-155 -
Albus let out a heavy sigh of relief at the sight of Harry breathing. He knew the boy had a long road of recovery ahead of him but he also knew how strong Harry was. The boy had paid a heavy price for this victory.
Severus stared down at his son, the boy was barely breathing but at least he was actually breathing on his own now. Once Harry was in stable condition he took the time to study the sorry state his son was in. The first thing he noticed was the death eater robe that Harry was wearing.
He knew that Harry would never agree to wear such a hideous thing. He grabbed hold of the front of the robe and ripped it right down the middle, right through the skull and snake. He pulled the offending robe off of his son and vanquished it before it even hit the ground.
Madame Pomfrey had just opened her mouth to protest Severus' violent actions but abruptly stopped talking when she saw what was under the robe. The boy was wearing a once white shirt that was now soaked through in his own blood. She had noticed the two puncture wounds as soon as the boy had appeared but she had no idea the wounds were so extensive. Now that the boy had a pulse, the two puncture wounds began to ooze blood once more.
"Merlin help him," Poppy exclaimed as she moved a bit closer and pulled down the collar, "What sort of creature has fangs such as these?"
With dread, Severus knew there was no potion that would heal those wounds. He folded back the shirt collar away from Harry's neck. Voldemort had truly left nothing to chance; the beast had been intent on making sure the boy would die.
Poppy tried to heal the wound with a spell but her magic did nothing to help close the gaping holes.
Ginny was immediately reminded of the snake bites her dad had suffered through last year. She remembered how close to death her father had come. Ron stepped back away from the bed as his own memories of his father's near death experience accosted him.
Draco couldn't help but to think of Nagini. That awful snake had always terrified him.
Albus leaned over the bed and placed his weathered old hand upon the boy's pale face. He silently called forth Fawkes. The Phoenix appeared in a burst of fire and immediately began to trill a beautiful song as he cried out healing tears. The tears dripped onto Harry's neck, helping to close the wounds. The phoenix vanished with a small 'pop', once the wounds had begun to close.
"Thank you," Severus whispered, almost collapsing with relief.
Poppy wasted no time in examining the boy for any other wounds he might have. She began to unbutton the blood soaked shirt. Severus helped to remove it, horrified at the sight of his son's battered body.
Harry's injuries stood out dramatically against his ashen, pale skin. The mottled bruises littered across his chest were nothing in comparison to the swollen purple boot mark on his back. It was clear that several ribs had been shattered by that kick, amongst other injuries that could not be seen with the naked eye.
Severus growled out in anger, memorizing the shape and size of the imprint upon his son's back. He silently vowed to take revenge.
Before Madame Pomfrey removed the last article of Harry's clothes, she shooed the anxious teenagers from the room, "Out with you all. Mr. Potter deserves a bit of privacy."
The teenagers reluctantly left the room, knowing that Harry wouldn't want them to see him in such a vulnerable position.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
It didn't take long for news of Voldemort's demise to reach the world of Wizardry. Within hours the gates of Hogwarts were swarming with reporters, well wishers and people eager to find out how Harry was doing. Apparently there were witnesses to what had taken place in the bedroom at Voldemort's stronghold. Two of the large spiders crawling across the ceiling had actually been death eateranimangus.
Aurors had taken the death eaters into custody and used a pensieve to discover what had happened. Within the hour, Fudge's ministry officials had leaked the news that Voldemort was indeed dead.
Minister Fudge was the first to boast about his part in helping the boy-hero. He claimed to have known about the polyjuiced Harry Potters all along.
Albus thought it judicious to put to rest any rumors that Harry Potter was dead. When Dumbledore sent a message claiming that Harry had been brought back to life by his Potion Master father, Fudge declared the Potion Master brilliant and worthy of another medal of Merlin - first class. Fudge denied any allegations that he had tried to take the boy-hero away from his adopted father, claiming that it had all been one big misunderstanding.
The Wizarding World celebrated with great sanguinity, completely oblivious to the fact that Harry Potter lay motionless, barely breathing and at death's doorstep.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Severus had not left Harry's side since the moment the boy had portkeyed into the infirmary. His make shift potions lab in the infirmary had allowed him to brew all of Harry's potions fresh, for maximum potency. Only a few visitors were allowed in during those first tense days, with those visits being kept very brief.
Severus didn't have the patience to tolerate weeping teenagers, nor could he endure Molly Weasley's constant fussing. Harry required a tranquil environment in which to recover and much to Severus' satisfaction, Madame Pomfrey made certain he received it.
There were several anxious moments in which Severus doubted the effectiveness of the Elixir Of Life. Several times, during the first forty eight hours, it had appeared as if Harry had all but stopped breathing. Much to Severus' relief, Harry had always managed to battle his way back.
For days, Harry remained ashen, thrashing about with continuous pain as his body fought to come back to life. His cries of pain were the only sounds he made. He had yet to come to consciousness.
Severus stayed by the bedside, reading out loud to the teen, in hopes that the boy could hear him. Late at the night, when Madame Pomfrey was in her own rooms, he would sit down on Harry's bed and pull the boy close, with Harry's head resting against his chest.
