Chapter Two
Albus Dumbledore paced the length of his office, back and forth.
Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape sat, watching. Minerva's face was pale and tense, her lips so thin, they were practically nonexistent.
Severus himself looked pale, but displayed no emotion on his face, except his eyes, his eyes were thundering.
Albus stopped pacing, and put his hands on his desk, looking down at his plans for the day, but not seeing them. He had never anticipated something like this happening. In truth, the paper would help the wizarding world finally open their eyes to the threat of Voldemort. And despite, the break from the constant slander they were printing, he desperately hoped that it was all one big made up story. For if it was true, then he had left Harry with monsters. The entire wizarding world now believed that Harry was placed with neglectful and abusive relatives. Albus looked up at his two most trusted teachers.
"We must act quick," he said was almost as if his voice broke a barrier. Both teacher immediately started speaking over each other at once.
"Albus this can't possibly be-"
"Albus is this, could this-"
He put up a hand instantly silencing them. "Minerva, you must go retrieve the Dursley's and place them in Sirius's house, but make sure Sirius does not touch them-"
"But Harry, Albus," Minerva protested.
Albus nodded his head. "Severus you are to find Mr. Potter. Start at the Dungeons and work your way up. I'm not sure if he has seen the article yet, I didn't see him at breakfast. Once you find him bring him immediately to Madame Pomfrey."
Severus nodded, and turned to go, however just before he opened the door, he looked at the headmaster.
"Surely this is just another nonsensical article by that blasted reporter, right?"
The look on the old man's face however gave him chills.
"Severus, my dear boy, I sincerely hope so." Both felt the unsettling feeling at the bottom of their stomach, telling them this was just the beginning.
Harry and Ron walked side by side to the Hogwart's Kitchen.
"What do you think that was about?" Ron asked Harry quietly.
Harry shrugged. "Probably another or Rita's, or Fudge's lies."
Ron nodded and then looked around, "I wonder where Hermione is?"
Harry shrugged again, "What day is it?"
"Thursday, I think."
"What time is it?"
Ron looked at his watch, "8:30"
"Oh well she's probably in Potions."
"Oh that makes sense."
They both kept walking for a little bit, then turned and looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Oh Shit!" they exclaimed, then took off in a dead run towards the potion's classroom.
The two boys burst through the potion's classrooms doors in a mad rush. Their faces flushed, and their breaths were heavy. It took a couple seconds for both boys to realize that the classroom was empty.
"Are you sure its Thursday?" Harry asked Ron breathlessly.
Ron gasped in a breath before he replied, "Well….I think so. We had Transfiguration yesterday, so it has to be Thursday."
Harry nodded. "Are you sure its around 8:30?"
Ron looked at his watch again. "Well…. I think so….well I don't know, its one of those muggle watches you know….and I think its old." He then proceeded to flick at the glass of his watch.
Harry looked around the room. "Do you think we are early for class or we missed it?"
Ron looked up from his watch. "Well Snape's not here so-."
However before Ron could finish, the Potion's Classroom door flew open once more. Ron and Harry jumped out of the way. Their eyes growing wide when they saw the Potion Master standing in the doorway. Ron gulped and Harry's face went pale.
At first it seemed like Snape hadn't even seen them. His eyes swept across the room, before landing on Ron and Harry. And then something strange happened.
Snape just stood there and stared at Harry for at least a minute. His dark eyes taking in every detail. And then his usually blank face turned into one of relief and concerned. Harry and Ron looked at each other, both think in unison, What the Hell?
The Potion Master then swept towards them.
"Mr. Potter, we were looking for you."
Harry's wide eyes went even larger. "Me?" he squeaked. He could of sworn he heard Ron snicker at that, but didn't acknowledge it.
"Were you at breakfast this morning?"
"Well... um... you see...we slept through it, sir." Harry said slowly, confused.
The Professor then got a strange look on his face. "Oh I see," he said, "Well then follow me." And with that he went through to the door towards his office. Harry started to follow slowly, giving Ron a look, clearly telling him to come with.
Ron looked around, frozen, not sure what to do. Harry then grabbed him and pulled him into Snape's office, and then to their shock, his private quarters!
Snape's quarters were dull and plain, yet strangely cozy. Both boys looked around the room confused and freaked out, as Snape gestured them to sit down on the couch in his sitting room.
