Author Notes: Look, I finally got this chapter out!!!
Child Of Mine
Chapter 9Old Scars, New Wounds
When the flash went off, along with the blinding light came another wave of magic, students and teachers alike were all of a sudden terrified. They heard cold, harsh laughter ringing in their ears, pain laced its way up their bodies, and all were left shaken and weak. Many girls and boys were crying, while those still on their brooms had to fight to stay in the air.
Up in the stands, the teachers were trying to recover from the blast of magic, blinking rapidly to recover their eyesight. Most were gasping in air trying to alleviate the pain that continued to ghost through their trembling bodies.
"HARRY! HARRY!" Severus recovered quickly from the blindness and the pain, but the emotions raging within him only enhanced his fear for the child who was laying motionless at his feet... as still as death, on his stomach on the ground.
"Oh my God-" Remus muttered as Albus lowered his thin, quivering body down to kneel next to Harry. Albus ran his slender, flail looking hands over the boy's body checking for injuries.
"Harry, wake up!" Severus cried, picking up the small boy, almost but not quite, dislodging Dumbledore's exploring hands. As he turned Harry over, he and Remus drew in sharp breaths instantaneously, Albus merely raised a surprised eyebrow.
There, in the middle of Harry's delicate forehead, was a deep red mark, newly imprinted onto Harry's skin. There, in the shape of the famous lightning bolt, was Voldemort's mark, once again returned to boy.
Albus' eyes were dark as he reached up and placed his fingers on Harry's neck, checking his pulse. "I should have known... No dark magic like this can ever be gotten rid of. Never... Severus he'll be fine— this had to happen..."
Severus looked up to Albus' face and their eyes locked, concern etched in every line of the younger man's features, "Albus-- he was screaming- I've never heard- he was…" he brought Harry to him in a fierce, protective hug-- Severus' body was almost shaking, his hands WERE. "I could hear Voldemort-- I could hear Lily-"
Remus' face was streaked with tears from what he had heard briefly, but was still feeling within himself. "What happened?"
"It seems," Albus started slowly as McGonagall, Flitwick and some of the other teachers were starting to gather around them, "That it was the right time in Harry's life for... Voldemort's... visitation." The old man finished as half the people there shuddered at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.
"He could have done without a repeat of THAT particular part of his life," Severus growled angrily, cradling Harry's limp form closer to him, his small head tucked safely under Severus' chin.
Minerva raised both of her eyebrows in shock at the overwhelming possessiveness coming off of Snape in waves. A small smile threatened to break into a grin at the sight of the dreaded Potions Master cuddling the boy who lived. If the situation wasn't so painfully serious she might have a word or two with him on the subject... but she was too worried. It was bad enough that the child had had to suffer through the death of his parents once... but to do so twice in one's life was simply horrifying, tragically so. And to have to relive the pain as it had happened... the boy never did get a rest from the horrors in life.
"Come, Severus. Let's take him to Poppy," Albus said in a soothing voice as he stood and stepped back from his friend. Snape jerked his head in a quick nod of agreement and gently got to his feet trying not to jar Harry. Albus offered help by firmly grasping Severus' upper arm and bracing his still stunned Potions Master.
The younger man's eyes raised briefly from the boy's face to lock with the Headmaster's. Concern and affection warmed him and Severus managed to take a deep breath and calm down somewhat. His mind was a mass of apprehension, deep concern and an unusual need to protect Harry. He wasn't thinking straight or rationally about any of this. How could he be so... involved with... or care about... this... this... James' child? A man he hated. Who, with his friends, tormented and teased him all through school. How could he be concerned... why should he care? The boy was nothing but a nuisance and a troublemaker. Always getting into mischief and breaking rules... always defying him. Why? Why did he give a damn?
Gazing only at the small, limp bundle in his arms, Severus was all but led out of the stands by Albus and directed across the grounds to the castle. He wasn't aware of what was going on around him and that Albus had instructed the other teachers to calm the students down and try to, if possible, get them to continue the game so they could try to put the pain of this experience behind them. Lupin, however, refused to stay behind and Albus had only smiled at the fierce protectiveness that was just as visible on his face, as it was on Severus'.