During those quiet moments he would talk about how proud he was of the fight Harry was putting up to rejoin the living. It was during these times that Severus felt the weight of losing Black and how that would affect Harry. He feared for the moment Harry would find out about Black's death, knowing that the boy would never forgive him after Harry found out what had been done.
The long anxious days took their toll on the Potions Master, causing Madame Pomfrey to scold him about taking better care of himself. Severus had to admit that he had barely slept since this whole situation had begun. He forced himself to take a few hours of sleep, but still refused to leave Harry's side, opting instead to sleep in the chair by the boy's bedside.
Once, when Severus had fallen a sleep, he awoke to Ginevra Weasley, audaciously curled up next to Harry in the bed. The girl had the impertinence to burrow under the covers, falling a sleep with her arms embracing the boy. He decided against waking the girl and kicking her out, in view of the fact that Harry appeared to be much calmer then he had been in the past. When the girl snuck in the next night, Severus pretended to be asleep in hopes that his son would get a few hours reprieve from his constant thrashing about.
It wasn't until the fifth day back that Harry finally opened his eyes.
His first moments of lucidity were spent fighting against the immense pain he was suffering through. His entire body felt as if it was on fire, with every inch of his skin stinging as if he had fallen into a nettle bush.
With a great sense of relief, his father noticed he was awake and helped him to drink a potent pain potion.
"You are safe, Harry," Severus immediately soothed. "You are back with me now. The pain you are feeling is due to the Elixir working its way through your bloodstream."
Harry fought to stay awake. He knew there was something important he had to tell his dad but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it was. With unwillingness, his tired mind fell back into a fitful slumber. The last thing he saw was his father with tears unabashedly coming from his eyes.
The next time he awoke it was from a horrible nightmare in which his mum was screaming and fighting to get away from some unknown entity. His eyes flew open with the sudden realization that his mum was still trapped in the mirror at Voldemort's hideout.
Harry tried to talk but his throat was too dry. His dad pressed a goblet of bubbling green potion to his lips. The potion cleared his foggy mind and helped to alleviate his parched throat. After a few incomprehensible attempts, he finally managed to say, "Voldemort has my mum!"
"Calm down," Severus said, concerned for the boy's state of anxiety, "She is back with your father."
"No! He has her in the mirror of Erised," Harry struggled to say, trying to make his dad understand what had happened.
"No, Harry," Albus calmly stated, coming around to stand where the boy could see him, "Lily is back with your father. The mirror exploded when the killing curse rebounded. Her spirit went back to where it had come from. I saw it with my own eyes through a pensieved memory."
"Who's memory? No one else was in the room but me and Voldemort."
"There were a few animangus crawling about," Albus explained, "Two very large, very disconcerting spiders were actually supposed to spy on you, should you have chosen the other path Voldemort offered."
Harry closed his eyes, a sense of relief washing through him. He would never forget that look of panic his mum had as she struggled to find her way out of the mirror. His heartbeat returned to normal as his own panic began to subside.
"And Voldemort?" Harry asked, somewhat apprehensively.
"Is dead," Severus informed him as he reached for his son's hands and squeezed them. Harry winced in pain at having his hands grasped so tightly but at the same time needing the harsh contact to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Voldemort is dead, Harry. It is over," Severus reassured him.
Harry smiled, liberation at long last. He let out a heavy sigh but had one last pressing question in which he needed an answer to before succumbing to sleep once more.
"Is Sirius, okay?"
Severus had to look away from those trusting emerald green eyes. It was the question he most feared. Even after all the hours of contemplating how he would answer that question, he found himself hard pressed to actually speak.
It was Albus that spoke next,
"Sleep, Harry," Albus reached down, placing a hand over Harry's eyes, casting a spell that would send the boy into a peaceful slumber.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next time Harry awoke it was to someone kissing the side of his face. Still half asleep, a heart stopping terror filled him as thoughts of Voldemort's forked tongue sliding along his jaw line, came to mind. He jerked away, slapping a hand to cover that side of his face.
Ginny sat up, mortified to have provoked such a strong reaction from her boyfriend. It was obvious that Harry had suffered something horrific while spending time with Voldemort. She regretted having brought that memory out of her boyfriend. She felt worse still once Snape came swooping out of Pomfrey's office, glaring daggers at her.
With a jerk of his head, Severus directed the girl to move away from the bed. The boy was clearly having some sort of flashback. The walls of the infirmary shuddered ominously. It was apparent that it was Harry who was causing the room to quake.
Severus immediately knew that Harry's magic was no longer solely his own magic.
"Harry! Calm down, you are safe," Severus said. When the boy refused to look at him and the walls continued to shudder, he sat down on the bed and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"He is dead, Harry. Voldemort can no longer harm you. You are safe!"
Harry pulled himself out of the horrible memory and focused on his dad's voice. He pulled his magic back into himself, utterly astonished with the power he now had. The infirmary walls stopped shaking.
"Tell me, Harry, what did Voldemort do to you?"
Harry knew he had to tell his dad what had happened or risk going mad.
"V-Voldemort changed since the last time I saw him. His skin was covered in scales. His tongue was forked," Harry whispered, "he touched me with that hideous tongue right here," His fingers instinctively brushing along the side of his face, stopping once they reached the healed bite marks.
