BLOOD OF THE MOTHER by BertaS Sept. 2005
Chapter 16
Description: The guys set up housekeeping and try to decide what's next.
Disclaimer: They are, sadly, not mine. They all belong to JKR
I Have No Idea
While Harry was unpacking Severus picked up Harry's jacket, (the one that matches Dudley's) stopped, turned to Harry, "Harry, what kind of leather is this?" the jacket was soft, supple, and very light weight.
Harry beamed, "Basilisk hide." At Snape's frown and arched brow he out right laughed, "I'm sure the headmaster told you about the break-in at Hogwarts this summer, I can't believe he was totally unaware of what I was doing."
"I was informed but there did not seem to be any thing disturbed or missing and he did not mention that you where involved."
Harry, still grinning, said, "Dudley and I snuck in to raid the Chamber of Secretes. We harvested several items from the basilisk that I killed in second year."
Severus continued to frown, "what about the wards? Mr. Dursley should not have been able to even see the school, let alone enter."
Harry chuckled again, "Muggles can't get in on their own. Dudley said it was creepy but, once inside the wards there really wasn't any problem. I figured this out when Dud and I went to the Leaky Caldron, Dud couldn't see it unless I was touching him. So, I just kept hold of him, till we where inside Hogwarts. The fact that we used a hidden entrance helped too I think. No real visual references, all you see is tunnel walls."
"I see," Severus looked at the jacket he was still holding, "and the basilisk parts?" he looked curiously eager.
Harry trying to keep a straight face since this was a subject he had promised himself to bring up said, "Well, you know that staff you seem to have grown fond of and I believe has chosen you? I seem to have proven just how powerful a battle-staff you can make with bits from the same beast."
Severus' eyes grew wide as he dropped the jacket and strode to where the staves where leaning against the wall by the door. Examining the one he had been using closely for the first time, he discovered that the markings on the shaft where representations of scales and the stone looked like a very bright yellow topaz with strange discolorations inside it.
He looked at the other staff with the snakes head and realized that it also had the scales and, an almost identical stone with similar inclusions. Severus was breathing heavily as he rasped out, "The – the eyes? Sh – shouldn't they be clear?
Harry nodded, "Usually they would be, but Fawkes damaged the eyes before I killed it. I think that is what made the funny swirls, kind of makes them look like really big tiger-eye marbles, don't you think."
When Severus nodded smiling, Harry explained further.
"Yours," Harry gestured, "I think of as 'The Raptor Staff', has basilisk heart string for its core, I made it first, and then used small fangs for mine. We should probably retrieve what I left in the Chamber. I placed a stasis charm on it and left it where it was. I think I still have some pieces in my trunk, you can play with them, if you want." Harry chuckled at the look on his potions masters face, "I assume that you will want to go to your quarters to collect some of your things, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal to slip away, down to the Chamber, box up what you want, shrink it and bring it along. That is, if you want to stay here, you don't have to if you don't want to."
Severus' face fell, "I'm sorry Master. I did not mean to intrude. I will leave or stay by your command. I…" he sank to his knees head bowed, "I'm sorry. Please don't send me away."
"Send you, Professor, don't be silly. I'm not your master." Harry was becoming exasperated with the older man's behavior and decided now was the time to fix him. "You will be making your own decisions. I can't make them for you, what would happen if you acted this way at school. I want my potions professor back." Harry suddenly realized just what he had said, grinned and added, "Although he could be a little less snarky, if you don't mind."
Severus stared at Harry with a wide smile, his mouth was working but nothing was coming out and his shoulders where shaking.
Harry was starting to worry and asked, "Are you Okay?"
Severus shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know," his grin grew wider; there was a tinge of fear in his eyes even though they sparkled with happiness.
"It's alright, what are you feeling?" Harry asked quietly.
"I have no idea." Severus threw out his arms, "I think I might just explode, and I can't stop smiling." His eyes were shinning and Harry thought his new friend looked truly happy.
Harry couldn't help grinning back, "Joy is a fabulous feeling. I think that may be something that was suppressed by the spells on you. You know, you are allowed to experience and express you feelings now? Don't you?"
Still grinning Severus said with a laugh, "As you wish, my L... Um Harry."
They soon went back to cleaning, the town house had been empty a long time and would require some work but it was in no where near as bad a shape as Grimmauld Place and Molly had been having a go at that for several years now.
They had gotten a lot done by dinnertime and they decided to go out to celebrate. While they were waiting for their pizza, Severus decided to ask about something that had been bothering him.
"Harry, um, you seem a lot more accepting of me, than I would have thought. I mean, before you left school, I believe you blamed me, at least somewhat for what happened to...
Harry interrupted in a low and tightly controlled voice, "Yes, I did. I still do, kind of, but not as much as I blame myself. If I had been able to learn occlumancy before..." Harry shook his head and sighed, "I learned things over the summer... things about me, and about mum and dad, and you."
"I don't understand.," said Severus.
"Early this summer my Aunt gave me something that belonged to Mum," Harry shrugged "it was her diary."
Severus could see that Harry was upset and was starting to become concerned that he should not have asked. His posture had been changing while Harry spoke, his shoulders where hunched and his head was down, "I'm sorry, Harry, I should not have..."
"No, don't be, Sev this... sorry, Severus, this is something we need to talk about." Harry said sadly, "It bothers me a little, but you need to know. I would let you read it but it's the anchor for Mum's wards on Privet Drive. I actually would like to add some to them but it will have to wait a year, till I'm legal."
Severus smiled shyly, "Lily usually called me that, Sev; she was always kind, unless some one was truly nasty to her. She never stopped trying to keep us from pranking each other. Lily was a very strong, extremely intelligent witch, Miss Granger reminds me a lot of her."
The waitress brought their pizza then and their talk turned to plans for the next couple of days. They decided that they would go to Hogwarts for Sev's things in the morning and Grimmauld Place in the afternoon. Harry needed to know how his friends were and Sev felt that it was his duty to protect his Liege. He was also finding the habit of obedience to one he considered his master hard to break. And he wasn't sure he wanted too.
Next Chapter: Dreams and Things – Harry and Sev have a conversation.
A/N: Thanks for your reviews