Once again Albus wondered if it wasn't time to finally Owl Sirius Black about the accident that had happened. On the one hand, the man WAS Harry's Godfather and deserved to be informed of such a serious accident. On the other hand... Severus and Harry were bonding quite nicely... and both of them NEEDED this. Harry desperately needed a father figure and Severus needed to be loved, as well as have someone TO love. Sirius wasn't so much a father figure as a big brother/beloved uncle... someone to talk to, love and confide in when a parent was being unreasonable. He was too easy to get around if Harry wanted something... mostly due to the fact that he'd been absent most of Harry's life while imprisoned in Azkaban... so Harry could weasel anything out of him. Not a good thing for a parent. Severus could more easily fill that role... once he stopped being unreasonable about how he treated the boy.
Yes... this was something both of them needed. Time together to grow dependent on one another, to learn to love each other. Then perhaps, when Harry was back to normal, they might have something a little more substantial than hatred and distrust between the two of them. Curious though... Remus seemed to be just as involved in all of this. Yes, Harry was the child of two of his best friends, and therefore he expected the man to love and care for him. But he wasn't trying to keep Severus from growing attached to the boy. In fact, he seemed to be... helping... encouraging Severus to develop deeper feelings for Harry. The three were becoming... dare he say it... nearly inseparable. Harry's favorite person to be with, after Severus, was Remus. Severus, now that he thought of it, was being more tolerant of Remus' presence and actually seemed to enjoy having the man's company now and again. Hmm... better and better. Harry was gathering a real family group around him. Severus, Remus and Sirius. It was too bad that there wasn't a 'mother figure' that he could accept into their little family unit.
But... what to do about Sirius. Surely, once he told him of Harry's condition the man would come as soon as was humanly possible. Then, oh yes, then the trouble would TRUELY begin. He knew how much Severus and Sirius hated one another, and there would be no way to keep the man from upsetting Harry. He would be enraged that Dumbledore had allowed Snape to care for the child, and if he yelled at Severus in front of Harry... or worse, took Harry AWAY from Severus... there would definitely be hell to pay! Albus wondered how well Sirius would fair with a constantly screeching, unreasonable and inconsolable child to take care of. Would he last as long as Severus had? No, it mattered not. What mattered was that Harry shouldn't be made to go through that again. The child had a family he loved and trusted, and he shouldn't be torn from it. He continued to mull over the situation as they entered the castle.
~~*~~
Krr'Shar waited patiently at the edge of the woods, hidden within the shadows of the great trees. His tail swept gently from side to side, lightly stirring the leaves on the ground as he waited patiently to see his cub... the cub... again. A low growl rumbled deep in his chest as he grew disgusted with his own actions and he attempted to abandon his vigil and return to his clan. He shouldn't be here at the giant lair of the cub's large clan... but, he could not bring himself to leave. His own clan, the Mys'alk, were safe and well fed, the huge eight-legs they had caught and fed upon had been more than enough to feed the whole clan, so they didn't need him there at this time.
He had waited patiently for many turns of the daystar, hoping to see his... the... cub. The cub wanted him... had called to him several times when he'd made the mistake of hunting the youngling as prey... Krr'Shar NEEDED to be with the cub. He had to protect him, watch over him... be with him!
He'd seen his cub earlier, walking... well, actually, bouncing as most cubs would... along with the rest of his large clan, and his Dark Protector, going to watch the flyers with no wings chase the flying rocks. He'd been ecstatic to see his little one again and had almost broken cover to bound after them. A lifetime of stealth and restraint stopped him before he had taken more than two steps... but, he had SO wanted to join his cub and curl up with him.
Krr'Shar shook his head, tail snapping in agitation. This was insane! Why did he want to be with this strange cub? It's clan was an attractant, also. So much energy... so much food! Why, he could probably survive by just being NEAR this strange clan... there might not be any need to kill. This was an odd thought, one Krr'Shar had never contemplated before; but, it was definitely one he should think on. His cub would not approve of the Rau'Mron killing his clan... and Krr'Shar didn't want to upset his little one.
Movement caught his eye and he gazed intently at the three figures moving back towards the oddly shaped lair of his cub's clan. One of those hurrying along was his cub's Dark Protector... and... HIS CUB!!! His cub was in the arms of the Dark one, cradled and limp. The Dark one was being led, not moving on his own. His cub and the Dark Protector had been injured!