He fingered the wounds, recalling how terrified he was when Voldemort's teeth were sunk into his neck, "His fangs sunk into my neck and I panicked. I lost it … my legs gave out … the only thing holding me upright were those fangs in my neck," Harry shuddered as he was swept back into the memory. He turned his face, burying it in his dad's dark robes. He breathed in deeply, needing the scent of his father to ground him.
His dad continued to reassure him that it was all over now, except Harry couldn't help but think that it was never truly over when it came to Voldemort. He pulled away and looked into his father's eyes.
"Are you certain?"
"It is over, Harry," Severus said again, taking hold of Harry's hand and lowering it away from the healed wounds. "There will be no more fighting. There is no more Voldemort to disturb your life."
Harry nodded, but still had a hard time believing those words. His whole life had been filled with some sort of fighting. He couldn't imagine a life without fear.
He rubbed his tired eyes and leaned back into the pillows behind him. He pressed his fingers into his eyes. His dad handed him his glasses. Once he sat up he saw Ginny's tear stained face and immediately knew what had happened.
"Oh Merlin! Ginny, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to react like that," Harry tried to explain. He motioned for Ginny to come sit next to him. Just as they wrapped their arms around each other, the infirmary doors banged open. Poppy, McGonagall and Dumbledore came rushing into the room with wands drawn, followed closely by Ron and Hermione.
"What in heaven's name is going on in here?" Minerva asked, searching the room for trouble.
Much to Harry's disgrace, Poppy immediately began to examine him for any damaging effects the quaking might have caused. He yanked the covers out of her hand.
Albus slid his wand into his robes, "I gather that the shuddering of the walls was not caused by something harmful?"
"No, Albus. Everything is fine," Severus explained, "Harry experienced a fright upon waking. All is well now."
"Merlin, Harry," Ron exclaimed, "I was sitting in the library when the books started to fall off the shelf. I thought we were under attack or something!"
Harry's pale face flushed crimson with shame, "You felt the walls shaking all the way in the library?"
Both Hermione and Ron nodded.
McGonagall finally put her wand away within the many folds of her robes, "Don't look so mortified, Mr. Potter. You, of all people deserve to vent, if you so desire."
Harry shrunk back against the pillows.
"I think Mr. Potter has had enough excitement for one day," Poppy firmly stated, as she filled a cup half full, "A calming draught is in order, Mr. Potter."
"I'd rather not."
Severus raised a hand to stop Poppy before she objected any further to Harry's request. The medi-witch gave him an exasperated look but did not insist on the potion.
"In the very least, a nap would do you well after exerting so much power," Poppy tetchily countered back. "I'd hate to see what sort of reaction you might have should you become cranky from too little sleep. You're likely to bring the whole building down around our ears," she grumbled.
Not only did her words embarrass Harry, but they also made him sound like a child who might throw a tantrum should he become too tired. A spark of anger shot through him. He was shocked when Poppy's wand went flying across the room.
All eyes focused back on him after witnessing the wand hit the far wall. Hermione looked somewhat anxious, while Ron looked to be a bit impressed. Harry had to look away from his dad's reproachful frown.
"Did you cause that to happen?" Severus asked, with a grave expression.
"Not on purpose," Harry reluctantly admitted. He knew his own power had never been that focused. It frightened him that a mere thought could cause such a reaction.
"We shall investigate that new little trick of yours after you have rested," Severus said in a forthright tone.
Harry found himself hard pressed to argue with that. He did feel rather exhausted now anyway. He looked at all the worried faces peering back at him. Everyone looked so concerned, causing him to remember the one important question he never heard the answer to.
"Where's Sirius? He made it back unharmed, didn't he?" He was immediately alarmed when no one would make eye contact with him.
Madame Pomfrey shoved another cup of calming draught at him. When he pushed it away, his dad sat down on the bed and forced the cup into his hands.
"Perhaps Madame Pomfrey is correct, Harry. Drink this," Severus sternly ordered, guiding the cup in which Harry still held to the boy's lips.
Harry struggled to lower the cup, finally just flinging it to the ground in irritation, "Stop it, dad! Just tell me where Sirius is!?"
Severus knew he could hold off no longer, "Harry, you must try to understand, he was most dedicated to helping in anyway he could."
Albus sat down in the chair next to the bed, "Sirius would not let anyone else take his place, Harry. This was his decision alone; no one else is to blame."
"What the bloody hell happened to him!?" Harry yelled out in frustration, "Just tell me!"
"Black, is no longer with us, Harry. He died a very noble death," Severus quietly stated, hoping that the boy would ask no further questions.
"No," Harry whispered, his heart twisting in grief. It was one of his biggest fears, losing Sirius again.
Severus picked up the bottle of calming draught, pouring a generous dose of the potion in a fresh cup. He could see that the teen was in shock.
"You may take comfort that he did not suffer in the least," Albus added, his own heart twisting with despair for the boy.
"Oh, Merlin," Harry cried, unable to stem his emotions in his weakened condition. He covered his face with both hands as he turned into his pillow, "No, no, NO!" He felt his magic burst from him just as the walls began to quiver.