It was a comfortable room consisting of a large couch, two sitting chairs all of which were facing a fireplace, with a dark table in the center of the chairs and couches. Harry shivered at the coolness of the room.
Snape took his wand out and lit the fire place. "Are you cold?" He asked Harry concerned.
Harry and Ron gaped at Snape.
"Well are you?" He said gruffly.
"W-well I-I guess so." Harry stuttered.
Snape nodded and left the room. Ron then looked around the room and whispered to Harry, "I think there's something wrong with Snape." Harry nodded, but before they could finish their conversation, Snape walked into the room carrying a bunch of blankets. He then proceeded, with the astonishment of both Harry and Ron, to bundle Harry in blankets. Harry, to shocked to do anything, just simply let the Potion master essentially tuck him in.
Once he was finished, he looked at Harry, satisfied.
"I will go get food. You need to eat." And with that he left.
Ron and Harry looked at each other flabbergasted.
"I think you should floo the Headmaster." Harry whispered to Ron. "Either Snape is under a spell, or that's not Snape."
Ron's pale face nodded. "What if he comes back and sees me?"
Harry put on a brave face, "I will distract him."
Ron nodded again, but before he could move into action, Snape walked into the room carrying a tray of food. Laying it down at the table, he sat in the armchair close to Harry, his elbows on his knees and his hands holding his face, watching the young boy intensely.
"Eat." is all he said.
Harry gulped and looked at the food, there was a lot of it; porridge, bacon, eggs, biscuits, ham, and ect. Harry looked at Ron and then at the food.
"Er. Actually sir, my stomach is a bit unsettled. Do you think...er...do you have a potion for that anywhere?"
The Potion Master sneered at him. "Of course I do! It's in my office. I will go retrieve it. Just stay here."
With the man gone Ron lept into action. Grabbing some floo powder, he threw it into the fire place. The fire went green as Ron stuck his head in, shouting "Headmaster Dumbledore's Office."
Dumbledore had just finished a rather grueling talk with Minister Fudge that accomplished nothing. Of course the Minister was irate about the story, once again calling Harry a liar, and accusing the article to be another ploy to get the public's sway.
It was the moment when the Minister flooed out, his fire place lit up and to his surprise the head of the youngest Weasley boy appeared.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
"Mr. Weasley! I was just about to look for you!" He said clearly.
The boy looked confused. "What?...no never mind! Listen Professor there's something strange-" The boy started, but unable to contain himself Albus interrupted.
"Is Mr. Potter with you?"
The boy huffed. "Yes. About that-"
"Is he alright?" He interrupted again.
"Yes sir...well no… I'm not sure….if you would just listen sir, then I could tell you!"
Albus contained himself and nodded.
"There is something wrong with Snape," the boy blurted.
That stopped Albus up short.
"What?"
The boy started to explain, "You see he found Me and Harry-"
"Harry and I," the Headmaster corrected absentmindedly.
The boy huffed again. "Yes, well he found Harry and I in his potion room waiting for class. And now we are in his private quarters, and he's wrapping Harry in blankets, and giving him food and potions and sir you have to get here now!" the boy rambled.
"What is going on?"
Ron looked at him in shock. "Snape's being Nice! To Harry!"
The Headmaster nodded. "I see. I will be right over. Just stay where you are, there will be much to discuss."
Ron nodded and ended the connection.
"Is he coming?" Harry asked quietly. His face worried.
Ron nodded his head and started to walk towards the couch, however much to his bad luck he tripped on his own feet and fell behind one of the chairs, near a desk that was in the corner of the room.
"Ron are you Okay!" Harry whispered loudly.
"Yeah. Mate, I'm fine."
Ron lifted himself up, but before he headed back toward Harry somthing on the desk caught his eye. Walking toward it he picked up the day's Daily Prophet. His hands almost dropped the paper as he skimmed through the article.
"Ron are you alright?" Harry asked again, as he saw Ron just standing there looking at a news paper.
Ron looked up at him, his face growing even paler than it was before, while the tips of his ears went red. Ron just clenched the paper and looked at him, his mouth gaped. Just than Snape entered the room.
"Sorry it took me so long, turns out it was in the back stock of my potion's cabinet and-" Snape stopped as he took in Ron's pale face and Harry's confusion. "I see you have found the paper Mr. Weasley."
It was just then Severus Snape's floo lit up.
AN: Thankx for reading! Please tell me what you think!