Author's Note: Here's another chapter for you all! FYI: I figured out how to use the polls! See my profile for my first poll. ;)
Ow. Harry thought as he held himself still for a moment after falling. He felt something warm pulse against the hollow of his throat. That's right. I'd forgotten about that charm. The protection promised by the centaurs was working and Harry was still conscious. Also, this person, whoever he was, didn't want him dead yet. Harry was safe for the moment. "Get the boy." Ah, it's Voldemort. Harry centered himself and heard shoes scrape on the stone floor close to his ear. There.
Harry waited until a hand gripped his arm and he came up swinging with his left hand. Quirrell/Voldemort howled when Harry made contact with his face and Harry kicked out with his right foot as Quirrell dropped him to the floor. Harry rolled away from the man and braced for the spell coming towards him. He dodged away from it and pulled out his own wand. "STUPEFY!" He needed to make this look like he was a very lucky first year. The possessed professor moved out of the way of the spell and started for Harry again.
Harry allowed the man to come closer to him and he reached out with his left hand and pushed the teacher's face away from him. Just like before, Quirrell's skin started to smoke from contact with Harry's touch. Looks like Mum's protection is still working here. He grinned a little to himself and fought to get his other hand free to close around Quirrell's throat. The smell of scorched flesh met Harry's nostrils and he gagged a bit. He wondered how he had managed this the first time with everything that was happening now. He could see Quirrell's eyes slowly turn red. He wasn't sure if it was from being Voldemort or if it was from blood filling them. The man was trying to get a good hold on Harry to do something. Harry wasn't sure what that was, but he had a feeling the man was trying to reach for Harry's wand.
Voldemort's hand clenched onto Harry's collar and slowly twisted the fabric until Harry's vision danced with black dots. Harry clawed at the man's hands. Voldemort was ignoring his efforts and Harry's body was becoming desperate for oxygen. He closed his eyes to focus and gathered himself to let out a burst of defensive magic. It was one of the few things he had learned from his teacher that he found to be useful. It was very much like accidental magic, but it had a very focused purpose. It acted as a magical grenade, a small focused ball of magical energy capable of throwing people away from Harry and sometimes even knocking them unconscious.
Voldemort slammed Harry against the stone wall and Harry gasped as stars filled his vision. He tired to ignore his dancing vision and turn himself towards his magic. Violence was something he could deal with. He kicked out as Voldemort lifted him higher. He focused his energy and let out a burst of pure defensive magic. It was a technique he rarely used as it exhausted him, but it was a blatant signal that he was not to be harmed. Voldemort shrieked and dropped him to back away and cradle his now charred hands to his chest, moaning under his breath in Quirrell's voice. Harry picked himself up, weaving only slightly, to advance on Voldemort with his wand. He only made it three steps before a large burst of light threw Voldemort several feet into the air. He stopped and looked to his right to see Professor Snape advancing down the hall, murder written in every line of his face.
Snape looked up from his grading and sighed. Something was wrong. He dropped his quill and rubbed his eyes. He knew what Dumbledore would say about eye strain, but he didn't feel like sitting in the light this evening. A sense of foreboding was filling the dungeon room and nothing Snape did could dispel the gloom. He told himself that he was being ridiculous, that he was allowing his imagination to run away with him, but the feeling only grew. He pushed away from his desk and stalked over to the fireplace. A quick talk with Dumbledore told him that nothing unusual was happening in the castle that evening and even Peeves seemed peaceful.
Snape snapped the lid on his Floo powder closed and resisted returning to his childhood habit of biting his lip. He did a quick check of the Slytherin common room and nothing at all was happening there aside from a few study groups. He decided that a roam around the castle would help to ease the restlessness he was experiencing and set off at a fast clip down the hallway. He turned the corner and stopped dead at a certain painting he was sure no one else ever looked at.
This painting had been a static painting of the Forbidden Forest until a few days ago. Snape had wanted a way to look at the Forbidden Forest without needing to go outside, especially after Potter's little adventure there. Now, the painting showed an image of whatever was happening in the forest at that very moment. And at that moment, it appeared that the centaurs were mobilizing for war. Text ran along the bottom, telling Snape exactly what each creature said. Five words were repeated and Snape felt all the blood drain from his face. Harry Potter is in danger.
