Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters and locations. This story was done for fun and no money has been made from it. *Does any of this feel like déjà vu?* There is also a literary nod to an old book Alexander and the Terrible, Awful, No Good, Very Bad Day. It was a favorite book of mine as a child and this chapter lent itself to the feel of the kiddie story. If you haven't read it, no matter your age, I suggest you find a copy.
Warnings: AU after book 5. Slash. M/M. Harry/Snape
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and the feedback!
On with the show!
************************************************************************
Chapter 8: Something No Good, Awful, Terribly Wonderful
************************************************************************
Harry Potter: Marked for Evil?
By Rita Skeater
As it was first brought to you by yours truly, Harry Potter—Boy-Who-Lived-to Kill-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named—had received a magical creature inheritance in autumn of last year. As reported, that specific inheritance was that of the Diligarian race thought long to be extinct and with little known written documentation. It has only been through diligent and honed journalistic skills that more information has been revealed about our own Mr. Potter. While many of the reports have been non-threatening in nature I fear those days are now over. A new and very disturbing fact has just been leaked to the Daily Prophet by an anonymous informant. I, like many of my gentle readers will too, had been in utter disbelief over this revelation. However, upon further research I have come to the undeniable truth:
Harry Potter is a magically dark, malevolent creature.
This startling photograph shows our once bright hero covered in black magic markings as analyzed by Creature expert Lee Barduson, author of the book Magical Creatures and Why You Should Fear Them. Barduson stressed that the marrings that are now shrouded over the young mans torso could only signify the presence of dark magic at work. "Magic affects the body of wizards and creatures alike. It is a general rule that if there is a disfiguration present then so too is dark magic." Barduson added.
I have also found somewhat similar images of these markings from ancient medieval magical tribes that practiced dark arts and malicious muggle mutilations. Could these tribes have actually been tribes of Diligarians? Could this explain why there are none around of this race today? It can be assumed that it was because of their dark ways that they were finally hunted by wizards and muggles alike to rid the world of their threat.
With such news now general knowledge the people should be outspoken in their need for protection. Now that Mr. Potter has shown his true nature it can only be seen that his darker ways may surface. After all, he was powerful enough to defeat the once thought to be most powerful dark wizard in a century. The saying, 'Fight fire with Fire,' seems appropriate here in the speculation of just how he was actually able to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We will keep you, the gracious readers posted on any new developments in this story as we have done in the past, but for the time I urge you to write to the Department of Magical Creatures and urge them to look more in-depth into this situation for the sake of our children at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry put the paper down and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had read the small article seven times in the last hour already and his eyes had begun to hurt. This could not possibly be happening. He did not know what he was more upset about. The fact that Rita Skeater had published an article stating he was evil, or the fact that she had somehow gotten a picture of Harry shirtless. Both were equally terrible, but Harry decided that he was definitely angrier about the article and definitely more embarrassed about the photo. He was in his quidditch pants in the locker room and for the life of him Harry could not think how she had gotten the picture. Had Colin taken it? He was constantly trying to snag a picture of Harry, but he had never given any to the Daily Prophet before. He thought back to forth year. Rita Skeater was an Animagus. Did they make cameras small enough for beetles to use? She had that terrible Quick Quotes Quill. Who knew what terrible magical camera she had at her employ. Harry was thinking none too happy thoughts about the reporter as he folded up the newspaper and tossed on the couch beside him in the common room. The area was empty. Ever since the article came out three days ago there had been a pretty big space allowance given to him by the other students.
His newest change of appearance had been quickly noticed. Harry guessed it was because of all the previous changes and the constant staring that led to everyone's fast discovery. When school started back over a month ago the other kids seemed to instantly be talking about the black swirls and line pattern that was visible on the side of Harry's neck. Even with Hermione's help the markings were there to stay; unlike the wings these things appeared to be of the no-hiding variety. At first his classmates had thought that, like the hair, it had been self induced. Harry—in all his rebel glory—had gotten a tattoo. The story had escalated that he has snuck out one evening and flew—by wings of course—to muggle London to get the tattoo done. Harry wondered who came up with these stories. It must be a fun, crazy place inside their heads whoever it was. Harry had just let it go; actually he was secretly pleased that for the first time this year people were using words like "mysterious", "tough", and "cool" to describe his appearance instead of "cute", "adorable" and "the little guy". The story kept getting more and more farfetched and when the article finally did come out the tale now included that he had gotten his tongue pierced and he had also met his rocker girlfriend (or boyfriend depending on which thread of the rumor you heard) for a secret rendezvous. Rita Skeater had put a stop to any more additions with her latest work.