A deep, rumbling growl vibrated Krr'Shar's chest and throat. Something had hurt his cub! He MUST go to him! Fear made him nervous, and caution kept him from stepping into the light, though. As the three neared their lair, Krr'Shar shifted to a shadow close to the opening of his cub's home. The figures passed within ten feet of Krr'Shar and didn't notice him, but he saw his cub... limp and held close to the body of the Protector. A strange scent wafted from all three of the adults that were with his cub. He didn't know the meaning of this scent, whether it be fear or illness, for he had not hunted this type of prey before coming to this place, so he was uncertain what was truly going on.
The group passed from his sight and before the sound of their footsteps had vanished Krr'Shar's resolve to stay away from these creatures broke as he shifted into the lair of his cub, melding into the darkness cast by the smooth, evenly spaced rocks going upward... where his little one was being taken. Carefully, listening and scenting for danger, he moved along behind the small group, keeping close but staying well hidden, and silent. He had to see to his cub... no harm must come to him... he WOULD protect him!
~~*~~
Albus sighed and he carefully led the dazed younger man up the stairs to the infirmary. Remus had flanked Severus and was helping guide him from the other side as he looked worriedly at the still unconscious form of his friend's child.
Severus, for the most part, was still in shock and not able to think beyond the child in his arms. This was not like him to worry over something like this, or react in this manner... but the child... Harry, had... gotten to him. That was all he could think of. He'd found the chink in Severus' protective armor and had begun chipping away at it, little by little... until Severus had no choice but to care for Lily's child as if he were his own. If he thought of Harry as Lily's child, it was easier to displace the anger and dislike he held for the young one's father and just love the child as he was.
Love?
Severus blinked in astonishment at his own thoughts and fell into deeper shock, eyes glazed over and deep pain etched on his face. No... no... that couldn't be... it wasn't possible. There was no way in hell this would work out. The moment the boy was back to himself he'd reject Severus outright and be utterly disgusted with all that had transpired between the two of them. The hugs and cuddles, the calming baths, the laughter at dinnertime, the playtime before he got the little tyke ready for bed, the happy squeals during class...
Severus knew this all had to go away when Harry grew up again, but the memory.... he'd hoped the memory would remain untainted. He'd hoped... yes, hoped... that Harry would look back on those times with fondness, the way Severus now knew he himself would. But there was no way that would happen, the boy cared for him now... later, however, was a different story. The boy would hate him, reject him... and Severus would once again be alone.
Sorrow overwhelmed Severus as he realized how much he DIDN'T want Harry to grow up. He wanted a family, and Harry had given him that... as he had given it to Harry. All the years of deception and play-acting the part of the spy and hated Potions Master... he was so very tired of it. There was never a break from it, never any enjoyment in life. He was locked in a cycle of fear, hatred, deception and intrigue... and he wanted out. This wasn't him... not anymore... he'd changed, but been forced to maintain the facade for Albus and the Light. He was so tired of playing the lackey to Voldemort... always flirting with pain and death. He wanted someone to care about him, about what happened to him and be waiting for him when he came home. He knew Albus cared and loved him like a son, but Severus wanted his own child... and now that he had one... He would have to lose him, and the pain of it was he didn't know when he would, he only knew it would come sooner then he wanted it to…
As they walked to the infirmary, Albus and Remus watched as Severus closed off emotionally to everything around him and stared blindly at Harry. More and more the man holding the unconscious child slowed his movements until the two of them were pulling him to keep him moving. Severus' breathing was erratic by the time they'd reached the Hospital wing and tears had appeared in his eyes and were running down his cheeks, unnoticed by the man who so highly valued for his emotional control. A worried look passed between the Headmaster and his D.A.D.A. Professor. They had no idea what was causing this reaction in Snape and they were becoming more concerned by the moment.
"Severus... are you alright?" Albus asked gently, but received no response. Glancing again at Remus, Albus murmured, "This isn't good."
"Do you think it has something to do with what happened to Harry?" Remus queried, concern coloring his tone, fear evident in his eyes.
"I'm not positive. We'll have Poppy check Severus after she sees to Harry," Albus replied, also worried. "I've never seen him like this. I'm beginning to wonder, however, if my plan of putting the two of them together was such a good idea."
Remus jerked his head back up to stare at the Headmaster, startled, "Why would you say that?"