Snape whirled away from the painting and snapped out a spell. A green line appeared on the floor in front of him and he followed it until he heard something that sounded very much like a girlish shriek that alerted him to the presence of others. He stopped and stared down the hallway to see Quirrell hunched over, crying over something, and Harry Potter looking close to Death's door only a few meters away. Snape lifted his wand and allowed his rage to direct his magic. He was satisfied when a spell flew down the corridor and stuck Quirrell directly in the back. Quirrell collapsed to the ground and did not move.
Snape practically flew down the corridor as Harry struggled to stay on his feet. He felt the charm vibrate the slightest bit at his throat and he reached up a hand to hold it. He felt oddly disconnected from everything now. Defensive magic was his last ditch effort to save others, but he rarely used it for himself. It felt strange to do so.
Harry Potter, are you well? A wispy voice said inside his mind. He startled and then looked around for the cause.
Yes? He answered. The voice sounded so familiar to him. Where had he heard it before?
Then the centaurs will return to the forest. Take care of yourself. The voice faded away so quickly that Harry wasn't sure he had actually heard it. He knew who it was a few seconds later. It was Jeachen, the head of the centaurs. They had left the forest?
Snape stepped between Harry and Voldemort, nudging Harry behind him while he examined what was lying in the corridor. He kept his wand trained on Quirrell and his entire stance screamed out anger. "What happened, Potter?" He asked Harry, a quick glance telling him how Harry was doing.
"He attacked me." Harry answered simply. "Tried to stun me." Harry shook himself as he fought for control. The adrenaline was leaving him, leaving him to be exactly what he was after the centaurs' interference: an eleven year old boy.
Snape's wand flashed with the flare of a Patronus and Harry flinched away from the glare. He was starting to shake now. He started a breathing exercise meant to calm him and he backed away from Snape and Quirrell to do so. He knew how to master himself and he would. It just took longer now that he responded as an eleven year old.
Snape conjured some ropes and bound Quirrell head to toe. Another flick of his wand silenced the unconscious whimpers the professor was starting to make. Snape turned and stared at Harry. "Sit down before you fall down, Potter."
"Yes, sir," Harry had heard that order more than once. He leaned back against the wall and allowed himself to slide down it to rest his head on his knees. "What's going to happen to him?" Harry asked.
"That is for the headmaster to decide." Snape said, keeping one eye on Quirrell and one eye on Harry.
Harry snorted under his breath before taking one last deep breath and pushing himself up from the ground. "Potter, I said sit down." Snape snapped at him.
"I'm fine, sir."
"Shall I turn you over to Madame Pomfrey to verify that?" Snape whispered in a deadly tone that caused Harry to shiver the tiniest bit. Harry crossed his legs and leaned against the wall, watching Snape the whole while. The man scowled, but finally nodded and turned to the professors rushing down the hallway. One more Patronus left Snape's wand off to parts unknown as everyone started to babble around him. "QUIET!"
"Severus, what has happened here?" Dumbledore asked calmly after Snape had snarled at them all.
"Professor Quirrell attacked Potter. I arrived in time to witness the attack and put an end to it. What I don't know is why the attack happened in the first place." Snape then turned to Harry. "Potter?"
"I don't know, sir. All I heard was 'there you are' and then I was hit from behind. Some kind of stunning spell, I think." Harry shrugged and barely hid a wince. He was bruised and he knew it would feel worse tomorrow.
"Are you sure, Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Harry felt Dumbledore attempting Legillmency on him. Did the old man never quit peering into others' minds? This practice of avoiding the headmaster's snooping was becoming tiresome. Harry raised his hand to his head and grimaced.
"Completely sure, sir." Harry answered. He rubbed his forehead for a second before dropping his hand. He looked up in time to catch Snape glancing back and forth between him and Dumbledore. He's suspicious.
"Well, let's see what Quirrell has to say about this." Dumbledore said as he turned to the fallen professor.
"Sir! I don't think that's Quirrell!" Harry said sharply.
"What do you mean, my boy?" Dumbledore asked. Harry wanted to throttle the old man at that moment.
"He wasn't using Professor Quirrell's voice, sir. And he was acting strange." Harry didn't want to say 'he's possessed' because of the potential for questions, but he didn't want Dumbledore to release Quirrell so soon after the man was contained.