Now the rumors were silent. People did not come up to him anymore. No more questions. People barely even looked at him anymore. This roller coaster of popularity was something Harry was use to. They all had acted this way during fifth year when the Ministry and the Prophet had tried to pull a smear campaign and called him and Dumbledore crazy. It was a fear, but not in the cowering sense. It was a fear that they were going to be contaminated. That the evil was a virus of some kind and could be passed on through touch. Perhaps they were scared too that he would attack them like had been alluded to in the paper, but they did not run. More like quietly backed away. Harry recognized the move. Hagrid had taught them many lessons ago that when encountering a dark magic beast it is best to quietly back away in the other direction. Any startling movements or sounds could provoke them. Part of Harry was overjoyed that the students had listened to Hagrid and were actually putting his lesson into direct, practical application. Now if it were just not him they were directly applying it to. Harry took his hands away from his nose and stared into the fire. He hated people to be afraid of him.
Was he evil? He hadn't thought so. He still didn't think so. He did not have any particular need to hurt any body—except maybe induce some pain on a certain Quick Quotes quill—nor did he feel evil.
How does one feel evil? Can't touch it can you? Harry mentally shrugged the thought away. It was all relative. A matter of perspective. People do not wake up one morning and say, "You know what? I feel like becoming evil is the best career option for me at the time." No. Evil believes what it is doing is right while the rest of the world interprets it differently. Look at Voldemort. He believed what he was doing was a good thing. Ridding magic of what he thought was contaminants. It was the rest of the wizarding world that said it was evil and dark. So was Harry good or evil? People now said he was evil. So was he now? Harry was not a philosopher and began to pinch his nose harder to will the headache to go away. When had the world become so black and white? He kept thinking back to the article, "It is a general rule that if there is a disfiguration present then so too is dark magic." He pulled up the sleeve of his arm to reveal a single thin swirl that was on the middle of his forearm. It reminded Harry of the dark mark.
"Tink! Stop staring at it. Hermione told you a long time ago that you didn't have laser vision so you can't very well burn it off." Ron said as he sat down beside his friend on the couch.
Hermione picked up the newspaper and held it in her hands. She didn't need to see which paper it was. Harry had been carrying around the same one for three days.
"Harry..." She began as she sat down.
"These are marrings." Harry said evenly and in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Harry, you are not evil."
"Yea, Tink. I mean who do they think they are talking about here? An evil fairy. There is no such thing."
"Some fae are of an evil nature Harry, it's true. However in all of McTorning's book it never—"
"Hermione, McTorning was the mate of a Diligarian. I doubt seriously that he would write in there, 'I am now the mate of a terrible evil beast.'"
"You are a terribly beastie sort of man..."
"Hush Ronald!"
"Yes mam."
"Harry you are not a beast."
"That doesn't change the fact that McTorning was biased. He wouldn't have put that Diligarians were evil. He was in love with one!"
"Do you feel evil Tink?"
"How do you feel evil Ron?" Harry asked stubbornly. He had been struggling with that metaphoric question so his friends should too.
Ron smirked, "Well, first you stick your hand out and—"
"Oh you're terribly clever" Hermione said as she rolled her eyes. "Harry, the article was completely bogus; I can't believe you are starting to believe anything Rita Skeater writes. Her supposed 'expert' is nothing more than an overreacting, small-minded, racist like that toad Umbridge and writes in his books that any alteration from what is considered to look one hundred percent human is a disfiguration and a presents of evil. I have read them. They are awful. By his account every fairy is evil in some form or fashion because they have wings." Hermione finished hotly.
"But then why are there no Diligarians left?"
Hermione's face softened from her rant, "We don't know. But I can assure you it wasn't because they were evil creatures that needed to be hunted."
"Yea," Ron added, "I mean, you make plants grow and giggle. Not exactly high up there on the scary-o-meter. Unless someone is really scared of plants. Or bubbly personalities. Then you would be petrifying."
"Thanks I guess."
"Anytime Tink."
"Does it really matter though?"
"What do ya mean? Course it matters. I wouldn't stick around if you were evil. Merely a matter of principal you understand."
"Good to know."
"Why doesn't it matter?" Hermione asked.
"Cause everyone thinks it. Just like fifth year. Everyone thought I was crazy and so I was crazy. Nothing I could say could convince people otherwise. It took Voldemort showing his face to get the ministry and everyone else to finally say otherwise.
Ron had winced at the mention of Voldemort's name but kept silent. Some things never change.
"Harry, you haven't really let what people think get to you this badly before. People were scared of you at the start and you handled it quite well."
"I...that was different. They were scared at the beginning because they didn't know what I was or what I could do. It wore off. This is them knowing—however wrong or right they are—what I am and they are so terrified of me that they don't even turn their backs to me...they just back away slowly."
"Right," Ron said resolutely, "We just need some way of convincing the wizarding world that you are not evil. We could take a picture of you holding a kitten and send it in to the Prophet."
