Snape was a little surprised when he stumbled upon Percy Weasley, Potter and the younger Weasley together. But it wasn't hard to put two and two together to see that the eldest of the redheads was most likely involved in the plans of the Golden Trio.
As the potions professor dragged Percy to the castle, the boy tried to think of an excuse for an unauthorized walk in the woods. Though it was unlikely to have any effect on the horror of the dungeon. Before the boy knew it, he was in the potter's office.
"Mr. Weasley, what were you doing in the woods at night?" Percy was at a loss, if it had been any other teacher he would not have been caught, and even if it had happened he could have lied, used his status as a diligent student and headmaster to get out of it, or at the very least he would have told it like it was. But none of those options worked for Snape. Besides, he didn't trust the man; sometimes he heard various unpleasant things about the potter. Including the fact that he was a former Death Eater. So he couldn't tell the truth either.
While Percy tried to think of something to get away with. The golden trio couldn't find their way.
"Where have the Hippogriff been carrying him so long, he should have been back by now?" Ron muttered to himself, pacing nervously up and down the tile, the way he always did when he was nervous.
"Maybe something happened to him." Hermione suggested. The girl was sitting on the windowsill, resting her chin on her knees.
"No, I doubt it. I know him well, and the only reason he'd stick around is if he got caught," the redheaded boy reasoned aloud.
"Do you think he'll give us up?"
"I don't know, it depends, but we'd better get back to the tower and the sooner the better," Ron suggested.
"Let's wait a little longer, I trust your brother, Ron," Harry replied as he leaned against the window frame. The old room that no one was using was not in the best condition, so you could feel the fresh autumn wind blowing through the frame. It reminded Potter of tomorrow's broomstick flying lesson and subsequent Quidditch practice.
"Okay, but if he doesn't show up soon, we're leaving," Ron agreed with a heavy sigh, though.
"I'm waiting, Mr. Weasley," Percy decided, after several long minutes of silence, to tell the truth, but not exactly the truth Snape was expecting to hear.
"If I told you, sir, I would lose the trust of the people closest to me," the boy said, looking the man straight in the eye, which puzzled him greatly. He really didn't want to talk about what was going on, much less to Snape. His relationship with his brothers was already strained, especially with Ron. Percy was well aware that if he told anything to the potter now, he would lose what little trust and respect he had for Ron, perhaps even forever. Though he doubted it would have any effect on the man at all, knowing his callousness.
"Merlin, give me strength," the Potter muttered to himself, "I know why you went to the woods," the man took out a pouch and tossed it toward Percy, who caught it deftly.
"But... I. You can't..." The elder Weasley, in complete shock, tried to form a coherent sentence, but so far it was not going well.
"I saw them yesterday and saw what you are so carefully trying to hide," explained the still bewildered boy, "in the sack are the herbs you need, go where you are going and tell no one about it and after you have done everything, go back to bed," warned the senior Weasley sternly and shoved the elder Weasley out the door.
"Thank you, sir," the boy muttered and darted off towards the ladies' room. Percy's opinion of Snape had changed dramatically that night, though he still didn't understand the man's motives, but he hoped that they had nothing to do with the one not to be named.
"Finally, what took you so long?" Ron sighed in relief and rushed over to his brother.
"I met Snape, I'm lucky he didn't see me," everyone gave a loud gasp when the older boy said those scary words, but quickly calmed down. Then the redhead held out the teddy bear of herbs Snape had given him, "Here's everything you need."
"I wonder what Snape was doing in the woods at night?" As usual Hermione thought too much and asked too many questions.
"I bet he was gathering some ingredients for potions," Ron suggested as he prepared the herbs for the potions.
"And who cares, as long as he didn't catch Percy," Hermione was surprisingly satisfied with that answer and began to help with the rest of the preparations.
The next day went well, Ron and Hermione helped Harry with the bandages before class. His wrist was starting to recover, and the wounds on his back were hardly any discomfort at all. Things seemed to be getting better in Harry's life, but it wasn't to be.
"Please stay, Mr. Potter," these words made the scarred boy shiver. It had happened after the potions lesson. Harry would no longer remember how many times he had cursed Snape during that short time of study. Sure his potion wasn't perfect, but it certainly wasn't the worst. Besides, he wanted to get to the Quidditch pitch as soon as possible so he could practice some new trick, "Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger also," the trio became wary after these words. They didn't know what was going on, but they knew it didn't bode well.
