Author's rambling: Finally, some questions answered…and some more questions raised.
xXx
Harry placed the goat's liver in the silver cauldron when a knock sounded on the door behind him.
"Come in," Harry called as he stirred the potion three times clockwise with a glass rod.
"Am I interrupting?"
Harry turned around to see Cameron Charmling standing in the doorway.
"Sorry, I thought you were a student." Harry said placing a status charm on the potion before turning to the other man. "What can I do for you Mr Charmling?"
"Please call me Cameron," The man said moving into the room looking around. "The Headmaster mentioned that you teach advance classes in Charms?"
"And other things, yes." Harry confirmed, leaning back on the bench behind him. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Cameron moved closer until he stood in front of Harry.
"I've heard that you make a remarkable protection circle?" Cameron asked with a charming smile.
"And?" Harry asked.
"I would like to learn it," Cameron said softly.
"You don't know how to make a protection circle?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well," Cameron said. "I know how to make a protection charm but not a circle."
"I have some new students," Harry said carefully. "I would be happy to run them through protection circles if you would like to watch?"
Cameron's smile dimmed a little before it came back in full force.
"Sounds great." The man said.
"Okay, I'll send you a note when I run the class." Harry said calmly. "Now I've got to get back to my potion."
"You don't get Snape to make your potions?" Cameron asked, his eyes darkening at Severus's name.
"Not when I can make them myself." Harry replied. "Good afternoon Mr Charmling."
"See you later, Blake."
The man gave him one more grin before leaving the room closing the door behind him. Harry looked at the door as he ran through the conversation in his mind before turning back to his potion.
xXx
"Charmling came to see me today," Harry said to Severus as they laid in bed together that night.
Harry was sprawled out on his back with Severus curled into his side. Harry's hand running up and down the man's side as he thought about the encounter with Charmling that evening.
"What did he want?" Severus rumbled.
"Said he wanted to learn a protection circle," Harry said frowning. "But he would have learned that in the Auror program."
"How do you know that?" Severus asked.
"Because at one point in my life I did the training," Harry smirked.
"Okay," Severus muttered. "I'm not going to ask why that was."
Harry chuckled. "There's something not right about that man."
Severus rumbled a laugh and kissed his side as he slowly moved up Harry's body and kissed him on the lips as he rolled on top of him.
"You have mentioned that before," Severus purred.
Harry grinned and pulled the other man's head down to his and kissed him deeper all thoughts of the Defence teacher leaving his head.
xXx
Severus stalked down the busy hallways of Hogwarts, students parting before him like Moses parting the sea. He sneered down at a first year that yelped and jumped out of his way as he worked his way down from the Headmaster's office. He was still unsure what the man had even called him up there for and he had a feeling that the old man just wanted some company and to catch up.
Severus slowed his steps as he realised that he had walked passed his rooms and with a slight grin moved down the hall to Blake's rooms. He found himself in his rooms more than his own now and he was surprised that the Headmaster hadn't just suggested that they move into the same one but he supposed since Severus was a Professor and Blake still taught students that it wouldn't be proper. Severus smirked and knocked softly on Blake's door before entering.
The man sat at his dining table with papers scattered from one end to the other with a pad of paper and a pen in his hand while he held his phone to his ear.
"Oui," Blake said into the phone and waved Severus in and nodded his head to the kitchen with a smile.
Severus moved to the kitchen with a smirk as the man spoke on the phone. Blake's French rolling off his tongue like he had been born to the language. It made Severus shiver as he watched the man at the table as he tapped the pen on the paper and wrote something down every now and again. His body relaxed as he picked up a file off the table and made a note in it.
Severus looked over at the man while he waited for the water to boil. You could pass the man on the street and not give him a second glance. His slim frame, short stature and short black hair made him bend in without trying. You wouldn't even think the man was a wizard and with his cane and limp it made you think he wasn't a threat. It wasn't until the man glanced up and that pale green stare and easy smile graced his face that you could see the power in him.
Severus moved back to the table with the coffee and placed it within the man's reach. Blake nodded then wrote something on the piece of paper and pushed it towards Severus.
'Thanks, pain potion?' Was written on the paper in Blake's neat script.
Severus frowned and dug into his robes and pulled out the potion and placed it next to the coffee, Blake gave him a nod of thanks still talking on the phone and poured the whole potion into his coffee, making Severus raise an eyebrow in surprise, before taking a sip and sliding the empty vial back to Severus.
Severus sat at the table with his own coffee and looked over the files. They were written in English, French, German and what looked like some kind of Asian script. Blake tapped the table to get his attention and pushed a file in Severus's direction. Severus raised an eyebrow at the man when he saw it was written in French.
Blake gave him a smile and tapped the file with his pen and the words shimmered and twisted into English. It was moments like this that left Severus in awe of the man beside him. That he could do magic so casually while still holding a conversation and without voicing the spell or even holding a wand.
Severus looked the file over; it seemed to be about a village in France. Blake's neat writing covered the page as he had written down details about the town, the wards and charms that he had placed around it. Nothing really jumped out at Severus until he read the word werewolf.
"Oui," Blake said sitting back in his seat. "Je vais revenir a vous ministre, Je vous remercie."
Blake hung up the phone and glanced over at Severus.
"That was the assistant for the Minister of Magic in France," Blake said calmly.
Severus just stared at him.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Nothing, go on." Severus purred.
"Ah, okay." Blake stuttered. "He wanted a few things but top item on his list was new wards on the Ministry now that the Dark Lord has returned and the British Ministry have ungraded their security, we have come to an agreement with him backing some new rights for vampires and werewolves which Dracka should be happy with, but I will run them passed the man later."
Blake looked down at the files around him and moved a few around, uncovering a piece of paper that he picked up.
"Dracka did call this morning about something," Blake said looking at the piece of paper.
"Something?" Severus asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Well I couldn't work out what he was going on about," Blake said running a hand over his head. "He then dissolved into Dutch and I think he was swearing at me. I wrote the words down to look up later."
"You don't speak Dutch?" Severus asked with a smirk.
"Ah no," Blake replied. "But after looking up this list I may have some good swear words for the next time Dracka calls."