"That would just be weird." Harry said flatly.
"Helping someone out with their homework?"
"Now that's silly."
"Giving a first year a piggyback ride?"
"That's disturbing Ron." Harry said with a slight grin.
"Well I'm trying!"
"Look, I appreciate you two trying to cheer me up. It worked. I know I am not an evil creature. This just brought up that, even though we have the book there is still a lot of things we don't know about Diligarians and people are always going to speculate about it. I don't want people to be afraid of me."
"They won't," Hermione said assuredly, "They have seen how you are. I think a rabbit has more evil bones in its body—"
"Likening me to a bunny is not exactly helpful right now Hermione—"
"Hush, let me continue. As I was saying, if you continue on as you have done in the past then people will start to see Rita Skeater for what she is—a quack. It may take a little while longer than before, but you have us, Neville and Luna ...and of course Professor Snape." Hermione finished the last part in a whisper. While their fellow Gryffindors had left them ample room that piece of information had to stay a guarded secret.
Ever since Christmas the relationship between him and Severus had changed significantly. They still talked some as friends when they found the time and the privacy, but both were quick to back away when they felt the pull between them start to get too much. Harry, at first, had thought waiting till June would be a cake walk. He was wrong. Ever since that kiss—well, kisses, because there was most definitely more than one—the pull to the older man had gotten stronger and stronger each time they saw one another. Harry even found himself feeling ill if he had not even been in close proximity to Severus at some point during the day. This meant that his days off from potions had been particularly bothersome until he started to visit the man in his classroom in between lessons. Severus never objected to the short meetings. Little did Harry know that the potions master also felt unwell in absence of their encounters.
Harry began to smile, but there was still a hint of sadness to his face. "Yea....I just wish people weren't sending letters and howlers saying that I am an abomination and should be caged."
"Humans are idiots Tink."
"Ron, WE are human..."
"Actually Harry, you aren't anymore. You're a magical creature." Hermione stated as she brought out a book from her bag.
"Hey yea.....human's are idiots!"
"Watch it!" Ron squawked.
"Except for Hermione."
"That's better I—Hey!"
Harry had to dive off the couch to avoid the throw pillow that lived up to his name and was hurtled at him by his taller friend. He popped his head up from over the arm of the couch and stuck out his tongue.
"You're treading on thin ice Pixie!" Ron said as he reached for another pillow.
"And what happened to Tink?"
"Tink is a term of affection." Ron laughed as he nailed Harry with the feathery projectile.
Harry picked up the soft, mushy weapon and chucked it back at Ron.
Hermione just rolled her eyes as pillows began to fly around her. She flicked her wand and muttered a small protection charm against wayward cushions and continued to read. Every once in a while she would chide that they were going throw a pillow into the fireplace and would have to replace it. The boys went on unfazed. This was war!
The other students watching on at this little war started to laugh at the antics of the two seventh years. Did evil magical creatures engage in pillow fights?
************************************************************************
"Harry, I think you know why I have asked you here today." Professor Dumbledore said from his desk. He looked over his half moon spectacles at the young man and smiled fondly.
"The article in the Daily Prophet?" Harry asked as he loosened his tie a bit. He kept his collar buttoned up and all the time now since it helped cover the markings better. The less people saw of the lines it seemed the less they reacted in abhorrence. Harry hadn't minded the markings at first, but after everyone's reaction to them his opinion had changed. He now found them an eyesore.
"That would be the reason. Harry, I have been receiving several notifications from parents and board members that have been requesting some sort of precautionary action in regards to the article and what it reported."
"I am sorry that this has caused you trouble Professor—"
Dumbledore held up his hand to stop the young fairy, "No apologies are necessary Harry. None of this is your fault. You in no way can control what some...over exuberant reporters print in the paper."
"Still..."
Dumbledore continued, "There has been a few that have requested your removal from this establishment for the safety of other student."
Harry went a bit pale. He looked down at his hands that were folded in his lap. They had tried to get him kicked out in fifth year because he proclaimed Voldemort's return and now they were practically doing the same thing because he was apparently an evil fairy.
"I assure you though that this will not be occurring."
Harry immediately began to relax. Dumbledore had saved him. He needed his own super hero theme music he was so good.
"I did, however, assure the board members and ministry that a monitoring system will be established."
Hold off on that theme music for right now. "So it's like house...castle arrest?"
"Not at all. I told them a monitoring system. You will simply have to report to a staff member once a day and discuss your activities of the day."
Okay. We have a few bars of the theme song back. "Couldn't I just lie?"
"Do you make it a point of lying Harry?"
"Well, no. But they don't know that."
"No, but I do. I will be the one giving the report to the board and ministry and they have assured me, after a little friendly persuasion, that that would be acceptable."