"I'll be careful, my boy." Dumbledore said as he flicked his wand and released the binding spell. Harry saw it before anyone else as the man practically exploded from the ground, knocking Dumbledore into McGonagall, screaming something Harry didn't catch, and heading straight for him. Snape moved towards the pair of them and Harry could not allow the man's cover to be blown so easily. Harry pulled out his wand and dashed forward He and Voldemort met in the middle and Harry didn't wait.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted as his hands met Quirrell's face. Quirrell's wand flew off into the hallway. Harry clawed at the man and tried to get as much skin of his hands to touch Quirrell that he could manage. He felt hands pulling him away and he fought to hold onto Quirrell. He felt someone else come up and give him a light tap at the back of his head just hard enough to startle him. He didn't feel the charm he wore change at all. Obviously, the charm approved this as something for Harry's own good. Harry released his hold on Quirrell as the man went lax and dropped to the ground.
Harry was turned in someone's arms and hidden in the folds of black cloak. Snape. This man was determined to protect him. How annoying. He fought for a moment before Snape laid a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed it. "Hush, child." It was such an odd tactic for Snape that Harry followed the order and relaxed in the man's grip.
Harry turned his head and watched as a misty figure appeared from Quirrell's body and flew screaming from the corridor. Harry squirmed around to see where the spirit was going and tried to get Snape to put him down. "Stop that!" Snape shook him the slightest bit.
"Albus, are you alright?" McGonagall asked as she helped Dumbledore up from the stone floor.
"Yes, Minerva, I am fine." Dumbledore said. He studied Quirrell on the ground before turning towards Harry. "My boy, I owe you an apology. I did not listen to you when you warned me of possible danger, and you nearly paid the price for my carelessness." Dumbledore's eyes took on a twinkle as they drifted back and forth between Snape and Harry.
Snape noticed it as well and lowered Harry to the ground. Harry tried to step away from the man only to feel a firm hand kept on his shoulder. Wonderful. The man was turning paternal. "I suppose I didn't make it clear enough for you, sir."
"Ah, Pomfrey. Could you see to Harry?" Dumbledore said as the nurse came around the corner.
"I'm fine!" Harry protested.
Pomfrey advanced on him. "You'll have to let me be the judge of that, Mr. Potter." Harry tired to back away from her, only to run into Snape. He glared up at the man and the man bent down to whisper in his ear.
"You'll let her scan you, you'll retire to the Hospital Wing for the night, and then you and I are going to have a long talk." Snape nudged him forward and Harry sighed as he allowed Pomfrey to do what she needed to do. He was ordered to the Hospital Wing for the night and he followed, wondering what Snape wanted to talk to him about.
One night turned into three days after the bruising appeared and did not respond to any treatments of Pomfrey. Dumbledore had stopped by to ask some rather annoying questions Harry could not answer and Flitwick had brought his student his assignments and pajamas from his trunk. They were the pair Narcissa Malfoy had given him and Harry felt a little calmer wearing them. That didn't make him any less anxious to get out of the Hospital Wing. Draco stopped by and Harry made the boy promise not to write his parents about Harry being in the Hospital Wing again. Draco had said that Harry was the only first year to have spent so much time in the Hospital Wing that year, but he was sure it was a record for the school. Harry told Draco to shut up.
One visitor surprised Harry into silence. Ron Weasley had appeared by Harry's bedside and just stared at Harry for a few seconds. "Er, Ron?" Harry asked when the boy didn't say anything.
"They say that Quirrell was possessed by You-Know-Who," Ron told him. "That he was doing something to me. He used an Unforgivable Spell on me to do it. You stopped him."
"By accident. He attacked me, too." Harry told the pale boy. Ron was obviously not sleeping well. "He won't be back this year."
"What about next year? Hogwarts is supposed to be safe." Ron said. Harry almost smiled at the innocence his old friend displayed. Was I ever that young?
"I don't know, Ron. I suppose we can only wait and see." Harry told him. This is new Ron, Potter, not old Ron. This one may not even like you. New Ron, Potter.
"I've heard you're great at defense." Ron said. "Maybe we could study together sometime? I never want to be that helpless again."
Just like a Gryffindor. No subtly. "Sure, Ron. I think that would be fun. Who knows? Maybe we could start a defense club or something."
"Do you think he's going to come back?" Ron asked. Harry didn't need to ask who "he" was.
He shook his head and gave a slight shrug. "I would like to say 'no', that he won't be back. I think we both know better. He's trying to come back and nothing will stop him from trying. We only need to be vigilant and do our best to protect ourselves." Harry advised Ron.
"I'll do that." Ron told Harry. "Everyone I talked to says that you've read a lot of advanced defense books. Could you tell me some of the titles? I could read them over the summer holiday and then we could start everything next year first thing."