He uncovered his face just in time to see Dumbledore reach towards him to put him under that sleeping spell again. He pushed the man's hand away, "Don't touch me!"
Madame Pomfrey picked her wand up off the ground and began to twirl it in the air. "You mustn't overexert yourself, Mr. Potter."
Harry realized that the medi-witch was trying to put a sleeping spell on him. He felt satisfaction as her wand went flying across the room once more.
"Listen to them, Harry," Hermione said, placing a hand upon his leg. "It's what Sirius wanted. Only someone who truly loved you could do it."
Something didn't sound right to Harry. It didn't sound as if Sirius had died in a fight.
"How'd it happen?" Harry asked, "Who did it?" Thoughts of revenge filled his every fiber. The room shook and crackled with an inexplicable darkness.
Severus felt the dark magic vacillate through the air. He knew what was coming if he didn't stop this line of questioning. He took hold of Harry's shoulders.
"Enough of this! You will control yourself this instant," Severus demanded. "Harry, pull that energy back and calm down."
The energy in the room momentarily stilled, causing the shaking to cease. Harry closed his eyes and tried his best to keep the magic contained. Once he felt somewhat in control, he opened his eyes and asked,
"Tell me, dad? Tell me what happened to, Sirius?"
Severus lifted the cup of calming potion to Harry's lips, "I will tell you once you drink this. Your powers have increased alarmingly and I do not wish another episode to occur."
Harry reluctantly took hold of the cup and drank. "There," he stated in a petulant tone, "Now tell me."
Severus braced himself for the worst.
"The Elixir Of Life was designed with the intent of prolonging a life," Severus said in a slow deliberate voice, "It was not designed to bring someone back from the dead. In order to accomplish that feat we would require an even exchange … a life given for the one that was to be brought back from death."
Harry's brain was not working as quickly as it normally did since he had taken the calming potion. It took him a moment to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
"You killed him so I could live?" Harry asked with disbelief. His father nodded.
"He's dead? " Harry asked, absolutely shocked that Sirius was gone.
Dumbledore put a hand out to pat Harry on the shoulder, "There was no other option."
"But you didn't even ask me if I wanted you to do this? WHY DIDN"T YOU ASK ME FIRST!?" Harry yelled in frustration.
The walls shook with dark magic, causing the windows to rattle.
Harry looked from one person to the next. His gaze stopped on Hermione's guilty expression, "Did you know about this before it happened?"
Hermione couldn't bring herself to look at Harry. Ron looked away as well.
"YOU ALL KNEW ABOUT THIS AND DIDN'T TELL ME!?" Harry felt the magic building up inside of him. His anger consumed him. He tried to stand but he fell against the bed, sliding down to the floor. The quaking in the room became stronger as the momentum built.
Albus had his hands outstretched towards the teen as he tried to contain the dark magic and subdue the angry teen with his own wash of magic.
Severus could tell that the headmaster would not last long. He signaled to Poppy and Minerva, "Remove the students from the infirmary. Evacuate the west building." When both witch's didn't move, he barked out, "Now!"
Minerva snapped out of her shock, understanding the danger they were facing. Without further delay she prodded the reluctant teens to get moving. Poppy dragged along a very reluctant Ginny to the double doors. She cast a strong locking spell, knowing that the situation would get much worse before it got better.
Severus knelt on the floor next to his son.
Harry was hugging himself and rocking back and forth, "You killed him," he whispered, "You betrayed me and killed him."
"The choice was his alone. I never would have forced him," Severus raised his own wand, intending to cast a heavy sleeping spell on the teen.
The moment Harry realized what Severus was doing, the dark magic he had been holding back burst forth with a rolling thunder. Immersed in his own grief and anger, Harry didn't give any thought as the old Headmaster crumbled to the ground. Dumbledore lay unconscious in front of him. His anger was ruling him now and all he wanted to do was to hurt Severus, like he had been hurt.
Severus tried to grab at his wand as it went flying from his hand. He knew he was in trouble when he saw the cold, hate filled glare his son was giving him. The windows of the infirmary began to explode, sending shards of glass throughout the large room.
A glass cabinet filled with precious potions came soaring across the room directly at them. Severus threw himself over the boy just as the cabinet hit them. He felt thousands of shards of glass embed into his back and legs. He was thrown off his son as another burst of magic came from the boy.
"I hate you!" Harry was yelling, now curled up on the floor. "I hate you!"
Severus landed a few yards away, right next to the unconscious headmaster. He collapsed to the ground with blood soaking through his robes and puddling around him.
"Harry, please," Severus begged, "Please don't do this. Don't lose yourself to him. Don't let Voldemort win!"
"This has nothing to do with Voldemort! YOU killed Sirius! YOU should have died, not him!" Harry yelled, as another burst of angry magic caused the ceiling to crack.
Those brutal words struck Severus right in the heart. He wanted to believe that Harry had just said those words out of anger but he knew better. He struggled to make his way towards Harry as stone rained down on them. He crawled along the glass strewn floor, not even feeling the glass cutting into his palms and knees as he made his way towards his son.