Harry nodded his head. He wondered what sort of "friendly persuasion" Dumbledore had employed to get the school board and the ministry to be alright with Harry's only means of supervision being a daily report to a teacher. He did not even attempt to ask however. If Albus Dumbledore wanted something to happen then come flood or fire it was going to happen.
So he would have to check in with someone everyday. That is not too bad. Much better than being expelled. "So I will report to you then sir?"
"No, I have already asked Professor Snape who has agreed to be your contact person for the remainder of the school year or until this whole dreadful mess blows over." Dumbledore's eyes held that familiar twinkle Harry could recognize from over a kilometer away.
The young man looked over at the headmaster. Did the other man already know that he and Severus saw each other pretty much every day? Did he know they were mates? Probably did. Nothing surprised Harry anymore about Albus Dumbledore. You could tell him that in his younger days the elder gentleman danced the can-can in a chorus line and Harry's reply would have been, "Was he any good?"
The man knew everything and could do everything.
Right scary at times.
But, his super hero theme song was back and full.
Harry nodded again, "Yes, Sir. I can do that."
Dumbledore beamed, "Excellent! I shall leave it to you and Professor Snape to work out the times for your daily check-in."
Harry got up to leave when he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find the headmaster smiling warmly at him.
"Do not fret too much about this Harry. There are many people both at this castle and in the magical world who are working to correct this erroneous judgment of your character."
"How long do you think this will last Professor?"
"Hopefully not too long." At this Dumbledore winked, "I have a plan into the works that will hopefully shed new light onto this whole situation."
The look in Dumbledore's eyes told Harry that there was no doubt the man had something in the works. What that was Harry could only guess because when he tried to ask what the plan entailed he was answered with,
"My look at the time, you had better be getting back to your friends. Ms. Granger does not like to be kept waiting when she has a NEWTS study session planned."
"Yes...sir. Good evening Professor."
"Goodbye my dear boy. Oh and Harry?"
"Yes sir?" Harry asked from the doorway.
"Tea next week?"
Harry smiled, "I'd be happy to sir."
************************************************************************
For two weeks people had been avoiding him. For two weeks the paper kept running stories about the evil fairy in the confines of Hogwarts castle. For two weeks now Harry had reported to Severus daily about what he was doing. Their agreed upon time had been right after lunch break when both had a little free time between classes and on the weekends it was easier for Harry to come down to the dungeons from the Great Hall. Two weeks. Then the bad day happened.
One would think that after accusations of being evil and subsequently deserted by all except your closest friends would warrant the term "bad day" or even "bad month", but today was one of those days where everything just comes together to make one say,
"Crap."
"What's wrong Tink?" Ron asked as he was looking for his tie. For once it wasn't under his bed. Or in between his books. Or in his shoe...
"I woke up with a terrible headache." Harry said as he rubbed the side of his head, "And it hasn't gone away."
"Did you take a pain relieving potion?" Ron asked as he finally found his tie. It was in his nightstand drawer—where it was suppose to be oddly.
"Don't have one." Harry replied as he finished tying his shoes and stood up. He closed his eyes for a moment as the room began to spin. It only lasted a moment though and soon he was back on stable ground. The pain seemed to be centered behind the middle of his forehead.
"Well if it keeps up we could always go to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfry hasn't seen you in a while. She may miss you."
"I'm sure she does." Harry said dryly as he walked out the door and down to the common room with his red headed friend following close behind.
The headache didn't go away. The two howlers at breakfast didn't help either.
Today was a no good day.
Hermione looked on in sympathy. "Could it be that you are manifesting your stress over your current situation?" She asked as they were heading to their first class of the day, history of magic.
"That sounds a little too complicated for someone like me." Harry said as he closed his eyes. The room was spinning again.
The hallways were full of students but there was few around the trio. The kids were less prone to back away in abject terror when Harry was around but they still weren't taking any chances. Harry pulled on the collar of his shirt to try and raise it a little. 'Stupid markings,' Harry thought darkly, 'Everything was fine until they showed up on the scene.' Ron and Hermione had made it a point to keep Harry in the middle on their walks to and from class. Hermione had worried that people may attack Harry. Upon hearing this information began to go into ultra protective mode and would barely leave Harry's side if they were out of the dorms. Seamus and Dean had at first been unsure of the whole thing, but Neville finally convinced them that their small friend was not an evil creature. Harry owed Neville so many chocolate frogs.
Morning classes were terrible. The headache still hadn't subsided and by lunchtime he also had a stomach ache; he about ready to crawl back to bed and call the day a loss. He was sitting at the Gryffindor table nibbling at crackers to try and settle his stomach when he heard the sound of a rushing object coming towards his left ear. Assuming it was Seamus trying to help him with his seeker training he turned and brought his hand up just in time to catch—
A rock.
Seamus never threw rocks.