"Look at him, Remus. This is very possibly destroying him. He's always kept his emotions tightly reigned and very private. Now, he's been forced to put aside his normal demeanor and tend to a child who he claimed not to like. I can't help but wonder if I'm undermining his control by getting him..." Albus hesitated and gazed with deep sorrow at his young, near catatonic, friend.
"To care," Remus finished for him. He continued as they guided the staggering man into the infirmary and to a chair, "He needs this, Albus. How long can someone live with only anger, hatred, resentment, disappointment and fear as the major emotions they feel day in and day out, for years on end? He may be our one big link to Voldemort, but when is it all too much? Doesn't he deserve a life? He's been at it for almost two decades, I think he's earned a chance to have a normal life... even if he can never spy for you again." Remus stopped there as he saw Poppy entering the room from her office.
~~*~~
Twenty minutes later, after explaining to the medi-witch all that had occurred and she had thoroughly examined both Harry and Severus, the two had been tucked into one of the beds and were peacefully resting. Harry hadn't woken up yet, but there was no extreme physical trauma... it was mostly emotional... and she wanted him to rest. Snape was a different matter, the emotional shock was treated with a calming potion and he'd finally spoken to Albus quietly, reassuring his old mentor that he was fine, before drifting off to sleep, cradling Harry close to his chest.
Poppy had been exasperated by the clench Snape had kept Harry in. She easily recalled the fact that after the boy had been rescued from the forest by Snape, the man had been unwilling to release the child. Now, she wasn't sure if the could pry the boy from him with a spell. She finally decided just to let it be and had bundled them into a bed together so she could keep a close eye on the two of them.
Albus and Remus had been reluctant to leave, but Poppy had insisted that her two patients needed their rest and aggressively shooed them out the door. She checked on them one more time before going about her work and leaving the two to sleep.
~~*~~
Krr'Shar had followed his cub, the Dark Protector and the two other members of his cub's clan until he'd been blocked from following them. Aggravated, tail lashing, he shadow-shifted into the area where they had gone. Strange scents assailed him and he resisted sneezing. The last thing he wanted was to give himself away.
He watched for a long time, until finally everyone had gone and only his cub and the Dark Protector were left in the area, on a... nest, of some sort. He waited a bit longer, then finally crept closer to investigate. Listening carefully to be sure the female of his cub's clan didn't return, Krr'Shar slunk next to the nest holding his cub and rose up on his hind legs and placed his front paws next to the two sleeping forms.
Krr'Shar watched them for some time, examining their features closely and scenting them fully. Finally, unable to resist, he reached forward and nuzzled his cub's cheek and purred, eyes slitted half closed. A small hand reached back and patted him on the nose and Krr'Shar's purr doubled as he rested his head on the cub's shoulder and let the youngling grab onto his ear. The small one started tugging to get the large head closer and Krr'shar sighed and gave in, crawling up onto the nest and stretching out along side his cub and the Protector. Snuggling his head closer onto his cub's chest and shoulder seemed to satisfy the youngling and he (Harry) went back to sleep.
Sighing in relief that his cub was going to be alright, Krr'Shar planned to stay where he was until he needed to hide once again. He would spend every possible moment that he could in contact with his young one, then he had to find a way to present himself to his cub and the Dark Protector so they wouldn't think he was still hunting them. But, that would come later, for now he was content to lay near, and be in contact with, his new and most unusual cub.
~~*~~
Author Notes: OK! No more death threats! I gave you the bloody chapter!!! I'm glad you guys like it. ^_^ This story is going to take the most unusual turn for the weird later on, especially when you find out who gets to take on the 'Mother' figure in Harry's life. *giggles evilly* No flaming me! I'm going through writers block as it is! And I got sick today, I almost didn't post it. That means you would have had to wait LONGER for it! Man, I'm glad so many people like this story, now if I could only get people to like my other Harry P. Stories… I'm coming up with several new idea's by the by! Which is insane because I have over fourteen unfinished stories, and I keep starting new one's while doing my damndest to keep up with my older one's … And… Yeah… Now you see why I'm a bit high strung… Anyway, I'll work to get chapter ten out, which should be easier, and I'll try to make the chapter longer, my love to you ALL and THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for reviewing, I really really really appreciate it, and most of all, thank you mom!