Severus barked a laugh as Blake took another sip of his coffee.
"That file I gave you," Blake continued. "Is a settlement in France, they have a community of werewolves that live there. They want me to teach a group of potion students how to make the new Wolfsbane potion. Do you feel like a road trip?"
Severus sat back in his seat and watched the other man sipping on his coffee calmly looking over at him. Laying the offer out there, but not pressuring him either way.
"What was the pain potion for?" Severus asked instead.
"Ah," Blake said looking uncomfortable. "Headache. Phone hasn't stopped since this morning."
"Is that why I can't see the table top?" Severus smirked.
"Ah yeah," Blake said rubbing his head again. "Some of these files just arrived and I was looking them over."
"From who?" Severus asked.
"Ah," Blake glanced around the table. "Once I gather them all up I could tell you each pile, they all kind of came together. The Headmaster was happy to dump them here. Does your head in skipping from English, to German, then to French, and so on."
"And Chinese?" Severus asked holding up the file.
"Japanese," Blake corrected. "That was a contract I had over there about a Temple and a curse…yeah too long to explain that one. So, werewolves and Wolfsbane?"
"When would this be?"
"They would prefer before the next full moon," Harry replied. "So, within the next couple of weeks. Could make it a weekend trip, we could leave after your last class on a Friday."
"Sounds romantic," Severus deadpanned.
"Ha!" Blake barked. "So, is that a yes?"
"Sounds like a date," Severus smirked, as his tipped his cup of coffee in the man's direction.
xXx
Severus looked around the busy street in interest as he followed Blake. The man seemed to create a gap around him as he walked, people subconsciously giving him space as they walked along and it still amazed him as they made their way out of the Paris International Portkey Platform. Blake leading the way to a Taxi Rank where he greeted the driver with a smile and held out a piece of paper for the man to take.
"Jump in Severus," Blake said over his shoulder, before turning back to the driver and speaking to him in French.
Severus slid in and moved to the other side as Blake gave a laugh and got in beside him. The driver and Blake spoke quietly as the man pulled out into the busy traffic.
"He says it might take us a while," Blake said leaning back in his seat. "Peak hour traffic and all that."
They were heading to one of Blake's houses just outside of Paris.
"And we can't apparate why?" Severus asked silkily.
"Oh, sorry." Blake replied. "I like to see the city, we can apparate if you like?"
Severus smirked at the other man.
"It's fine," Severus replied and Blake gave him a grin.
Severus turned to look out the window as Blake went back to talking to the driver. The man was being very animated as he spoke and Blake watched him in interest, adding in a few words now and again.
Severus watched him through the glass of the window as the town passed by outside the window. Blake seemed interested in what the driver was saying and was leaning forward in his seat as the man spoke. Severus smiled, Blake really loved to talk to people and he had skills in finding out information without someone realising they were giving it away.
Severus could see the skills of a good spy in the man and he wondered if anyone else could see it. He was sure the man would even be able to get information out of death eaters without them knowing and he smiled softly. Blake glanced over at him and gave him a wink in the reflection of the glass, well aware that Severus was watching him, as he said something to the driver and the man laughed.
The driver dropped them off at a large apartment building and Blake handed over some cash with a smile and a laugh as they got out of the taxi. The driver gave them a wave as he pulled away and Blake moved up to the front door of the building and holding the door open for Severus before moving through the large foyer to the lift at the back of the room.
"You were a spy," Severus purred in the man's ear once they were in the lift and moving up to the third floor.
"What makes you say that?" Blake said with a grin.
"You almost had the driver inviting you to dinner at his house," Severus smirked.
Blake barked a laugh.
"Didn't realise you speak French, Mr Snape?" Blake said in amusement.
"Don't need to," Severus replied, as they stepped out of the lift and into the hallway.
"From one spy to another, hey?" Blake said with a wink and stopped in front of door number twenty-four and placed a key in the lock and pushed the door open for him.
"Something like that," Severus purred as he stepped into the room and looked around.
It was only small, but well maintained and furnished with simple rental furniture as they moved into the small living area. Blake moved to one of the doors and threw his bag into the room before heading towards the kitchen. Severus moved to the large glass doors and stepped out onto the balcony that ran the length of the apartment. It was a beautiful view of the city spread out before him.
"Brought it for the view," Blake said softly next to him. "It pays for itself in rental income."
Severus rested his arm over the man's shoulders, pulling him closer, as they looked out at the view as the sun started to set and the lights came on around them.
"Gert Filler will be sending someone by tomorrow morning to take us to the village," Blake said softly. "There is a really nice restaurant down the road and we could catch a movie or something if you want?"
Severus looked down at the shorter man and felt his heart beat that little bit faster as Blake turned his head and looked up at him. He leaned down and gave the man a kiss before they looked back out at the view of the city just enjoying each other's company away from any commitments of the school.
"How is it that you know so many languages?" Severus asked softly.
Blake gave him a grin.
"By product of being a parseltongue," Blake said softly. "Took me a while to work it out when a friend said that I pick up languages too easily."
"How does that work?"
"Parseltongue or picking up languages?" Blake asked as he turned in his arms to look up at him, putting his back to the view.
"Both," Severus asked in interest.
"Well," Blake said softly. "I can understand and talk to snakes, which is a talent you are born with. They really aren't that interesting to talk to, by the way. I'm not sure why it helps with learning other languages. It's just a theory really, the more I am in a country and surrounded with the language the easier it is. Still have to learn it, but it's just quicker."
"That's a useful talent," Severus rumbled as he leaned closer and kissed him.
Blake gave him a grin as he pulled back and Severus looked down into the man's green eyes as the day moved into night.
"What's the bedroom like?" Severus whispered and smirked when he saw a shiver go down the man's back.
"Not sure," Blake replied. "Want to find out?"
xXx
Harry sat at the back of the classroom as Severus showed the two women and three men how to make the new Wolfsbane. He leaned back in his chair as Severus showed the others how to cut and mix the potion his black eye alight as he ran through the steps as the students took notes.