And Seamus always warned him. If only a "Hey!"
Harry turned his attention away from the rock in his hand to look for who had thrown it. Standing more that half a table-length away was a Hufflepuff boy who didn't look older than fourteen.
"You shouldn't be here! You belong in a cage!"
After making this very heartfelt declaration the boy ran out of the Great Hall.
"That little—I'll show him!" Ron said as he made to get up from the table. He would leave roast beef sandwiches if it meant seeking revenge for someone throwing rocks at his friend unprovoked.
"Ron, its fine." Harry reached out and stopped his hot headed friend. He appreciated Ron's spirit in the matter but still, "The last thing I wand is for you to get a detention over this. Do you want to spend an evening with Filch?" At this the red head shuddered and shook his head, "Thought not. Besides, he didn't even throw it that hard." He tossed the rock onto the table and picked up another cracker. The sudden head movement had made him go dizzy again.
Today was no good, awful day.
************************************************************************
Harry left lunch a little early than his friends to go visit Severus for his daily check in; he had to swear to Ron that he would be careful and would not let anyone pull him away from the major hallways. Ron swore that someone was going to pull Harry into a dark hallway and knock him around. Harry didn't say anything but he thought Ron was taking a page out of his mother's book and was making a great mother hen. Hermione was always the mother hen. Harry had a lot of mother hens in his life. How had he managed that? Finally easing his friends' concerns he made his way to the dungeons.
At first Severus would ask where Harry had went since their last meeting, you know, actually taking a report, but now it became just like their meetings before Professor Dumbledore instigated the check in. They would ask after each others days and then talk about whatever suited them at the time. Most days they only got to talk at most for fifteen minutes but on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he had potions in the afternoon he could go and set up his equipment and have half an hour to talk with Severus before any students showed up. No one ever said anything about Harry being the first one there.
"Hello" Harry said as he walked through the door of the potions class room. Severus was sitting at his desk grading his papers. Harry was convinced that Severus actually graded other teacher's papers. The man was constantly grading homework and there is no way one teacher had that much homework to grade. Severus assured him that, oh, yes, one teacher could.
"You know, if you didn't assign so much homework you wouldn't have to grade all the time."
"My personal discomfort over reading this drivel is overshadowed by the fact that you and your classmates need this drilled into your heads and the only way to accomplish this task is to have you write it over and over again," Severus said with his head down and his focus still on his present task. After a moment he seemed to come to a stopping place and looked up. "You look frightful."
"Thanks, you're sweet."
Severus just shook his head, "I mean you look like you don't feel well. Are you ill?"
Harry just shrugged his shoulders as he began to set up his cauldron. "I woke up with a terrible headache and I think it is making me slightly sick to my stomach."
"And why, might I ask, have you not been to the hospital wing?"
"I thought it would clear up eventually and I didn't want to bother Madame Pomfry."
"Illogical little—" Severus began to mutter as he stood up and walked over to a cabinet beside his desk. He pulled out a vial of bright blue liquid that Harry instantly recognized—pain reliever potion. He came around to where Harry was sitting and handed him the potion.
"Thanks." Harry said with a small smile and he downed the potion in one gulp. He waited for it to take affect. The pain was still there. Odd.
"So are the students still of the belief that you are an evil being that should be avoided at all costs?" Severus asked as he returned to his desk. They tried to keep some space between them when together. If they stayed too close for too long then the draw to the other would start to overwhelm. How long is it till June again?
Harry was still trying to figure out why the potion had not alleviated his headache. He answered anyways, "I don't think they know what to think anymore. They are still scared of me, but I think they are starting to wonder why."
"Yes, I can't imagine that you would inspire terror for too long. The public can be quite brainless when in mass." Severus said as he took his seat again and looked at the green eyed student. Harry still looked the worse for ware and Severus wondered what was wrong. Harry had been acting crestfallen since that terrible Skeater woman's first article had been published. He had found out during their training that Harry could not stand it when people were afraid of him.
"When I was little and I...you know...I would accidentally make stuff happen...kids were afraid of me. They wouldn't come near me. My cousin always helped this along and would tell the kids all kinds of horror stories about me to scare everyone even more. When I came to Hogwarts I was still different I know, but people weren't afraid of me.
I hated second year when people were afraid I was the heir of Slytherin. I hated fifth year when people were scared of me because they thought I was crazy....I hate it now that people are afraid of me because of Voldemort..."
Now they were afraid of him over the wrongful accusation that he was an evil creature by a racist author and an imbecilic reporter who liked to wear mauve.
Harry snorted, drawing Severus from his introspective state, "Yea, but those masses are in control and not only are they brainless, but very powerful."
Severus's face betrayed mild surprise, "Harry that's—insightful."
"Has been known to happen a time or two. Don't worry though. I will say something irrelevant or pointless soon enough."