He pulled the boy into his bloodied arms, wrapping the teen up in a fierce hug, "I'll not let you harm yourself!" Severus yelled as another round of stone came tumbling to the ground. "Black, died a noble death. Do not make his sacrifice pointless by letting your hatred rule you! Accept that in which you cannot change, Harry. All the rage in the world will not bring him back."
Harry sagged against his father, hating the man but at the same time finding safety in the strong arms. He fought against the idea of finding shelter with the man who killed his godfather. He tried to turn around and punch at the man who refused to let him go. He kicked and screamed out profanities but still, those strong arms held him tight.
When he was finally beyond exhausted, he slumped back against his dad. The magic dissipated and the room became still once more. Harry gazed at the chaos he had caused, taking in the enormity of his anger.
The sight of the Headmaster laying unconscious on the glass strewn ground brought him back to reality.
Severus loosened his hold on his son but kept his arms around the boy, "I expect you understand that I am not going anywhere. I will not let you deal with this on your own."
Harry turned his head to press his forehead against his father's chest, "I hate you for letting him die."
Severus tightened his hold, "I know, Harry, I know."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It didn't take Madame Pomfrey long to remove and heal all the glass imbedded in both Severus and Albus. She shook her head but kept her opinions to herself as she worked. The Headmaster was slow to regain his magical strength after attempting to suppress Harry's dark magic.
Albus knew that Harry had inherited part of Voldemort's magic. He had felt the beast's tainted magic coursing through Harry's pure magic as he had fought to subdue the powerful teen.
Severus had recovered from the magical attack much more rapidly, having age on his side.
He gazed about the infirmary with dread. The place reeked of evil. He looked down at his sleeping son, as his own chest constricted with fear. He carded his fingers through the boy's damp hair, hoping that Harry would accept his help even after what he had done to Black.
Severus and Albus debated about what course of action would be best for Harry at this point. For the safety of the students at Hogwarts, they had come to the conclusion that Harry would need to be put into a potion induced state of slumber. It was only thought to be a temporary solution until they discovered a way to manage the teen's dark magic and it would give Albus time to regain his strength.
Harry didn't put up a fight when his dad asked him to drink the powerful sleeping draught. He needed an escape from the chaos he had caused. Beside the fact that he didn't want to see anyone, especially his so called friends. He expected the members of the Order to hide important decisions from him, but he never thought his friends would keep such significant news from him. His fit of temper hadn't helped to relieve any of the pain he felt in his aching heart. Sirius was gone forever. He welcomed the potion induced slumber.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next time Harry awoke it was to voices coming from Pomfrey's office. His head felt too heavy to lift and his brain felt foggy.
He heard his dad yell, "I cannot do that to him! Harry would never agree!"
The next voice he heard was that of Shacklebolt, "Severus, he is not safe to be around. You know as well as I do that there is no other way."
"The prospect sickens me," Severus said in a voice barely loud enough for Harry to hear.
"He is awake," Madame Pomfrey announced.
Harry closed his eyes as he heard hushed voices and chairs being pushed back. He kept his eyes closed as several people left the infirmary. He felt a hand on his chest and he opened his eyes to stare into the worried eyes of his father.
"Are you in pain?" Severus asked, noting the boy's sweaty brow.
Harry looked away towards the tall windows. He saw that the windows were now fixed, along with everything else he had damaged. He heard his dad sit in the chair next to his bed but he refused to look at him.
"You've been asleep for an entire day. Would you care to eat?"
Harry shook his head as he continued to look towards the window. He could see the trees outside the infirmary window blowing in a harsh wind and was suddenly reminded of the last time he had killed Voldemort. It was all too much to take in. He had an odd desire to be back in his cupboard under the stairs, before he had even heard of the name, Voldemort.
"We have come up with a solution, Harry."
Harry turned his head to look at Severus. The man had a look of pain on his face as he held two silver bracelets in his hand. His other hand was pushing the hair back on his own head in an uncharacteristic act of anxiety.
Harry looked at the bracelets with trepidation.
"Shacklebolt brought these from the ministry," Severus said as he held up the silver bands. "They are goblin made and very rare. They siphon dark magic from whoever wears them."
"I don't want to wear them," Harry said, unconsciously pulling his hands up to twist in the covers. "Go away. I just want to be alone."
"That is not an option."
Harry huffed out in frustration. He looked up at the stone ceiling, noticing the long crack he had made during his fit yesterday. It bothered him to see such a deep crack in the hard stone and he wished it had been fixed along with everything else.
Severus sat forward causing the bracelets to clink together as he moved. His elbows rested on his knees as he leaned towards Harry, "We are leaving Hogwarts tonight. Do you have any objections?"
Harry struggled to sit up but his movements felt slow and heavy. He was glad his dad didn't try to help him because he wouldn't have accepted any help. Once he had managed to prop himself up on pillows he looked at his dad. With a pang of guilt he noted how worn out and tired the man looked. He'd never seen his dad with rumpled clothes and an unshaven appearance.
"Do I actually have a choice?"
"You will be leaving this evening," Severus established.
"I don't know what I have to do to earn the right to make decisions for myself? No one asked me if I wanted to go anywhere," Harry vehemently replied. "No one ever asks me anything!" The windows shook as he thought of Sirius.