The man really did like teaching, but the students had to want to learn, he didn't like teaching people that didn't want to put themselves into making the potion. Blake could see the men and women around Severus wanted to learn everything he wanted to share as Severus worked in his element.
"How's it going?" A voice said from his right and Harry turned to see an old man with white hair and intense brown eyes. His name was Alex Shouver and he looked after the village.
"Nothing has blown up yet," Harry said with a smile. "That's always a good sign."
The man gave a soft chuckle and eased himself into a chair next to Harry. The man was old for a werewolf at about eighty to ninety years and Harry could almost see the wolf coating the man's skin as he sat next to him.
"Your new Wolfsbane has given us more hope, Mr Sun." The man said softly.
"It's as more Severus's work than mine," Harry replied. "He worked hard on the first Wolfsbane."
"He is a very talented potion master," Alex agreed.
"Yes, he is." Harry said softly, watching the man.
"Your apprentice?" Alex asked and Harry looked at him sharply. "You can't hide what you are from me, Mr Sun."
"Blake is fine," Harry said as he looked back at Severus. "He is not my apprentice."
"Maybe in time then," Alex said softly.
Harry watched Severus working for a moment, as he really got into talking to one of the woman and was showing her something in the notes on the table, making Harry smile.
"We never know what the future will hold for us," Harry said softly as Severus laughed at something that one of the students said.
"Yes," Alex said and got to his feet. "That would just be cheating, now wouldn't it?"
Harry looked up at the old man and took the hand he held it out to him, surprised with a strength in the man's grip, as the magic of his dark curse brushed against his arm.
"Thank you," Alex said, his brown eyes intense as he looked down at Harry.
"You are most welcome, Mr Shouver." Harry said and he was sure that the man was talking about more than just the lessons they were giving.
The old man released his hand and gave him a nod before leaving the room.
"Are you just going to seat there and do nothing?" Severus called out to him silkily. "Or are you going to give us a hand, Mr Sun."
Harry grinned up at Severus and pulled himself to his feet.
"Sure," Harry smirked. "I suppose I could help blow up a cauldron or two."
xXx
Severus walked into Blake's room to see the man looking over a file in interest. He moved towards him and placed his hands on the man's shoulders as he looked at the file in front of him and then snorted.
"You have Charmling's file?" Severus smirked as he looked at the smiling photo of the man. "You know he pulled your file."
Blake barked a laugh and looked up at him as Severus worked on his shoulders.
"He would have had fun with that one," Blake said with a grin.
"He said a lot of it was censored," Severus remarked as he read the file in front of him. "That looks all pretty standard. I don't see death eater written on it in big red letters."
"I see plenty of Dark Wizards that have fallen to his wand," Blake said softly.
Severus's hands tightened on his shoulders as he looked over the file.
"I knew this man," Blake said softly. "Part Veela so a Light Wizard. Charmling killed him. Everything else looks normal. Three years in training and about five as a full Auror. Kingsley had nothing but good things to say about him and I spoke to his old partner. He is a bit of a workaholic but would go to social events. No girlfriends or boyfriends, seems to swing towards the girls according to his last partner."
"Sounds like someone else I know," Severus muttered and kissed his neck.
"The workaholic part or the swinging towards girls, Mr Snape?" Blake asked in amusement.
Severus snorted as he ran his hands under the man's shirt, feeling the scars under his hands as he worked on his back and shoulders.
"Did you happen to pick up your file?" Severus purred in his ear as he kissed his neck.
"Is this your version of interrogation?" Blake muttered as he moved his head to the side.
Severus huffed a laugh and his eyes darked as a shiver ran down Blake's back and goose bumps came up on his arms. Blake twisted around and Severus took him in a soft kiss as he slipped his hands under the man's shirt and pulled it over his head.
"How am I supposed to get any work done?" Blake muttered as Severus pulled his chair back and settled on his lap.
"File is right there, Mr Sun." Severus drawled as he ran his hands up his sides.
Blake laughed and peered around him as Severus shrugged out of his robes.
"Someone seems to be in my way," Blake said with dark eyes as Severus pulled his shirt off. "Maybe you can do something about that?"
Severus huffed then gasped as Blake ran his nails down his sides and he shivered. Blake settled his hands on his hips as Severus flicked his belt open and slipped his hands lower.
"Did you just have Sixth year Slytherin and Gryffindor class?" Blake asked mildly as he sat back in his seat and rubbed a hand against Severus's pants.
Severus snorted as he looked down at the smaller man and he gave him a soft smile with his green eyes shining. He ran his fingers along one of the scars on the man's chest and the couple that curled around his sides from his back in interest.
"Whip marks," Blake said softly, confirming what Severus had thought. "The man had a bit of a fetish for muggle torture."
Severus shivered at the thought as he looked down at his lover. Blake didn't look away and his voice held no emotion as he spoke. Severus gently ran his hands down the man's sides and Blake shivered under his hands. He tilted the man's head back and kissed him softly as he savoured the taste of him as his rough hands rested on his sides.
Severus got to his feet and looked down at the seated man with dark eyes, Blake just looked back as he leaned back in his chair.
"Yes?" Blake purred and Severus felt it run right through him and by the smirk on other man's lips he knew it.
Severus reached out a hand and Blake grinned as he took it and he pulled the shorter man to his feet, his pants slipping down as he did. Blake just grinned and slipped out of his underwear to stand naked in front of him and Severus's eyes darkened as he took in the sight.
xXx
Missing scene due to rating.
xXx
Blake looked up at him his eyes still dark and gave him a small smile.
"A lot better than work," Blake purred and Severus shivered at the tone.
xXx
Harry startled awake when a knock sounded on his bedroom door. Severus stirred next to him and Harry muttered at him as he rolled out of bed and limped to the door. He glanced at the alarm clock, which was flashing 3am as he pulled the door open to find Albus standing on the other side.
"Albus," Harry asked. "What is it?"
Albus focused on Harry's face instead of the rest of him on show as he stood in the doorway.
"Ah, sorry to wake you Blake." Albus muttered quietly. "But we have to move on this Horcrux. I just got word that Voldemort may be thinking of moving it."
