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CHAPTER TWO: A DEATH EATERS PRIVILEGE
Snape all most fell over his own robe when he entered his dungeon to check on his latest detention subject. He had seen, as much he hated to admit, and participated, in horrible things that now hardly compared to the sight in this room. He had been subjected to the worst pain, the Cruciatus curse and even witnessed the sickening rapes performed by various Death Eaters. Thankfully he had never been granted that privilege.
He almost gagged as he rushed over to the bloody Harry slumped on the floor. He turned him over, still warm blood now soaking into his own robe, and checked for a pulse. It was there, but weak. Snape rushed over to the fireplace that was seldom lit, even during the freezing winters, and asked for Madame Pomfrey. Her head popped into the fireplace and she didn't look happy.
"This had better be important Profe.. Oh!" Her head disappeared and moments later her whole body stepped out of the fire place. Without even giving Snape another glance, she rushed over to Harry and began examining him with her wand. Snape took this moment to contact Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore's head popped into the fire just like Pomfrey's had. "Severus, to what do I owe this honour?" He had yet to see Pomfrey hovering over Harry.
"Headmaster, something has happened to Harry Potter. It seems he has injured himself." He was interrupted as Pomfrey addressed him.
"Professor, I would ask you to join me in the infirmary. Follow me now. I want an explanation." She ordered, already heading for the door. Snape nodded and turned back to Dumbledore.
"I will meet you there, Severus." He replied, his now pale complexion disappearing from the hearth.
Poppy Pomfrey had been smart enough to cast a concealment charm on Harry, as there was already enough attention being drawn to the stretcher that trailed behind her, not to mention the presence of Professor Snape and his bloody robes. It was lucky that there weren't many students in the corridors, but there were hushed mutterings as the trio quickly made their way to the medical wing.
When they arrived, Dumbledore was already there. Harry was taken to a bed in the private section of the infirmary where Pomfrey finished casting spells to stop the bleeding and any impending infections. Once she had bandaged Harry's hand and wrist and administered the potion that re-formed blood, she turned to Snape and Dumbledore who were now talking quietly.
"What happened Severus?" The two wizards talking in quiet monotones looked up.
"I think that it's pretty clear what happened." Snape replied, rather snidely.
"Don't you take that tone with me, I'm not some student you can speak down to. Could you just please run me though the events." She looked irritable, but gave him no choice.
Snape scoffed. "Well, he failed to pay attention in my class, wouldn't tell me why, so I gave him detention. I set him the task of re-labelling, cleaning and putting various vials and beakers in alphabetical order. I left the class room, as I had more pressing matters to attend to, and came back an hour later to what you saw." He rolled his eyes.
"I see." She nodded her head, thinking. "Well someone has to inform his friends, or else they'll think you ate him Professor." She couldn't contain a small chuckle, as she knew what kind of absurd stories those Gryffindor's were capable of.
"If that's all, I'll be leaving." He turned on his heel, his robe, which was still blood stained, billowing behind him. Neither Poppy nor Albus said a word as he left.
"Thank you Poppy, you have worked wonders as always." Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Now tell me about Mr. Potter, how is he?"
"Well, he had a pretty nasty wound to the palm of his hand and wrist." She sighed. "But, I have reason to suspect that only half of it was accidental."
Dumbledore nodded, looking grave.
"He's lucky Professor Snape found him when he did, he'd lost an awful lot of blood. He should be fine in about a week though, as it takes a couple of days to re-form that amount of blood to the system. Now, if you'll excuse me I'd like to check his vitals." She smiled weakly as Dumbledore exited.
It was late, around 11:30 pm and still Harry had yet to emerge from the dungeons. He had failed to arrive at Dinner, but Snape was also absent then. It was a known fact that Snape was the equivalent of a slave driver, but he'd never been known to hold students this long, even if it was Harry we were talking about.
"Just sit still Ron, I'm sure he'll be up here any minute. All your fidgeting is distracting me; do you know how much I have to concentrate while I'm doing my Arithmancy homework? Don't you have any yourself?" Hermione said to Ron in an almost scalding voice.
