Thank you to the beta of this chapter- Born-of-Elven-Blood
Chapter Five - An Ironically Perfect Place
Harry glanced around the living room. It wasn't much different from the room where he woke. Bookshelves ran along the cream-coloured walls and brown leather couches were arranged around the fireplace. It reminded him of the Gryffindor common room. It was nothing Harry would have expected of his Potions Professor's chambers; he had kind of expected to find a coffin in the corner.
Harry tossed his glasses on the coffee table between the couches and pressed his palms against his eyes once again. He didn't know what to think about being here; he and Snape had hated each other for years and now he was sitting in the man's living room.
And ironically, he honestly couldn't think of any other place he would rather be. The Headmaster was too cheerful, he hated the hospital wing with a passion, and he couldn't stand being in the Gryffindor dorms or with his Head of House right now. Snape's chambers seemed like the best place to be.
Harry was brought out of his thoughts by Snape's voice.
"Sorry?" Harry looked up at the blurry figure of his Professor. "I didn't hear you."
"What do you want to drink?"
Harry's only response was a small noise of surprise. It was so strange to hear such a mundane question come from Snape.
"I have tea," Snape offered. Harry gave a small flinch. " I also have pumpkin juice or I can send my house elf down to…"
"Pumpkin juice is fine…sir," Harry cut in, not wanting to be a bother.
Snape didn't respond, only poured Harry a glass and brought it over to the coffee table along with a plate of eggs and toast in case the boy had an appetite.
"Do they know?" Harry asked, not even acknowledging the food that was set down for him.
"Who?" Snape asked as he sat down across from him.
"Ron and Hermione? Do they know what happened?" Harry's voice cracked a little as he thought about what his friends would think of him if they found out what Lockhart had done.
"No, all they know is that you ran off. It's your choice if you want to tell them or not," Snape explained. Harry gave a small nod.
"Who…who does know?" he stuttered.
Snape took in a breath before he answered. "Besides myself and the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey had to be informed."
Harry stayed silent for a few moments before he spoke up again. "I'm not that hungry" he muttered, staring down at the food in front of him. "Can I take a shower?"
"The shower is down the hall, next to the guest room. Call my House Elf, Cinsy, and she will get you some fresh clothes."
Harry gave a small nod, grabbed his glasses and took off to the bathroom, closing the door before calling the House Elf.
A small Elf, much smaller than Dobby, popped into the bathroom, shifting from foot to foot. Harry waited for the Elf to say something but it soon became clear that the Elf wasn't going to speak.
"Can…can I get some clean clothes please?" Harry asked. The Elf popped out of the bathroom, only to pop back in seconds later with a pair of Hospital Wing pyjamas. "Thank you" Harry said, taking them from the Elf.
Cinsy only gave a nod before popping back out again.
Harry turned on the shower as hot as possible. The water scalded as he stepped inside. He scrubbed his skin raw, but no matter how much he washed he still felt uncleaned. He could still feel Lockhart's hands all over him, his lips touching his skin, his breath on his neck. Unable to take it any longer, he started to dry heave, tears running down his face. He just wanted the memories gone again.
It was an hour and a half before Harry finally turned off the shower and stepped out, drying himself off and putting on the borrowed pyjamas. They were much too big, the fabric hanging off of him.
Harry made his way back out to the living room and found that Snape hadn't moved from his spot on the couch.
"Want to try and eat something?" he asked when he sensed Harry behind him.
"…I can't," Harry muttered. He knew it wasn't logical, but he couldn't help but to think about the tea that Lockhart gave him. Deep down he knew that Snape wouldn't put that potion in his food, but he still couldn't shake the fear. What if he ate that food and then found he couldn't move? Snape would be able to do whatever he wanted to him.
"Would you like me to contact Black for you?" Snape asked, hoping that the boy would lean towards his godfather.
"No!" Harry exclaimed quickly. " I…I don't want him to know…he doesn't need to know," he said, looking down at the ground. Four people were already too many to handle.
He made his way back over to the armchair and sat down, wrapping the quilt back around himself.
"What about Lupin?"
"No…no one, I just want to sit here…and not talk." Harry didn't care if he was being rude. He just wanted to sit in silence and try not to think of anything.
Snape only nodded. He picked up one of the books on the coffee table and flipped it open, settling in to wait until Harry was ready.
Meanwhile Ron and Hermione were having a hard morning. Rumors about what might have happened to Harry spread through the school like wildfire. Some were insane but some did worry Ron and Hermione.
One was that Umbridge had locked Harry in the dungeons, which wasn't that insane to Ron. Another was that Harry had finally lost it and had been taken to St Mungo's. But the one that really got to Ron and Hermione was the rumor that Harry had tried to kill himself.
Hermione feared that this one could be true. Both she and Ron knew that Harry was having a hard time lately. Neither wanted to believe that Harry would do such a thing, but perhaps the idea wasn't as crazy as the rest.
As they walked through the halls everyone's eyes landed on them, some filled with questions, while in others they saw pity.
"I hear the golden boy tried to off himself!" Draco yelled down the hall.
That was the last straw for Hermione. She burst into tears and ran into the nearest bathroom. Ron threw a rude gesture in Draco's direction and followed her.
"Do you really think it's true? Did Harry go to the Chamber of Secrets to kill himself?" Hermione cried to Ron, her heart breaking every time she thought about it.
"I don't know," he replied. "But I bet the teachers found him safe and sound by now. How about we see if we can visit him during lunch?"
Hermione agreed. They would go and see Harry before jumping to any conclusions. They also promised each other not to bring up the rumors. The last thing they wanted was to upset their friend even more.