"Okay, just give me a minute." Harry closed the door and moved back to Severus.
A single black eye looked at him from under the covers.
"It's the Headmaster," Harry said softly. "We have to move on this Horcrux."
Severus groaned. "What time is it?"
"Just after three in the morning." Harry replied. "You stay here. You have class in the morning. The Headmaster and I will work on this one."
"Are you sure Blake?" Severus asked sitting up.
Harry gave him a kiss and said, "We'll be back soon."
"Blake?"
"Yes?"
"Stay safe."
Harry grinned at Severus and dressed quickly before giving the man one last kiss and heading out into the living room.
"Ready, my boy?" Albus asked.
"As I'll ever be." Harry replied and stepped up to the Headmaster.
The Headmaster grinned and took his arm and disapparated them straight from his rooms. Harry stumbled slightly as he landed and Albus kept a tight hold on his arm as he found his feet.
"You've been talking to Severus," Harry accused.
Albus just smiled, his blue eyes twinkling.
"How did he react with being left behind?" Albus asked the shorter man.
"He was still half asleep," Harry replied. "When he wakes up he is going to be pissed but I'm going to play the 'Headmaster made me do it' card. Just so you know."
Albus's laughter rolled through the cave that they had found themselves in. Harry could hear the surf crashing loudly and was sure that they weren't far from the sea.
"Where are we?" Harry asked.
"South Wales," Albus answered. "Come on."
Albus lit his wand lighting up the small cave that they were in. Harry looked around the cave but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. That was until Albus moved to the back and slipped between two rocks.
"How did you find this place?" Harry asked as he slipped between the two rocks after the other man.
"Remus," The Headmaster replied. "He was teaching some werewolf children in the town close to here and they told him that they could feel dark magic coming from this cave."
Harry stopped in the rough stone tunnel and closed his eyes. If he focused carefully he could feel the slight taint of dark magic on the air but it felt like it was bleeding through from somewhere else.
"Blake?"
Harry opened his eyes to see Albus watching him with curious blue eyes.
"I can feel it if I'm looking for it," Harry said. "But I've been keeping my darker magic under tight control since the Dark Lord's attack."
He may have physically recovered from the Dark Lord's attack when he broke the connection between the dark marks and Voldemort but his dark magic was a different story. It felt more fluid and flexible under his touch and he seem to have a larger reserve than he had before which he had no idea could even be possible so he had kept a tight hold over it just in case.
Albus laid a hand on Harry's shoulder briefly before they walked deeper into the tunnel. They walked in silence for a while until they came out into an underground cavern. Harry stopped and could feel the dark magic now as it rolled over him and he looked out over the large space. Albus threw an orb of light up into the air to light up the cavern for them.
Large didn't cover the size of the place they were in as Harry looked around. He could only just see the other side in the shadows cast from the light orb and he frowned as he heard the slow sound of dripping water and yet the water was completely still and looked like a light brown mirror. There should have been some kind of ripple or movement but everything was still.
He looked out further to see a small island in the middle of the underground lake and felt a forbidding in his stomach. The scene looking familiar and yet different than what he remembered as dark magic tainted his sight and pushed on his own dark magic and he pulled it tighter around him.
"I can feel the dark magic now, it's strong. The stones of the cavern must have been keeping it contained." Harry said, as he looked over at a small wooden boat on the shore near them. "Looks like someone has been here."
Albus looked at him carefully and Harry gave him a small smile.
"Give me a minute," Harry said as he looked out.
He carefully opened his mind slightly and could feel the dark magic pulsing around him. A lot of dark magic had been used down here and over a long period of time. It had built up layers on the surface of the lake and the shore and he could see the mists swirling around his feet and across the lake.
He looked out at the small island but had to pull back from his sight as the darkness started to overwhelm him. He rubbed his eyes and the lake and shore came back into focus. Looking into the magic in this place wasn't going to help him, there was just too much of it to sort through.
"They have done dark magic here for a long time. Probably over hundreds of years." Harry said as he turned to the Headmaster. "It has seeped into the stones and water."
"Can you feel out the Horcrux?" Albus asked.
Harry shook his head and said, "There's too much around."
Albus moved down to the water's edge and looked into the murky depths. The sound of dripping water, somewhere in the distance echoing off the walls of the cave. Harry moved up to the taller man and looked out across the still water to the small island in the middle of the cave with a stand on it. Could it be that this time was different that the Horcrux had never been moved? Harry just felt frustrated that he couldn't know for certain.
"I suppose it's over there," Harry remarked. "Well it's a nice morning for a boat ride. Shall we?"
"Do you take anything seriously?" Albus asked suddenly.
Harry just grinned, clapping the man on the shoulder.
"I could say the same to you, Albus." Harry said. "We have both lived long enough, that if you don't find humour in life it's really not worth it."
Albus gave a chuckle and helped Harry push the small boat into the water. The splash as the boat entered the water sounded loud in such a quiet place. Harry left his cane behind on the shore as he struggled into the boat. Albus just calmly stepped in.
"Show off," Harry muttered. "I kind of miss the day when I would have just jumped in here without a care."
"And probably fallen," Albus remarked remembering his apparation landings.
"Hey!" Harry yelped. "I used to be as sure footed as a mountain goat when I was younger…well except using a floo. Can't trust those bloody things."
Albus chuckled and cast a spell to get the boat moving across the water towards the island while Harry glared down at his wet shoes and pants.
"Can you feel anything else?" Albus asked.
"There is something in the water." Harry replied. "But it seems to be sleeping. Everything else is just drowned out by that dark magic. You can't feel it?"
"I don't see magic like you do, Blake." Albus said with a small smile. "But I can feel the dark magic."
"What about light magic?" Harry asked in interest.
"That I can pick up easily," Albus said as he turned to Harry.
"See," Harry replied. "I can't pick up on that as much."
"Even with your light magic?" Albus asked in interest.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I don't use light magic that much. I have to push the dark power all the way down to call on the light magic."
"Yes," Albus agreed. "You have been giving the wards at the school a work out."
"Oops," Harry said with a grin. "I have adjusted those wards as much as I can. I just forget sometimes."