"But 'Mione, where is he? I bet that Snape is doing this on purpose... he knew we'd be up all night till Harry got back… bastard." He said, pacing the Gryffindor common room anxiously. " I bet he's even torturing him with food, bet he got the House-elves to bring him up something just so he could eat it in front of him…"
"Ron! Please, just sit down! Oh look, there's an owl at the window." Hermione got up to let the small-ish barn owl in the window. It flew to where she had been sitting and landed on her books. "No! Don't stand on that!" She rushed over and picked it up, placing the bird on her lap while she untied the letter attached to its leg. "Go up to the boys dorm, and if you go to the third bed on the left you will find some treats on the bed side table." The owl flew away in search of treats while Ron came and sat with Hermione.
"Whose it from?"
"It's got the Hogwarts seal..." Hermione muttered, opening it. "Oh it's from Professor Dumbledore!"
'Dear Ron and Hermione,
I was wondering if the two of you could spare a few moments of your time to come see me in my office tonight. I understand if it's too late, and I will see you tomorrow instead if you like. Otherwise, the password is: "Pear Drops". Although I must add it is rather important.
Regards,
Albus Dumbledore.
Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'
Hermione and Ron stared at the letter for a few more seconds before wordlessly getting to their feet and heading out the door.
They continued to walk in silence until they reached the Gargoyle guarding the entrance to the hall that lead to Dumbledore's office. It swung open once they had muttered the password, and Hermione and Ron continued the trek to the large oak door. Hermione, hand poised to knock, flinched as the door automatically opened before she had even touched it.
"Enter," Came an aged voice from beyond the door. "Please, do sit down." They obliged. "Now, I assume neither of you have any idea why I have called you here?"
The two looked at each other. "Does it have something to do with Harry sir? Because he was in detention with Snape and he hasn't..." But Dumbledore cut Ron off.
"Yes, I am aware. And I'm afraid this is concerning young Harry. But first I need to ask you both a few questions. Is this okay?" Dumbledore asked in a strangely neutral tone for himself.
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Good. How had Harry been fairing with schoolwork lately? Has he been struggling? Not paying too much attention?"
"Well you know Harry sir," Hermione started. "He'd much rather play exploding snap with Ron here," She glared," than do homework".
Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, just like his father I see. Have you noticed him acting strangely lately? And by that I mean anything out of the ordinary?"
"I don't think so sir, I guess he has been a little quiet lately... Oh and today in Potions, he let Snape practically walk all over him. Usually Harry says something..."
"Or Maybe," Hermione said, looking at Ron. "Maybe he's realised that it gets him nowhere back-talking to teachers! You could learn something from that..."
"I do not!"
"Oh yes you do!"
"But...but... I've seen how angry you get when Snape says those things to you!" Ron said, his face reddening.
"Yes, but at least I don't make a fool out of myself and get detention by being rude to the teacher."
"Oh shut up!" Ron huffed and crossed his arms, slumping into the cushiony chair he was in.
"If you are finished," Dumbledore piped up. They nodded. "Okay, I don't know how you are going to take this... But I feel that only the truth will do. I was thinking of leaving it up to Harry to tell you, but I feel you can both be more help if you know exactly what happened. Before you interrupt, let me say I wish to say all I have to say then you can ask questions. Ok?"
Ron and Hermione exchanged now concerned glances and once again nodded their heads.
"Something unfortunate has happened, which resulted in Harry being sent to the infirmary." He saw the incredulous looks on their faces. "And no, this has nothing to do with Professor Snape, except for the fact that if he had of arrived any later than he did to check on Harry, then... who knows what might of happened. It appears that Harry tried to harm himself..."
"No! Harry would never!" Hermione then stood from her chair, realisation dawning on her. Dumbledore gestured for her to take her seat.
"Yes Miss Granger, this is how things appear. He lost a lot of blood and will consequently be spending a few days in a comatose sleep, while the blood re-forms. He should be awake in four to five days. One thing I do ask of you, and I already have complete faith in you both mind you, is that you don't breathe a word of this to anyone. The only people who know are Madame Pomfrey, Professor Snape, the two of you and myself. We don't want something like this leaking out into the public. You already know the damage that the local tabloids can cause first hand."
There was a few moments silence. "Why...? Why did he do that?" Hermione looked up, tears in her eyes. "Doesn't he know how much we'd miss him? How much a lot of people would miss him! What about Sirius? Does he know?"
Dumbledore shook his head. " I have yet to break the news to him in fear he'd return here. And at this stage we can't afford to jeopardise any more lives. And why did Harry do this? We won't know for sure. We can only assume that right now he needs a couple of good friends." He smiled weakly.