"I am sorry, Harry," Severus softly replied, understanding that his son was referring to Black's death.
Harry quelled his anger by thinking about Ginny, embarrassed that she had witnessed his fit of temper yesterday.
"You will have to trust me to get you through this," Severus said, pressing two fingers to his right eye as a sharp headache continued to throb. In a quieter voice he said, "Our time away will do you well."
"Where are we going?" Harry asked in resignation.
"I have a safe house out in the country. We shall take the midnight train to avoid as many people as possible."
"Why can't we just apparate?"
Severus shook his head, frowning as he leaned forward once more, "Once we place these bracelets on you, we must not use any magic around you until all the dark magic has been drained. Hence the reason we will be leaving this castle."
"What about Snape Manor? Why can't we just go there?" Harry couldn't help but to notice his dad's shaking hands. He knew Severus was under tremendous strain.
"There is too much magic intertwined into the very walls of the estate. We must go to a place without magic." Severus sighed out heavily before imploring, "Please do not fight me on this. I am afraid I haven't the strength to combat you."
There were possibly no other words as effective as those to get Harry to comply. He wondered if the potion he had been given was helping to dissipate the anger he knew he still had for his dad?
Severus reached a hand out and grasped Harry's wrist. Without further warning he placed the first magical band around his son's wrist. The silver metal shrunk down to fit securely.
Harry frowned as he felt the first signs of something pull against his magical core. At first it was just a tickle but then it felt like a heavy constriction against his core!
"I don't want to wear these," he said in a panicked voice, using his other hand to try to pull the offending object off. When it became apparent that the bracelet was not going to budge, he went into a full panic. "Take it off! I don't like how it feels!"
Severus quickly grabbed at Harry's other arm and slipped the other bracelet on his son. Harry fought with all his might to get the bracelets off. They sucked at his soul, bringing about a deep pain to his very core.
"No! Take em off! Dad, help me take them off!" Harry fought against his dad. As soon as it became apparent that Severus was not going to comply, Harry turned his anger towards Severus.
"I hate you! Get out, I hate you!"
"You must control your anger! The bracelets react to rage. They react most painfully to negative emotions!"
Harry rolled on his side, facing away from his dad when the man reached out for him. He curled into himself. "Just leave me the hell alone! I never should have trusted you!"
Harry curled in tighter, his fingers still trying to work the bracelets off. He finally gave up and began rocking back and forth to help control the pain pulsing through him as the bracelets pulled the dark magic into its mysterious metal.
Severus felt utterly responsible for everything that had happened to his son. He placed a hand on Harry's back to offer some measure of comfort to the boy. The teen pulled sharply away, causing his pajama shirt to ride up.
The boy's back was exposed, revealing the deep bruise of a boot mark imprinted on Harry's back.
Up until now, Severus had very little time to reflect upon his son's ordeal at the hands of the remaining death eaters. Now that he sat staring at the purple boot mark set against Harry's pale skin, he felt as if a dam had burst open.
All the rage he had suppressed over his son's suffering, poured forth. His natural instinct to strike back intensified and he welcomed the fury it brought with it. Severus knew exactly how his son had received that bruise. That same group of death eaters that had inflicted the pain on his son now sat in a ministry cell awaiting trail. If ever there was a time to reap favors from the ministry, this was that time.
His anger towards the death eaters grew as he sat silently watching his son writhe with pain. Severus was grateful when Harry finally lay motionless. The boy's breathing became ragged but steady as Harry slipped into a much needed slumber. The only sound now was Harry's breathing and the sound of the big clock ticking.
Needing to rid himself of his pent up anger, Severus quietly left the infirmary for the first time since Harry had returned. On his way out he signaled to Pomfrey to watch over Harry.
Severus became aware of what a mess he must have looked when a few students walking the hallways, gasped when they saw him. He found himself hard-pressed to care what others thought of his appearance though.
He made his way up to Dumbledore's office in record time. He stormed into the office without invitation.
"I must go to the ministry," Severus announced to looks of alarm from both Minerva and Albus.
"Severus, do not act in haste," Albus warned as Severus took hold of the floo powder. "I understand how you must be feeling right now, however …"
Severus cut him off with a sharp retort, "You can have no idea how it feels to see your son tortured to the brink of madness! Do not dare to tell me you know how it feels!"
He didn't wait for a response from the headmaster. Instead he threw down the floo powder and called out, "Ministry for Magic!"
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The hallways of the ministry building were nearly empty at this hour. Severus didn't need anyone to tell him where the death eaters were being held. He had been one of those very same death eaters many years ago and had sat in the same cell they were most likely sitting in now. If it wasn't for Albus he might never have escaped Azkaban.
As he rounded the corridor, leading down into the holding cells, he ran smack into Mad Eye Moody.
The old auror looked him up and down with his magical eye, before saying, "Your boy did it, Snape. I didn't think you had it in you to send him up against that beast, but apparently I was wrong. I don't mind telling you now how I never intended to take Potter away from you. My only intention was to see this thing through to the end."
Severus narrowed his gaze at the man, "Then you knew that Harry was the last horcrux?"