Albus gave a laugh as the boat buttered up against the shore of the small island. Albus hopped out of the boat easily as Harry tripped landing in a tangle of limbs on the shore.
"Bloody leg." Harry cursed, righting himself.
"Limber as a mountain goat." Albus muttered.
"Oh, quiet you." Harry hissed.
"You keep us entertained, Blake." Albus said with a grin.
"I aim to please," Harry deadpanned.
The two men moved up the small island, which was only a few meters across, to the stone pedestal, which held a glass bowl. Harry and Albus looked into the bowl to see a gold necklace sunk to the bottom and covered in crystal clear water. Harry looked into the bowl with a sinking feeling, feeling the dark magic within it, but unable to look any closer.
"Aucio Necklace," Albus muttered the spell, nothing happened.
"It's never that easy," Harry said quietly.
A glass cup stood next to the bowl, which Albus picked up. They both turned at a noise behind them, as the boat suddenly sunk into the water and shortly after appeared back where it had been before.
"Can you spell trap?" Harry muttered under his breath.
The Headmaster nodded grimly. "Tom Riddle always had a flare for drama."
"Oh yeah," Harry exclaimed. "You taught the boy, didn't you?"
"I did," Albus confirmed. "As you would have read in his student file when you requested it off me."
Harry laughed and gave the man a wink.
Albus smacked him on the shoulder before they turned back to the bowl. Albus dipped the cup into the water and filled it up but when he went to empty it to the side nothing fell out and the bowl refilled. Harry reached forward and placed his hand above the water, feeling the dark magic curling around his fingers. He gently touched on that magic but it was just sitting idle so he reached forward into the water feeling both the water itself and the dark magic flowing around his hand. He reached all the way up to his elbow but couldn't feel the bottom.
"Well," Harry remarked, pulling his hand back.
The Headmaster and Harry shared a look before Albus refilled the cup then slowly brought it up to his lips. Harry's hand darted out and grabbed the man's wrist.
"You have a death wish, you know!" Harry hissed.
"If it's the only way," Albus said sadly.
"Put the cup down Albus," Harry said glaring at the man. "I have something else to try before you try to kill yourself…again."
Albus sighed and placed the cup back on the stone pedestal and turned to Harry.
"Wow me, Mr Sun." Albus said casually.
Harry's jaw dropped. "Did you just say that!?"
Albus grinned and waved his hand at the bowl in a hurry up gesture.
Harry turned back to the bowl and held his right hand out to his side, with a flick of his wrist a completely silver sword appeared in his hand. Albus gave him a startled look and Harry gave him a grin as he pulled a containment jar from his pocket and held it out to the Headmaster.
"This time, Headmaster." Harry said softly. "Don't touch it."
Albus just gave him a nod in answer and took the jar in his hand and unscrewed the top. Harry dipped the tip of the sword into the water, making it boil and hiss as the tip sliced through the water and magic within it. Harry could see the sword cutting through the enchantments but couldn't be sure if he could pick up the chain of the necklace.
He dipped the sword further into the bowl until he felt it hit the bottom. The sword was now sunk halfway to the hilt in a bowl that only looked five inches deep. Harry gently ran the tip of the sword up the side of the bowl, hoping he had hooked onto the chain, the water boiling around the sword making it impossible to see anything. It wasn't until the tip of the sword came free of the water that they could see the gold necklace with a locket hanging from the sword's blade.
"Well done, my boy." Albus cried and placed the jar under the necklace and Harry tilted the sword so it ran off the blade and into the jar.
xXx
Albus screwed on the lid of the jar and held it up to have a look, the gold glinted off the item from his light spell and he could see the snake etched into the gold.
"Very impressive," Albus cried as he looked over at Blake.
Blake just stood there with an easy grin on his face and using the sword like his cane. The other man looked quite comfortable with the sword in his hand and the Headmaster wondered, not for the first time, what this man had been like when he was young and in his prime. Blake cocked his head slightly to the side and Albus realised that he had been staring for a little too long and turned back to the locket.
"I'll have a better look at it once we get back to the school." Blake said. "I can use the bronze circle in my classroom-shit!"
Albus quickly turned back to the man and jumped forward. A strange pale humanoid figure of a man had crawled up the bank while they hadn't been looking and grabbed Blake around the left leg and was dragging him towards the water.
Blake was swinging his sword at the creature but couldn't seem to get the right angle.
"Blake! Stupefy!" Albus cried.
The spell hit the figure and was just absorbed into the thing's pale skin making Albus pause.
"Fire or silver!" Blake yelled as he kicked the thing but it didn't seem to be able to feel pain as it just took the hits without pausing or letting go.
The figure had made it to the water now and was half submerged as it pulled Blake after it as the man tried to stab his sword down towards it but the figure kept twisting out of the way of the blade.
"Blake!"
Albus cast a fire tongue spell and a lash of fire sprouted from his wand, he swirled it around before sending it towards Blake and the figure. Hoping that he wouldn't hit the thrashing man as Blake tried to use his sword to get the figure off. He heard a hiss and Blake yell out before his vision cleared.
Two of the figures now had a hold of Blake and he was half submerged in the water.
"Blake!"
Blake looked up at him his green eyes too wide before the humanoid figures pulled him under the water with a splash.
"Blake!" Albus yelled.
Silence greeted him as the water lapped against the side of the island. He dashed down to the edge but couldn't see the man or the pale figures under the surface. His heart pounded and he felt fear like he hadn't felt in a very long time.
"Blake!" Albus yelled again, his voice echoing off the walls of the cave.
Suddenly the man broke the surface of the water gasping, he was halfway between Albus and the shore on the other side. Albus quickly conjured a floating raft and jumped onto it as the man gasped and struggle to stay afloat.
"BLAKE!"
The man looked over at Albus and he could see red lines running along the side of his face like bloody scratches and could see the blood turning the water red around him. The man tried to swim in his direction when suddenly he was pulled back under the surface of the water with a gasp.
"Blake!"
Albus moved the raft over towards where the man had gone under, the ripples spreading out from the spot. He looked down into the murky water but couldn't see anything as the water went still again.
