friends when Vespa and the old elf opened the door to the room he was in.

Harry quickly said, "Friendssss we must fool the people coming. Pretend you are angry at me!"

The snakes complied and began to swarm around Harry, hissing and arching as if to attack.

Vespa leaned over the snake pit and saw the boy surrounded by angry snakes. She cackled at the sight before her, knowing the boy had learned a good lesson.

"So you nasty little beggar, did you learn your lesson?"

"Yes ma'am. I'll listen from now on," Harry said as he pretended to be afraid of the snakes hissing at him.

Vespa yelled at the old elf to get Harry out of there. The old elf lowered a rope and Harry began to climb it. The elf spit on Harry as he was climbing up, threatening the boy with nasty punishments to come. When Harry was just getting to the top, the old house elf stuck his hand out to help Harry up over the edge. Harry grabbed the offered hand and gave it a mighty tug. The house elf lost his balance and went hurtling over the edge and into the pit of snakes.

Harry knew he should feel remorseful but couldn't bring himself to evoke those feelings. That nasty elf deserved just what he got and Harry didn't give a hoot as to how Vespa felt about it.

Vespa was so angry she actually had to stop herself from pulling her wand out and killing the boy.

"What have you done? You will pay dearly for that!"

Harry was cast into another body bind and floated back to the laboratory. Now he was beginning to think that wasn't such a good idea. He was dropped down on a wooden table and magical bands snaked around his arms and legs.

Vespa stood beside him with a vial of green potion in her hand. "Open your mouth."

Harry clenched his teeth together not wanting to be poisoned further, trying to make the uncontrolled magic return.

Vespa shook her head and pulled forth a thin plastic tube. To Harry's horror she began to shove it up his nose. Harry couldn't move or stop the tube from going down his nose and into his throat. He gagged but Vespa wouldn't relent as the tube went down further. Vespa poured the potion down the tube until the vial was empty.

Harry was so frightened over what that potion would do to him. His mind raced as he felt a burning sensation in his stomach that got stronger and stronger. He felt like he might vomit but held back as the tube was blocking his airway now.

Vespa ripped the tube out of Harry's nose and laughed as blood followed. She saw the look of terror in the boy's eyes and smiled at him.

Harry couldn't hold back any longer and began to vomit. Suddenly the bands released him and he floated to a small dark room with a heavy door. The door slammed shut casting him into total darkness. He continued vomiting unable to stop himself and just wished he would pass out instead of enduring the pain he felt in his stomach. This was so much worse than the Crutiatus Curse. He could barely catch a breath before the next round of nausea overtook him. His heart pounded in his ears over what was happening to him. It felt as if his insides were being burned away and he remembered what Vespa had told him in Diagon Alley.

"You have no idea the power I hold over you at this moment, do you? If I refuse to give you the antidote you will die a slow horrible death by having your insides eaten away."

Oh Merlin! Was it happening? Did she give him a potion that was eating his insides away? It sure did feel that way! Where was Severus? Did he even know that Vespa had him yet?

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Severus prepared the poison using his own blood. The thought of poisoning Charlet repulsed him, making him turn off his emotions over the girl. He couldn't afford to go soft now or have a conscious. He had to think as a Death Eater would, not caring for anyone except himself and his son. The thought of his son in Vespa's care made him focus on what was important at the moment.

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Harry was exhausted, physically and emotionally exhausted. He felt another dry heave rising in his throat but didn't even have the energy to sit up. His stomach was raw as was his throat. He couldn't make any sounds other than a dry croak. His face was lying on the cold stone floor and he was shivering from the cold and pain. Just when he didn't think he could stand another minute of this torture the door swung open and light poured in.

"Scourgify!" Vespa hissed. It looked as if the boy had expelled all the poison in his system but she would check just to be sure. It wouldn't do to send the blood back to Severus with any remnants of poison still in the boys system. She had to keep Charlet safe at all costs. The plans she had for the girl were detrimental to her own future.

Harry saw all the vomit clear away and even his pajamas felt dry again. He thought he must have smelled so disgusting that Vespa had to cast a cleaning charm on him just to be in the same room he was in. He smelled his pajama sleeve and realized with horror that he smelled like lavender.

Harry felt himself float once again to the wooden workbench and began to shake as the magical bands snaked around his arms and legs again. If there had been anything left in his stomach it would come up over the fear he was feeling. He couldn't take anymore poison in his system, he just knew he wouldn't survive it.

Vespa watched as the boy's teeth chattered and hoped that he still believed she had poisoned him instead of doing just the opposite. She pulled out the longest, widest syringe she had and poked it into the boy's arm. The boy didn't make a sound or even flinch as she filled the syringe with his blood.

Harry watched in fear as Vespa took the syringe out. He wasn't frightened of needles, only of poison. He was almost relieved when he saw blood being drawn instead of poison being put in. He breathed a sigh of relief and closed his eyes.

Vespa checked the blood carefully. She was satisfied that all the poison had indeed been expelled and the boy was once again poison free. She called her owl to her, attaching the vial to its leg with a note to Severus.

Once the owl was gone she turned to the boy, "You killed my last house elf! Get up and clean this mess you caused!" Vespa threw a broom on the ground and a bucket with soap appeared.

Harry swung his legs over the side of the table and slid down. It took him a moment for the dizziness to pass but once it did he realized he felt pretty good. The poison Vespa gave him must not have had the effect she thought it would because he actually felt better than he had in a long time. His arm had healed from the Quiddich match and his stomach was hungry but didn't have those same sharp pains he'd been having for so long.

Harry saw Vespa reach for her whip and he quickly began cleaning up the mess on the ground with the broom.

Vespa sat in a quilted chair watching the boy act as a house elf would. She felt cleaning the lab would be a cruel but fitting punishment for the boy. She could only imagine how Charlet would react if she had been made to clean up this disgusting mess.

Harry continued cleaning, a little disturbed by the creepy creatures laying on the floor. He used the broom to scoop them into the magical bucket. As soon as anything was placed inside the bucket it dissappeared.

"Boy, this lab better be clean before I return. Don't try to do anything you shouldn't because I can see everything." She raised a mirror with Harry's own reflection in it."You have just become my new house elf!" Vespa laughed as she stalked out the door and locked it.

Harry smirked as he thought, "Hell, I've been a house elf my whole life! This is nothing."

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The lavender owl appeared in Severus' dungeon lab with a vial filled with blood.Severus painstakingly tested the blood sample. He was relieved beyond belief that the blood was clear of all poison.

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