Mad-eye nodded, "Aye, I did. Fudge might have been trying to get hold of the boy for his own gain but I had no intention of letting that idiot keep the boy. I had just thought I would have more access to helping the boy if Fudge took custody."
Severus inclined his head. "However noble your cause might have been," he said in an acerbic tone, "without my potion my son never would have survived."
"Aye, that's the truth!" Mad-eye agreed. "You're quite the hero these days." Mad-eye looked at Snape worn out appearance, "What're you doing down here?"
Severus saw no point in lying to the man, "I've come to exact retribution for my son's sufferings. One of those swine had the audacity to crush Harry's ribs, leaving behind a very distinct boot print. I intend to find out who put it there."
Mad-eye laughed, "Be my guest," he swept a hand down towards the stairs leading to the cells. "As a matter of fact, I'll help you." He led the way down the stairs, waving his badge at the three guards sitting at he gates. He waved the gates open with his badge.
Three more guards waited by the next cell doors. Severus found Mad-eye to be most helpful in clearing the way for him. They finally arrived at the holding cells.
Severus strolled along the corridor, studying the boots of the sleeping prisoners. He used his wand to flip the boot bottoms up so he could see them. Any prisoner who tried to talk was quickly silenced by Mad-eye. When they had almost reached the last cell, Severus saw what he was looking for. A short man with beefy arms folded across his chest was snoring loudly on the cell cot. The death eater was still wearing the illicit boots on his feet.
Severus pointed to the man then stood back as Mad-eye opened the cell door for him. Mad-eye cast a silencing spell around the cell then turned his back to allow Severus privacy.
Severus knew the auror could see him using the magical eye but he didn't care who witnessed this. He grabbed a handful of the death eater's hair and yanked the sleeping man from the cot and onto to the ground.
The man flailed as he woke up to piercing black eyes staring down at him. Severus wasted no time in casting Legilimens. He had to see for himself what his son had suffered through.
Without warning, the death eater cocked his arm back and struck Harry across the face,
Cleaving open a deep wound underneath the teen's eye. Harry slumped to the ground, rolling onto his side and pulling his knees up as much as the bindings would allow.
"Do you dare to speak the Dark Lord's name, you bloody little fool!?"
The same short, squat man that was now having his memories ripped from his thoughts, bent low to peer into Harry's face, "If you're the real Potter then I have a message for that blood sucking scum you consider a father."
Harry braced himself for the worst but wasn't quite prepared for the sharp kick that landed on his back. A sharp crack was heard as a few ribs shattered.
"Piss off," Harry managed to say through clenched teeth, feeling the need to defend his father to the very end.
Severus staggered back against the cell wall as he released the death eater from the spell. The death eater collapsed on the floor. With one swift move, Severus reached down and grabbed the death eater by the hair again.
"Now I've got a message for you," Severus said in an ominous tone, reveling in the hatred and anger coursing through him. "How dare you harm my boy! How dare you punish him on my account! Are you not man enough to give that same message to me!?"
"I-I-I'm sorry. P-please, I didn't mean it, Snape!"
Severus cocked his arm back and began to pummel the shrieking man. He allowed his fury to take over. He didn't stop until the man was almost unconscious. "What was it you wanted to say to me? Oh yes, you called me a 'blood sucking scum, I do believe!"
He threw the man back down to the ground, and then used his toe to roll the man onto his stomach. With every last bit of fury he could muster, Severus brought his heeled boot down onto the man's ribs. The sound of bone splintering mingled in with loud screams. It was music to Severus' ears. He viciously kicked the man in the face, blood splattered all over his boots and against the cell walls.
Severus bent low and hissed, "I would kill you but my son might disapprove. You have Harry to thank for your life."
Severus stood up, brushing down his rumbled robes as he obtained control of his emotions once more. He walked out into corridor, stepping past Mad-eye with a nod.
"Don't worry bout those blokes guarding the doors. I'll be sure to Obliviate them after I finish up here," Mad eye said.
Severus watched as the old auror went into the cell he had just exited from. He knew that the death eater would not survive Mad-eye's vengeance.
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The infirmary doors opened a crack as a ginger haired girl peeked through. When she found the room to be empty, save for her dark haired boyfriend, she quietly made her way to the bed. With trepidation she reached out and took hold of Harry's hand. She instantly noticed the silver bracelet around Harry's wrist.
Harry woke up as soon as his hand was touched.
She saw that he was awake and immediately said, "Don't be mad at me, I didn't know anything about, Sirius. I found out after it happened, I swear to Merlin."
Harry nodded, "its okay, I believe you, Ginny."
"Good, cause I wouldn't want you to think I was hiding anything from you," Ginny adamantly said.
Harry looked around the room for his dad.
"He's gone out," Ginny said, "I overheard McGonagall telling Tonks that your dad was at the ministry. That's why I thought it would be safe to sneak in here for a visit. I just wanted to come down and tell you how sorry I was about Sirius. I really liked him, Harry."
Harry felt his eyes begin to burn, "I didn't want him to die for me. It wasn't right."
"Hermione said that only someone that truly loved you could give their own life force for you to be brought back. She said the Elixir wouldn't have worked otherwise."
"Still … I wish he hadn't of done it. Let's not talk about it anymore."