"Oh God," Albus whispered. "Come on Blake!"
He had no idea whether the deathly hollows would be able to save the man from this kind of death. As he cast his eyes around the still water, feeling helpless.
Suddenly the man broke the surface gasping and looking weaker than before and Albus quickly grabbed the man's wrist. Blake looked up at him with wide green eyes, blood running down his face as he tried to catch his breath. Albus pulled on his hand and he came easily until his chest was resting on the raft as he gasped for air.
Suddenly something grabbed the man and started pulling him down again. Albus grabbed him with two hands as Blake cried out and kicked out with his left leg, as something held his right.
"Let go!" Blake hissed.
"No!" Albus said stubbornly. "Severus would kill me."
Blake laughed bitterly kicking out at something in the water.
"Stubborn old man!" Blake yelped as he was pulled slowly towards the water again.
Albus held on tightly to the man's shoulders as the lower half of his body still lay in the water.
"Ah shit!" Blake hissed in pain. "Let go!"
"No!" Albus hissed back.
Suddenly whatever was pulling the man under let go and Blake came tumbling onto the raft, gasping and bleeding. Albus could see the blood and torn clothes as the man lay panting.
"Move, Albus!" Blake hissed painfully.
Albus jolted into action and was speeding across the underground lake back towards the shore. Blake's painful panting in his ears as pale hands and arms tried to grab the edges of the raft. When they reached the shore Albus ran the raft up onto it. They tumbled off and onto the dry ground. The other man lay groaning on the rocks, as Albus collected himself. The pale humanoid creatures started to climb out of the lake. Crouching down on all fours as the crept silently closer, their eyes completely black in their white skulls, with limbs too long for their bodies.
"Fire!" Blake hissed at him.
Albus cast a fire lash and sent it at the creatures the orange glow of the whip lighting up the cavern around them. When Albus vision cleared the figures were gone and he stood alone with the crumpled form of Blake behind him.
"Blake?" Albus asked, landing next to the man as he kept an eye on the lake.
Blake hissed a laugh. "Severus is so going to kill us."
Albus sighed in relief and patted the man's shoulder gently, he could see the red lines of scratches and bite marks down the man's arms.
"Just a heads up," Blake coughed. "I'm going to blame you."
"I think I can live with that," Albus replied just happy the man was alive. "Come on let's get you up."
Blake hissed as Albus helped him up, limping more heavily than normal but at least the man was on his feet. Blake raised a hand to wipe the blood out of his eyes.
"Do you still have the locket?" Blake asked as they paused to pick up his cane.
"Yes," Albus muttered, feeling the weight of the containment jar in his pocket.
"Well that's one thing," Blake said softly. "Stupid Dark Lords."
Albus slipped under the man's arm when he stumbled suddenly.
"Who wants to live forever anyway?" Blake slurred.
Albus grip on the man tightened, as Blake leaned into him.
"It's shit," Blake muttered. "You live long enough to see everyone die!"
"Blake?" Albus asked softly
"They all die!" Blake continued and Albus was sure that the other man wasn't aware that he was talking. "Worse to see them die twice."
Albus's grip on the man almost slipped and Blake grunted as he stumbled into him.
"Who is going to die Blake?" Albus asked, feeling slightly guilty taking advantage of the man in his state.
"You won't this time, Albus." Blake slurred, making Albus's blood turn cold. "It's changed! Won't happen again! And Severus…"
"What about Severus?" Albus said softly.
Albus stopped and tilted Blake's face up to his. The man's eyes were unfocused and glassy as if he had been drugged. Those creatures must have had poison in their bites.
"He died," Blake whispered. "They all died. So much blood and chaos. Blood and bodies. So many! Just names in the end."
Albus froze and let the man's head fall back down as he tightened his hold on him. It was easy to forgot how old this man was and the fact that he had already lived this time. It had taken him a long time to believe Blake when he'd said that he was from the future and he had still had his doubts. Looking at him now he couldn't deny it anymore. The words he spoke had truth to them.
"I can't live through that again," Blake muttered. "Not again!"
Blake started to slip further down and Albus was having trouble holding him up.
"Albus! Blake!"
Albus startled at Severus's call.
"Severus! We're here!" Albus called back.
Severus skittered around the corner and gasped, his face pale in the soft light from Albus's light orb.
"Give me a hand!" Albus called. "He's slipping."
Severus rushed forward and he got under Blake's other side. The man didn't even react as his lover's arrival chilling Albus.
"Blake?" Severus hissed at the man.
"Ghosts, all just ghosts." Blake muttered. "Can't help them."
"Albus?" Severus asked the older man.
"He's been poisoned, I think." Albus replied. "He's been talking nonsense."
"He does most of the time," Severus whispered back.
"How did you find us?" Albus asked.
"I gave Blake a ring to alert me if he is in danger," Severus explained. "It has a tracking spell in it. The magic around here made it hard to pin point where you were."
"Snape!" Blake hissed between them suddenly. "Watch the snake!"
"It's okay Blake," Severus said softly to the man. "I'm here."
"No!" Blake tried to get his feet under him and pushed against Severus his eyes wild. "It's the snake! Stay away from the snake! He knows!"
Blake dropped into hissing suddenly.
"He's a Parselmouth?" Albus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He did mention it." Severus replied. "Never heard him speak it. Well, until now."
Blake hissed a couple more words until he fell into silence. The three men made it out of the cave and up onto the rolling hills of the cliff line, the waves below the cliff crashing loudly. They slowly lowered Blake to the ground against a tree and Albus got his first good look at him.
He was very pale and the three scratch marks across his face stood out bright red but at least they had stopped bleeding. The man's eyes were glazed over and Albus was now positive that he had been poisoned. His clothes were torn and there were scratches and bite marks down his arms. His left leg was also bloody around the lower part of his calf and ankle.
"Here," Severus said passing a potion to Albus. "Should help with the poison."
"Blake drink this," Albus said softly holding the potion to the man's lips.
Blake looked at him with unfocused eyes before drinking the potion.