"I'll give you my reading list. I think I've memorized most of them, so I may be able to let you borrow some of them." Harry wondered how close the old Ron and new Ron were in personality. He studied the boy in front of him and sighed. "This is going to be a lot of work, you know. Learning something like this, I mean."
"It's worth it." Ron snapped. He took a deep breath. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I looked up the spell he used on me. He could have made me do anything he wanted, and I would have done it. I could have been sent to kill my own family, and I wouldn't have been able to stop myself."
"It's possible to resist that spell." Harry couldn't bear to hear the hopelessness coming from new Ron. "Some say it takes a strong sense of will, but I think it's more about being stubborn and knowing yourself. It can be beat."
Ron looked down for a moment before looking up again. "I won't let anyone try to control me again. Thanks, Harry."
"You're welcome, Ron. I'll come find you later to give you that list. You can do it, Ron." Harry said calmly and with the slightest tinge of authority in his voice. Ron seemed to grow a little more confident with Harry's reassurance and wished for him to get well before leaving the Hospital Wing.
"You," Harry jumped as Pomfrey came from her office "are older than your years, Mr. Potter. You'll leave tomorrow, and if I find you back in my Hospital Wing at any time for the rest of the term, I'll not be held responsible for my actions!"
Dear Remus,
SNAPE HAS LOST HIS SENSES! How dare he? How...I am beyond words!
I suppose I should tell you what I'm ranting about before ranting about it, shouldn't I? Quirrell attacked me and Snape happened to come upon us right when I had Quirrell where I wanted him.
Dumbledore can be an idiot. Snape had the man restrained and Dumbledore just let him free. I did what I could to keep Snape from being known to Voldemort as a spy and still the man insisted on pulling me off Quirrell. I'm then shuffled off to the hospital wing like a little kid!
Snape told me that we were going to "have a long talk". I didn't take that seriously, of course, because what in the world could Snape have to talk to me about? I reported to his office at the time he requested and then he proceeded to lay into me about taking better care of my life. I was completely confused, of course. I didn't understand what he was talking about. He then called me a foolish boy, pushed me into a chair, and told me to "Sit there until you understand what it means to put your life into danger!"
Have you ever heard such complete rot? Of course I know what it means to put my life into danger! I used to do it almost every day! If he thinks this is bad...
Remus, he left me there for three hours! He just went off and brewed a potion without me. THREE HOURS! When he came back, he was oh so condescending, asking if I had learned my lesson. I tell you Remus, I was very close to striking the man!
I told him that I had no idea why he was so upset and that his meaning of life in danger was obviously skewed. I tried to leave. He actually picked me up from the ground. Remus, this removing my person from the ground is getting to be a habit of his. An annoying habit.
He then decided to lecture me about taking on fully grown wizards with less than a year's education in my brain, if "anything managed to stay there in that brain" at all. I ask you, what does he hope to do by insulting my intelligence? Did he hope that I would become irrational?
I still have yet to come to the worst part of it. He's grounded me, Remus. GROUNDED ME. The oh so hilarious thing (please note the blatant sarcasm) about all of this is that THE HEADMASTER AGREED! HE AGREED WITH THIS ASININE PLAN!
I am now forced to report to various teachers' offices after classes and when I am not in the Great Hall for meals. I must be escorted through the halls by two or more classmates if I am going to the library or Great Hall. The teachers "want to keep an eye on me." I am obviously incapable of taking care of myself. Pardon me, but who beat down Voldemort while Dumbledore was attempting to peel himself from the ground and McGonagall attempting to help? I'm surrounded by incompetents, Remus. Incompetents.
I'm in Snape's office right now. I even have my own desk and everything. Do not take that as joy in my voice. I am very upset about this. Snape is keeping a close eye on me at the moment. I have to hide this parchment under an essay and go back and forth between the two. If my penmanship suffers, so be it. I hope you can read this. Thanks for listening. I'm going to close before Snape catches me doing this. I'm supposed to be studying.
Harry
Harry folded the parchment quickly and sealed it before shuffling some papers around and settling again to work on his Transfiguration essay.
"That is a longer than usual letter to that pen friend of yours," Snape remarked dryly from his own desk. "You must have had a lot to tell him."
Uh-oh. He caught me. Oh well. Harry ignored his professor and opened his Transfiguration textbook to look for information about animals into house wares.