"That is redundant."
"See! Your faith in me has been restored."
Severus chuckled quietly. Harry had to strain his ears to hear it at the distance they were at. "I guess it has."
The conversation went on from there with Harry every once in a while looking away to set up his potions supplies or Severus looking down to read and mark homework. Each occurrence found the other gazing over at their companion. Finally, around five minutes before class started they went back to Professor Snape and Mr. Potter. Severus stole one last look at Harry as the young fairy began to light the fire under his cauldron. One of the things Severus admired most about Harry was his ability to persevere through the vast array of obstacles that life had thrown his way and even maintain a sense of humor about life. He was taken this new impediment with the same strength of will, only with an air of melancholy over scaring people.
'He needs cheering up' Severus thought as other students began to file in, 'I think I may have an idea.'
************************************************************************
Harry Potter came into the last part of his inheritance not with a bang or a whimper.
No, he came into the last part of his inheritance by loosing his lunch.
He was in his last class of the day, care of magical creatures, and his headache and stomachache had gotten worse. It now felt as if there was a tiny man behind his forehead hitting him with a sledgehammer. If Harry ever got his hands on this guy there would be trouble. It had been getting progressively worse since potions and taking that pain relieving draught. Harry couldn't concentrate on what Hagrid was saying. Something about a large winged beaver or some such and he couldn't care less.
"Hey Tink," Ron nudged him, "You okay?"
"Yea, fine." Harry said as he closed his eyes. Maybe Hermione would let him copy her notes. How many sympathy points does a sick fairy get?
Hagrid had just instructed the class to split into teams for their practical and Harry opened his eyes to see where they were supposed to go. He was met with—
Bright orange!
Harry turned his head away only to—
Blinding yellow!
Crud!
Red!
No no no...
Blue!
Harry's head was spinning out of control. Colors were coming in from everywhere.
Intense, bordering on violent colors were crashing against his vision and the stimuli proved too much and Harry found himself bowed over getting sick right in front of Hagrid's Hut.
"Harry!" Hermione called worriedly from a little ways away.
"Harry! Are you okay?" Ron said as he and Hermione ran back to their friend. If Harry were in his right mind he would have noticed the red head actually using his given name for the first time in a long time. No right mind to be found right now though. All thought goes out of ones mind when loosing ones cookies.
Looking up he was hit with a bright sky blue and that same intense orange from earlier.
"No...I don't much think I am." Harry said shakily as his center of gravity finally disappeared and he fell back into a sitting position on the grass.
"Ya two, get 'Arry to tha 'ospital wing! The rest o' tha class—thers nothing ta see 'ere." Harry heard Hagrid call from somewhere close beside him. He didn't see Hagrid though. He just saw a lot of forest green.
Harry felt two sets of hands help him up and begin to walk him in some direction that he assumed was towards the castle and the hospital wing.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked as they walked. Harry turned towards her but quickly had to turn back from the sky blue color that bombarded his sight. He closed his eyes again and trusted his friends to lead the way.
"Color..."
"Color?" Ron asked from the other side of him.
"Everything is colored."
"Ummm....it's always been that way." Ron said in concern.
"No," Harry amended as they made there way up some stairs, "I mean you're orange. Hermione's sky blue. That's all I see right now. Colors."
"Wha—"
"Harry," Hermione interrupted, "Are you saying you can see our auras?"
"Is that what this is?"
"What did you think it was?
"I dunno....hell?"
"Well it's not. If it's what I think it is you can now see people's magical energies. Their auras. It's the last thing McTorning mentioned in his book."
"Fantastic..."
"Hey," Ron finally spoke, "How come you didn't reprimand Tink for cursing?"
"He is under a time of duress."
"My left toe duress!"
"I'll trade places with you." Harry replied as he stumbled and was caught by his friends.
"I think I'm alright. You do look like you're going through some hell."
"Ronald – language!"
Today was a no good, awful, terrible day.
************************************************************************
Harry sat on the side of a hospital bed with a cold press over his eyes and a piece of chocolate in his hand. After explaining the situation to Madame Pomfry this was the best aid the healer could give him.
"What you're feeling right now is just an intense reaction to the abundance of stimuli. Just give it a little while and it should get much better." Harry noted that Madame Pomfry was light pink, but still just as bright and imposing.
Harry sat there for a while with his friends keeping him company. Occasionally he would remove the cold pack and open his eyes only to close them again with a groan. With each venture back to the land of sight the colors would lessen in intensity but it was still enough to make Harry seek refuge.
"I guess one aspect of my inheritance had to be unpleasant." Harry tried for a little levity.
"It will get better Harry. You just have to get use to it. In time you should be able to select when you see auras. You can turn it on and off like a light switch."