Blake suddenly grabbed the Headmaster's wrist in a steel grip, his green eyes locking onto Albus's and the Headmaster shivered at the look in them.
"Don't go to the tower!" Blake cried. "Ignore the Dark Mark! Don't go to the tower! Draco can't do it but Snape will! He has too!"
"Sh," Albus said softly wincing at the pain in his wrist. The strength this man had was surprising. "When Blake?"
"Soon. Promise me!" Blake said, looking around wildly. "All come crashing down. Too many!"
"Settle down Blake," Severus said moving closer to the man and grabbing the sides of his head gently.
"Snape?" Blake asked, green eyes trying to focus on him.
Blake released Albus's wrist and the old man rubbed it knowing he would have bruises there tomorrow.
"That's right Mr Sun." Severus said strongly but Albus could see the pain in his eyes. "Just calm down."
"Mr Sun?" Blake questioned, trying to look around but Severus held him still. "So many names, can't remember them all. Just the dead! So many. All gone."
"Should we give him a sleeping potion Severus?" Albus asked.
"I don't know," Severus said painfully. "He is so out of it. I'm not sure he is seeing us. The potion takes about fifteen minutes to work into his system."
"Blake?" Albus asked softly, the man's green eye flicked to him. "What happens at the tower?"
"Albus," Severus warned.
"You die," Blake said wildly. "Don't go to the tower! Green light and falling. He couldn't do it but Narcissa knew that! Unbreakable Vow!"
Severus gasped. "What is he talking about Albus?"
"He told me he is from the future, Severus" Albus said quietly.
Severus stared at Albus as pieces of the puzzle fell into place in his mind.
"Time gap," Severus gasped.
Albus nodded. "He didn't tell you?"
"No," Severus said softly, looking down at his lover. His green eyes unfocused as they flicked around as he saw something that they couldn't. "But I had my suspicions after he explained time rips and gaps. Does that mean he saw you die?"
Albus nodded sadly. "And you."
"What!" Severus yelped. "He said that?"
"He mentioned it," Albus said softly.
"God," Severus muttered, looking down at his lover with new eyes.
"Severus?" Blake asked softly as he squinted up at him.
"Hey," Severus said softly, cupping the man's cheek. "Are you feeling better?"
Blake groaned, and said, "Those damn things were poisonous, weren't they?"
"Yes," Severus said with a grin. "You were a bit out of it."
"Oh god," Blake groaned. "Did I say anything stupid?"
Albus clapped a hand to the man's shoulder and Blake looked up at him then groaned.
"I'll take that look as a yes," Blake answered himself. "Help me up, I want to get back to the school and a shower."
Albus and Severus got under the shorter man's arms and pulled him to his feet. He managed to get his feet under him and his cane onto the ground and stand on his own two feet as he looked around, but he looked unsteady. Severus kept close to his side just in case.
"So, how much trouble am I in?" Blake asked softly.
"A fair amount," Severus replied.
"I blame Albus!" Blake deadpanned.
Albus chuckled and disapparated the three of them to the school gates.
xXx
Harry woke to the feeling of Severus working a balm into the scratches on his chest. His memories from the moment he was pulled into the water were still fragmented and hard to grasp a hold off. He looked up at Severus and knew he had said something that had shaken the other man.
"Hey," Harry whispered.
"Hey," Severus replied as he worked.
Harry reached up and stopped Severus's hand as he worked on the cuts.
"If I said something that hurt you," Harry said softly. "I didn't mean to cause you pain."
Severus said nothing as his fingers ran over the cuts on Harry's chest working the balm into each one carefully. Harry watched him with guarded eyes, his lover was hurting and he had caused it.
"Severus," Harry said softly. "Please talk to me."
"You neglected to mention you are from the future," Severus said softly.
"Ah shit," Harry cursed. "I said that?"
"No, the Headmaster told me." Severus said. "You started talking about people dying."
"Really?' Harry asked in surprise. "I don't remember."
"Why did you not tell me?" Severus demanded.
"Because this life now is real," Harry said pulling himself into a sitting position so he could face the man. "What happened before in this time just feels like a dream! Like it happened to someone else."
"Did you know me?" Severus asked softly.
"Not very well," Harry replied.
"I died?" Severus asked.
"Yes," Harry replied shortly. "You were attacked by the Dark Lord's snake in the greenhouse. I came across your body after the last battle of the war."
Harry closed his eyes as the memory of the man's body came into his mind. The empty black eyes and blood colouring the image. Snape had died alone, no one to watch over him as the last breath left his chest. Harry started as a hand curled around his bringing him back to the here and now. He smiled sadly at the man.
"To me that was a very long time ago," Harry said softly. "To you it's still to come."
"No." Severus said harshly, tightening his grip on Harry's hand.
Harry smiled sadly.
"Sorry, you are right." Harry continued. "Everything is so different in this time. Some things have stayed the same but many things are different. It was hard when I came here to work it all out, I had forgotten so much of it."
"How could you forget?" Severus asked softly.
"I am old, Severus." Harry said sadly. "I was only young when I lived this time. I moved on from the last battle and the Dark Lord we fight now wasn't the only Dark Lord I fought. I went on to become an Auror, husband, father, Curse breaker, worked in the Ministry, different branches of Gringotts and other banks and so much more. There was so much time between the events now and where I came from. This time now was just a moment amongst so many others that I have lived."
Severus sat back in shock as Harry ran a hand over his head as he tried to gather his thoughts.
"I've lived many life times and had many names." Harry said softly into the silence. "The deathly hollows cursing me with a life that doesn't end, Severus. It all kind of blended together. I just wanted to live my life, to bring up my son the best I could. I was an idiot to think I could stay away from this war."
"How did you end up in this time?" Severus asked.
"Time gap," Harry said simply. "I was not in a great state of mind when I came across it. I was bitter and lost. My mind was so dark and twisted, I was not in a good place."
Severus reached forward and grabbed the man's hand. Harry looked up at him the pain clear in his eyes.
"I'm sure," Harry said softly. "If I could have died, I would have."
Severus moved to the bed and pulled the smaller man into his arms pulling him into a tight hug.