"Can... er.. can we see him Sir?" Ron spoke, his eyes still downcast as he was obviously fighting back the tears.
"Well… It is pretty late..."
"Please!" They asked in unison.
"Ok, but I insist you Floo there."
"Why?" Hermione asked, a little dumfounded.
"Because that way there will be no disturbance in the Halls and it's quicker. I also recommend you Floo back to the Gryffindor Tower too." Dumbledore handed them the Floo powder and in no time the trio were standing in the dark confines of the infirmary.
The headmaster lead them to a private corner, where he pulled back the curtains to reveal a very pale and slumbering Harry, his left hand and wrist heavily bandaged.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione whispered, a flood of tears cascading down her face. She lent over and kissed him on the forehead, brushing back his hair with her hand in an almost motherly fashion.
After Ron and Hermione had seen enough of the bed-ridden Harry while trying to force Dumbledore to let them stay, they reluctantly Floo-ed back to the Gryffindor common room.
As the days progressed, they were hit with questions about Harry's absence and were growing continually frustrated. He had yet to rouse from his induced sleep, and Hermione and Ron were by his side for as much time as they could allow. This meant that they couldn't be there every hour there wasn't class, because they were becoming inundated with homework. One afternoon, though, they were unable to visit until later on and had to sneak down after curfew (wearing Harry's cloak of course!). When they arrived, however, they were more than shocked to see Snape sitting beside Harry's bed, a very solemn look on his usually anger contorted face.
"Shit!" Ron cursed as they rounded the corned. Snape's head shot up- he'd obviously heard them.
Hermione put her hand over his mouth. If it hadn't of been so dark, Ron would have seen the glare that she was giving him. After a few more moments, Snape relaxed again and turned back towards Harry. His lips were moving, but it appeared that nothing was coming out. Hermione crinkled her eyebrows and strained her ears, trying to hear anything. She couldn't.
After a minute of studying him, she realised what he was doing. He was saying an incantation! She remembered that look from the time she had thought he had been jinxing Harry's broom during a Quidditch match, but he had in fact been trying to counter a jinx that Professor Quirrel (AKA Voldemort!) had been doing. Hermione elbowed Ron and motioned for them to move back out again.
Once they were back out in the hall, she spoke to him.
"Snape was saying an incantation! I'd know that look any day... what do you think it was?"
"I don't know... probably some form of the killing curse for all we know! I bet he has something to do with this you know..." Ron's eyes flashed dangerously. "We should go back in there and stop him!"
"No! We can't do that… But what if he's not? For all we know, he could be helping Harry!"
"Arg, don't be so optimistic Hermione! This is Snape we're talking about! And that is Harry Potter in there! As if he'd help Harry willingly! If you'd just let me go in there and..."
"And what Ron? Just let you go in there and get sprung for being out of bed past curfew? And knowing you you'd open your big mouth and insult him and get in more trouble! I think it's about time we gave him at least a little bit of credit, I mean he has done some good things for the right side. Can't you imagine how dangerous it must have been to be a spy? Plus, we can't just be stupid about this... there has to be something going on. Do think this has something to do with Volde..." Ron cringed "Oh get over it, do you think it has anything to do with him anyway?"
"Maybe... Lets go back in there and see if we can find anything out."
"I think that's the smartest thing you've said all night." Hermione smiled a small smile. "Come-on.."
They crept back in but Snape hadn't moved. His mouth was still moving in silent speech.
Hermione almost cursed when Ron suddenly grabbed her arm. "What?" She hissed out, attempting to pull her arm out of his grip.
"Look! What is he doing?" She took a closer look and almost gasped at what she saw. It appeared that Snape was holding Harry's uninjured hand, his thumb stroking one of Harry's fingers. "Eww, don't touch him! 'Mione, we have to do something!" Ron whinged, straining to keep his voice low.
Hermione thought for a moment. "I really want to agree with you Ron... but we can't! I don't understand what's going on... maybe it's part of the spell he's casting to have body contact... I really want to research that. Lets go so I can refer to a book I have..." She turned to leave but Ron stopped her.
"Do you really believe that? But then again... Okay let's go. Although I really don't like the thought of leaving Harry alone with Snape.. with Snape touching him!"
"I know Ron, I know. But let's go."
The duo departed silently and headed back to their dorms.
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