"Oh, the silent treatment." Snape said into the air a few minutes later. "Very mature, Mr. Potter."
Harry knew that Snape hated the silent treatment. Harry also knew that he could beat Snape every time. He studied the clock for a moment, gauged the time he would need for this next part of the essay and cracked his knuckles in preparation for writing.
"It won't work, you know." Snape said quietly.
Oh, yes it will, because you can't stand it. Harry didn't even bother pausing his writing. He merely continued on with his essay.
Almost a full hour passed before Harry was startled by Snape grabbing his chair and turning him around. Harry glared at his professor.
"This is for your own protection, Potter. Surely you realize that?" Snape snapped at him. Harry didn't say anything. Snape placed both hands on the armrests of Harry's chair and leaned forward. "What did those relatives do to you that made you so careless of your life?" His voice was speculative. Harry didn't like it.
Harry wanted to stand up, but Snape hadn't moved yet. In fact, he leaned closer to Harry. "Why won't you allow us to help you, Potter?" Snape asked. "Why try to stand alone when your professors are trying to help you?"
Harry leaned his head back against the chair and sighed. He drummed his fingers on his leg and waited. Snape was cutting into Harry's study time. "Tell me, Potter. Do they care for you at all?" Harry felt the slightest push of Legillmency and he decided a reaction would be perfect at this point. He pushed back as violently as possible. Snape visibly swayed and only glared down at Harry as Harry reached up one hand to massage his forehead. Take that, Snape. Now get out of my face.
"Pout if you like." Snape said crossly as he returned to his own desk.
He could have turned me back towards the desk. Harry grumbled to himself as he turned the chair around and went back to his essay.
"What can you tell me about the centaurs? Did you know that they had left the Forbidden Forest and were coming to your rescue, only to return moments after I appeared on the scene?"
Really? That's nice. Perhaps I'll be better off with the centaurs! Harry didn't respond.
"You must be excited about the summer holidays coming up." Snape tried again a few minutes after the centaur comment. "Did your family make any plans for the summer?"
Hmm, let's see. I'm going to spend as much time out of the house as possible for the two weeks I'll need to ensure the protections, and then I'm going to disappear to my little flat for the remainder of the summer, Auror search or no.
"Potter, we are only doing this to protect you. To keep you safe. I realize that you're feeling a little claustrophobic at the moment, but I don't wish to see you injured, harmed, or kidnapped again this year if we can help it."
No, I'm feeling exactly like I did when I was training, minus the coercion spells! Harry's hand tightened on his quill the slightest bit and fought back the memories. He didn't want to remember anything at that moment. He was having a hard enough time just dealing with the idea that he was never alone.
Harry nearly leapt out of his seat in surprise when two callused hands lowered themselves to his shoulders. He leaned back to see Snape looking down at him. There was a new worry line etched into Snape's forehead. "Please, Potter. Try not to be too angry about this. We only want to keep you safe and this is the only way we know how. I have to admit, the other professors and I are a little out of our depth. Attacked by old Death Eaters, kidnapped by centaurs, and practically mangled by the Dark Lord in spirit form is a lot to expect for a seventh year, much less a first year. Add to that your talent for Potions, your Seer abilities and everything else, and you've become a tidy little puzzle that is in constant danger. Surely you understand why we do this?"
Harry stared at the man and realization hit him. He'd had this conversation before, straight out of training when he had been returned to the Order. It had not made sense to him before, but it was very clear now. "You feel helpless." Harry said quietly.
"If you spread that around, you'll be in detention until after you take your NEWTS." Snape told him calmly.
"Yes, sir." Harry turned back to his essay.
"Potter?" Snape said, a question in that single word.
"I don't hate you. You're forgiven for making me feel like I was the one who did something wrong. I dislike having people make my decisions for me." Harry admitted.
"I shall consult you in the future, so long as there is time and your life is not in immediate danger." Snape said calmly.
"Agreed." Harry said as he turned back to his essay. A few minutes later, a cup of tea and his favorite biscuits (or what Snape deemed as his favorite, because he saw Harry eat only this type) appeared on Harry's desk. He ate one absently and pondered the point his professor had given him. He supposed that he was in constant danger. They were only watching out for his safety, like they would for any eleven year old in their care. Too bad they didn't do this the first time around.
It was only two more weeks and then Harry could leave Hogwarts for the relative freedom of the Muggle world and Knockturn Alley.
Author's Note 2: Four weeks and counting until graduation! AAAAAAH!