"Hmmm...it's definitely going to the 'off' setting as soon as possible."
"Oh man! It's dinner time!"
"Ron can you think about something else for two minutes. Harry needs us to stay here."
"No I don't. You two go. Must feed the Weasley or there will be consequences."
"You sure Tink? We will wait. What if someone gives you trouble with you being on your own."
"I'll be fine mother—Ouch!" Harry replied and then dealt with his friend giving him a light punch to the arm, "I will go straight to the dorms from here. Just bring be back some apples and a roll and I will be good okay?"
"Okay...if you're sure."
"I'm sure. You kids go have fun. I will see you after dinner."
************************************************************************
Twenty minutes after Ron and Hermione left Harry was able to leave the hospital wing. The colors were still there but he was now able to see Madame Pomfry through the light pink color that surrounded her as she gave him instructions before his dismissal. He walked out to an empty hallway and made his way back to the Gryffindor tower. Dinner was in full swing so he hoped he would not encounter that many students and have to deal with a sea of colors.
Everything now seemed brighter, not just people. The stones of the walls and floor, the tapestries hanging all around, they all seemed to be brighter to his eyes.
Harry was quite a ways down a particularly long hallway when he felt someone grab him from the side and pull him over into a side alcove.
Crap.
Ron was right. Here he was in a deserted hallway and he was about to get pulverized by an unknown assailant. Harry was finished being pulled into the alcove and was fully braced for the first blow when he was met with a lot of the color silver and a smoky voice in his ear,
"Why Mr. Potter, whatever are you doing out wandering the hallways by yourself? Something could happen."
Severus.
Immediately there was a flare in Harry's stomach that had nothing whatsoever to do with being sick earlier. The giddy, lightheaded feeling that only this man in front of him could inspire was rushing through him.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked through his haze.
"Taking your mind off of things." Severus said. The small space was dark but with Severus's aura Harry was able to see the man staring at his own mouth. In a flash the taller man had swooped in and captured said mouth in one of those nice kisses Harry has missed...
Harry was only caught off guard for a moment. After the initial shock he closed his eyes and stood up on tip toes clasping his hands behind Severus's neck. He felt a familiar tongue pressing against his bottom lip and this time he did not need to question what the tongue wanted. He immediately opened his mouth to allow the older man access.
Severus's own hands were traveling along Harry's back. One went upward and clutched at his back between his shoulder blades while the other hand wandered south to cup Harry's butt; eliciting a small squeak from the smaller man. The noise seemed to spur Severus on even more because soon Harry found himself beginning to be leaned back during the kiss almost as though he were now being cradled.
Severus eventually broke the kiss only to move to Harry's neck—the side with the markings—and began to kiss and nibble there. Much to Harry's eternal embarrassment he let out a small, sharp cry at this. Heat and electricity were pounding through him and he began to wonder if a person really could just explode. Finally, Severus pulled away a little and their eyes locked.
Severus felt the same heat and was reveling in it. While it had been his own idea that they wait before initiating any intimate relationship it had driven him absolutely insane to not be able to touch and kiss Harry as he was doing right now. Ever since Christmas it was all Severus could think about. Even in the low light he could see those bright green eyes and soft full lips that were a little red from all the kissing and small pants escaping through them as means for the green eyed youths breathing. His left hand was enjoying its current spot on Harry's taunt bottom but it seemed to want to wander. He leaned Harry back to a more upright position as his hand slid from its place at the younger man's posterior up and around to trace patterns on Harry's abdomen through his shirt.
"I really wish you didn't have to cover those beautiful markings." Severus said absentmindedly. His long fingers deftly undid two of the buttons on Harry's shirt and his hand snaked its way inside to touch impossibly soft skin.
"Oh. My. Gosh..." Harry exhaled on a shaky breath. If it hadn't been for Severus's other hand still on his back Harry would have assuredly fallen down by now.
The hand continued to trace patterns over his stomach and Harry would feel little zips of energy from those fingers. Severus's eyes were still locked onto his own. Drinking in the tiny gasps and soft giggles that escaped Harry's mouth with each touch.
"Tickles." Harry said quietly
"Mmm" was his only reply. Severus leaned in once again for another fantastic kiss and the touching went on for what felt like forever. Or maybe it was just several long minutes. Time was irrelevant.
Harry removed one of his hands from behind the taller mans neck and began to run it up and down Severus's chest. His hand was just going for the buttons when another hand reached up and stopped it. Harry realized that his stomach was lonely. Severus had stopped.
"Harry we—"
"If you say we should stop I will take your spleen out the hard way," came a quiet reply.
Severus began to chuckle.
"Don't think I won't just 'cause I have wings either." Harry tried to sound threatening but with his head still in a daze he failed at it miserable.
"Much as I am intrigued to know what exactly is the 'hard way' to remove a spleen we should not continue."