Ginny leaned closer and fingered the silver bracelet Harry was wearing.
"What's up with the bracelets?"
Harry wasn't sure how Ginny would feel about Voldemort's magic commingling with his own magic. His shame forced him to look down when he said, "That snake faced bastard managed to leave a bit if himself behind. The bracelets are supposed to soak up Voldemort's magic."
"Oh."
Harry couldn't tell how she felt about it.
"I knew your dad would find a way to get rid of it," Ginny said, surprising Harry with her blasé attitude.
Ginny looked around the room, "It doesn't even look like anything happened in here." She looked at him with her head tilted slightly to the side. "You seem much calmer today."
"As soon as my dad left, Madame Pomfrey poured so many potions into me that I'm lucky to be awake. I think I freaked her out and she's not taking any chances." Harry rubbed at his eyes, wishing he had his glasses back. He held his arm out to look at the bracelet causing him so much pain. There was no beginning to it, nor any end.
Just then, Madame Pomfrey came bustling in with another vial of potion in her hand, "Oh, I didn't know you had company, Mr. Potter. If Ms. Weasley is upsetting you, I can ask her to leave?"
Harry and Ginny both tried to hide their smiles at the medi-witch's nervousness.
"No, I'm glad Ginny's here. She calms me," he added to make sure his girlfriend wasn't kicked out.
"Very well then," Poppy said, handing him the vial that looked and smelled like another calming draught to Harry.
He placed the vial on the nightstand, "I'll take it in just a bit. "
Poppy shook her head but feared upsetting the teen. She gave them a long look before heading back into her office.
Harry took hold of Ginny's hand, "I'm leaving soon. Severus doesn't want me around any magic while I've got these on." He raised his wrists, cringing at the feel of his magic being drained.
"Do they hurt?" Ginny asked, pointing to the bracelets, "Does it hurt to wear them?"
"Yeah." Harry shifted in his bed to sit up a bit more. "They hurt most when I get angry. I guess that's when Voldemort's magic is most potent."
"I'll try not to get you angry then."
Harry leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. The deep crack on the ceiling brought back unsettling thoughts, "I told my dad that I wished it would have been him that died instead of, Sirius."
"Oh, Harry, no."
"I shouldn't have said it, but I was just so 'effing angry! I didn't want anyone to die for me, most especially not, Sirius." Harry pulled his wrists to his chest as the bands began to pull magic from him. He winced when Ginny tried to hold his hand.
She pulled her hand back, "Try not to think about it, try not to get mad. Just think about flying or that time we spent cuddling in the Room of Requirement."
Harry did as she said, immediately feeling the pressure ease up. When most all the pain was gone, he reached his hand out and took hold of Ginny's hand.
"What's it like out there?" Harry asked, looking towards the closed infirmary door. "What're they saying about me in the newspaper?"
"Oh, erm, … I guess you'll find out soon enough anyway. Mostly they're just claiming you're like the next Merlin. Most all the newspapers are talking about how your dad brought you back to life. There's been hundreds of people camped outside the gates of the school, just waiting to get a glimpse of you. Oh and ….," Ginny hesitated revealing the next part.
"What? Just say it, Gin."
"Well, there's a reward being offered for any pictures the students of the school might be able to take of you or your dad. I guess they want proof that you're really alive or something. Mc Gonagall confiscated everyone's cameras and threatened expulsion if anyone bothered you guys."
Harry frowned, "Great, just what I need."
"Oh, there's one more thing you should know … some of the students felt the tremors when you got angry. Some people even saw the windows blowout of the infirmary. There might be a few rumors going around about how powerful you are now."
"Hah," Harry snorted, "With these bracelets on, I can't even cast a spell strong enough to cast a lumos!"
Ginny moved to the bed, sitting next to her boyfriend, "Who needs a lumos anyway? I rather like sitting in a dark room with you."
Harry pulled her back so she was stretched out beside him on the narrow bed. Their faces were mere inches apart, "Kiss me," Harry said, as he leaned his face closer to Ginny's.
Ginny pressed her lips to Harry's, enjoying the mellow mood her boyfriend seemed to be in. She wrapped her arms around him as she opened her mouth.
Madame Pomfrey let out a sharp gasp, "That will be enough. Out with you, young lady."
Ginny sat up quickly, "Oops, sorry, Madame Pomfrey."
"Ms. Weasley, I am quite certain your mother would not approve of your behavior," Poppy refrained from saying anything to Harry, reluctant to anger the teen without having Severus or Albus in the room.
Ginny exhaled noisily as she got out of the bed, "Yes,." She looked back at Harry, "Write me, okay? Maybe I can even visit?"
"Yeah, I'll ask," Harry said, pulling the covers up as a chill washed over him.
"Mr. Potter should get as much rest as he can before leaving," the medi-witch picked up the vial of potion from the nightstand.
Harry rolled his eyes at Ginny but took the potion.
Ginny gave him a quick kiss, whispering in his ear, "Talk to your dad about what you said to him. You'll feel better once you tell him you didn't mean it. Any good parent would have done just the same if it meant saving their child."
A feeling of warmth washed over Harry and he wondered if it was caused by the potion.
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