"I stepped into the time rip," Harry said hoarsely. "With no idea what was on the other side and I didn't much care either. It could have taken me anywhere or even to my death, it wouldn't have mattered to me at that moment."
"Where did it take you?" Severus asked softly as he ran his hands through the man's short hair.
"To the night Lily and James Potter died." Harry said blankly. "A goblin appeared in front of me and said since I am a Potter by blood. I was entitled to take guardianship of Harry Potter. I was in shock as the goblin gave me the adoption papers and told me where the baby was. I just felt numb and it wasn't until I picked him up that my mind cleared. He looked just like my son…a son I had already buried…only a month before."
Harry looked down at his hands and could almost feel the rough feeling of the small wooden casket in his hands as the memory of the funeral assaulted his mind. Of looking at the overturned earth of his lover's grave next to the two small holes waiting for his children to be laid to rest.
He was jolted from the memory as Severus took his hands in his and he looked over at the man.
"I was a coward, Severus." Harry said softly. "I took Harry Potter and I fled England. I couldn't deal with anything. I could barely deal with having the child."
"Where?" Severus asked just as softly.
"Germany," Harry replied. "The Potter's have a house there, it was so hard to look at him. His green eyes the same as my son's eyes, he was close to the same age as when my son died."
Harry fell into silence as memories he just hadn't dealt with coming back to him. Seeing the smiling face of his lover and two children overlapping with the image of their murdered bodies as the Aurors tried to talk to him. He hadn't heard a word they had said, nothing sinking into his mind as he looked down at the blood. He had just broken down.
"You came back?" Severus whispered, snapping him back to the now.
"Yes," Harry replied, tonelessly. "Lily and James put it in their will that they wanted Ry to go to Hogwarts. I thought it was only right that he did his whole schooling here in England, instead of abroad, and enrolled him in a muggle boarding school. He wasn't happy about that. It was one of our first fights, he wanted to stay with me."
"He couldn't?"
"No," Harry whispered. "By then the goblins had me working and the different Ministries were calling on me, including the Department of Mysteries here. I fell into the work and I couldn't look after him all the time. Whenever I was in England I would see him, but the memories were hard to deal with."
"You knew what was going to happen?"
"Yes, back then yes." Harry said softly. "The Dark Lord was always going to rise, Severus."
Harry locked eyes with the other man.
"He was always going to come back to power," Harry whispered. "He had safe guards in place. The best I could do was be there when it happened. To try and stop the worse of it. I was hoping to change the ritual to back lash on him. I failed…I made it worse."
Harry looked away and Severus pulled him closer.
"Seeing the castle was a shock," Harry continued. "Seeing people that had already died…"
"Sh," Severus cooed as Harry broke down into tears as the memories rolled over him.
"I couldn't run anymore," Harry said softly a few minutes later. "When Albus offered me a place here…I just couldn't run anymore. I had to face the mess that I had allowed to happen."
"Who are-"
"Blake Sun," Harry harshly cut across Severus then softened his tone. "I am Blake Sun. To think or say any different at this time could be a death sentence to both of us, Severus."
Severus nodded understanding the price of information in the wrong hands as the image of Lily Potter's dead body came into his mind from his own stupid mistake.
"I have held the name Blake Sun longer than I have held any other name, Severus." Harry said softly. "It is who I am. I do not pretend to be anyone else. I can say that truthfully under any truth serum or spell."
Harry fell silent again as Severus rubbed his back.
"To see friends, I had already buried…" Harry trailed off as words failed him and he blinked the tears out of his eyes. "To see family…oh, god."
"Sh," Severus muttered, as he held him.
Severus ran his hands up and down his back as Harry let out the hurt he had felt and the memories that he just hadn't dealt with even after all these years came back to him. He was thankful when his body decided that he needed sleep and blackness closed in around him.
xXx
Severus ran his hand up and down the other man's back as his breathing evened out. Tears on his own cheeks at the story Blake had told him. He had been so angry that the man had kept the secret of being from the future from him but now he could understand why. The memories had just been too painful for the man to talk about.
He carefully laid him back on the bed and continued rubbing the balm into the cuts, bite marks and the scaring on the man's back and arms. The marks overlapped each other and Severus could even see other scars under the thinner marks. He just couldn't imagine the pain that this man had been through in his long life, only just now realising that it could be even longer than they had first believed.
"How is he?"
Severus looked up to see Albus standing in the doorway.
"Come in Albus," Severus said softly. "I don't know. The cuts and bruises will heal but I'm not sure about his mental state."
"He is strong Severus." Albus said sadly. "Did he talk to you?"
"Yes," Severus replied.
"Then he will heal." Albus said looking down at the man. "I didn't quite believe him, when he told me he was from the future."
Albus took a seat on the end of the bed and Severus looked up at him as he finished his work and covered the other man up as he slept.
"He told me when he came to me about the Treaty," Albus explained. "With everything about that, then with Voldemort. I just put it to the side, to deal with later."
"Something you and him have in common," Severus whispered as he leaned back in the bed.
"Yes," Albus said softly. "He must have fought against Voldemort before."
"Yes," Severus agreed. "He knew us. He also said that our lives could be in danger if we knew who he is…was."
"I think we both know who he is Severus," Albus said softly.
Severus ran a hand over the man's head and sighed, not voicing his thoughts on the matter. As long as his identity wasn't confirmed he could say truthfully, under spell or potion, that the man was anyone else but Blake Sun.
"He has led a hard life," Severus said softly. "A very long and hard life."
Severus ran his hand over the scars he could see on the other man's shoulder, testament to his words.
"He'll recover, Severus." Albus said softly.
"I hope you are right." Severus muttered as he looked down at his lover.
"Take it from another old man, Severus." Albus smiled with a twinkle in his eyes as he got to his feet. "You can only move forward from your memories. He is strong."
"Good night, Albus," Severus said softly.
"Good night, Severus."
Albus clapped a hand on his shoulder before leaving Severus and Blake alone in the room. Severus quickly removed his clothing and curled up along Blake's back with an arm around his chest. Sleep did not come easy for the man that night and by how restless Blake was in his sleep, he wasn't alone.