"But why?" Harry knew he was whining, but he didn't care.
Severus fixed him with a pointed stare. His own breath still coming out in quiet puffs of air, "Because I do not wish to take your virginity in a dark alcove that's why."
That sobered Harry up faster than any spell, potion, or douse of cold water could ever do. He began to fight against the magnetism that existed between the two.
"Oh."
"Yes, Oh" Severus echoed with a smirk. He leaned in and gave Harry one last quick peck on the lips. Harry seemed determined for it to be anything but quick and Severus had to gently push Harry back as the young man tried to follow after Severus's lips when they pulled away.
"You're the one who broke the rule!" Harry stated agitatedly.
"Indeed. Your melancholy mood has lasted far too long. I felt a pick me up is in order. While I must admit that part of my reasoning was of a selfish nature I knew that contact with your mate of a more—substantial—kind would improve your disposition."
"Selfish nature?"
"I have been under the extreme urge to kiss you for some time now."
Harry stepped back a little more to help fight the giddiness. "The fact that you can justify this doesn't make it okay. You're a terrible tease Severus."
"I have been called worse"
"No doubts there." Harry said as he closed his eyes; he tried to slow his breathing and continued to fight to regain control of his body.
"What were you doing in this area of the castle anyway? Shouldn't you be at dinner?"
Excellent change of subject. Folks – give this guy a hand!!
"I came into the last part of my inheritance this afternoon. I began seeing auras and my reaction to it was less than pleasant."
Harry didn't see it but both of Severus's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You can see auras now? I did not know that was a possibility."
"Yea it was one of those things that I was supposed to get if it was a full inheritance and not a half."
"Are you alright?"
"It started out being too much but it is slowly becoming less obnoxious." The conversation was starting to actually help. Harry's legs had re-solidified from their previous jelly state and while the bubblyness and attraction was still there it seemed far easier to handle.
"If you're wondering your aura is silver."
"What does that mean?"
"No idea. We are still trying to figure out what the different colors of my wings mean." Harry said as he opened his eyes. They met Severus's dark stare and for a brief moment the attraction flared back up again. Danger! Danger! We're sinking fast! Severus seemed to be fighting the urge to lean into Harry again and Harry stopped caring why he shouldn't let him. Finally Severus snapped back and Harry averted his gaze to the floor.
Severus composed himself a moment and then replied, "We will research it later. It is late. You should go."
What? There was no clock chime here. Nothing to say he should go.
"I do not need a clock to tell me that you should be getting back to your dorm rooms."
Bloody mind reader.
"Fine, but you're still a terrible tease."
"I can live with that. Goodnight Harry." Severus said as he brushed the fringe of Harry's green and black hair out of his face. He turned to leave their little alcove when a question struck Harry. He reached out at grabbed the potion master's sleeve.
"Did you mark me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Harry was blushing like crazy but he asked his question of the silvery man again, "When you kissed my neck.—did you mark me? Give me a...a hickey." It would not bode well to show up at Gryffindor tower with a random hickey on his neck for the world to see. Ron would probably die if he were to see it. He liked his friend. He didn't want to kill him. He craned his neck to allow the taller man to inspect. Severus turned from the entrance, now exit, to face him. He brought a hand up and lightly traced the skin on Harry's neck.
"I did mark you."
"Oh man! I—" Harry's reply died on his tongue and was replaced by another soft moan as Severus fingers left his neck and followed a path down Harry's chest and to his stomach again. He felt Severus button up the two buttons down there. His legs were back in jelly mode.
"All of these markings are my mark on you Harry."
"Oh..." Came a quiet, breathy reply.
"Yes Oh." Severus repeated again. His voice taking on that deep, rich sound again. "Goodnight Harry."
"G'night." Harry said as the tall man left the alcove.
Today was a no good, awful, terribly wonderful day.
Harry stayed for a few minutes longer to ensure that he could walk before he himself left for his dorms. He didn't have far. Severus had hijacked him only three short turns away from the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Hey! There you are Tink! I snagged you two apples and Hermione insisted on bringing you some carrots—"
"You need your vegetables!" Hermione interjected.
Ron rolled his eyes and continued, "So are you feeling better?"
"Yea....lots." Harry said with a half smile as he took and apple.
He could care less right now if people were afraid of him and the board of governors wanted him expelled from school. He had more important things on his mind.
Like revenge on a certain teasing potions master who shall remain nameless.
Waiting till June just got a lot more fun.
************************************************************************
Arrrgghhh! She did it! She actually wrote an over-used "Liaison in a Dark Hallway" Plot device! Oh the horror! Oh the clichéd humanity of it all!
I am sorry for that and then again I'm not. It was fun. Even if it is not that good.
Reviews are like virtual hugs. And who doesn't like hugs?