Chapter Fourteen
Another day, Slyther yawned, which soon turned into a yelp. Ah! Help! Somebody! Somebody's strangling me! Ah…to think…I'm never going to have another fish again… Noooo…
"Stop being so dramatic," Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He extended his hand, fumbling for his glasses on the nightstand next to the bed. When he finally adjusted them onto his nose, he helped untangle Slyther from the sheets.
I am not being dramatic, Slyther said. Perfectly un-dramatic, thank you very much.
"Never mind," Harry said. "I'm hungry. Let's go get Remus and Professor Snape so we can go down to the Great Hall."
I still don't trust the greasy human with your secret, Slyther said, resting on top of his normal spot: Harry's head.
"You make me sound like I'm Superman or something," Harry said with a grin.
What IS this that you speak of? Slyther asked, sounding highly interested. Is it some sort of amphibian? Or bird?
"Never mind," Harry said again. "Hey, do you know where Ember is?"
Went out, Slyther said briefly, as if he couldn't care. Harry furrowed his brow.
"When'd she go out?" Harry asked. "This morning?"
No, responded Slyther, late at night. Why do you care?
"Because she's my owl and I should be looking after her!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes growing round and wide. "Where could she be? And where are Remus and Professor Snape?"
Try in the room behind you.
"Why would they be in there?" Harry asked with a frown. "And how do you know?"
Can't you hear their loud voices?
"No," Harry admitted, "only mine. And yours," he added. Careful as to not make a the floor creak as he cautiously stepped towards the door, Harry held his breath.
"You should cut him some slack," Remus's voice said, "He's only ten."
"He's a Potter," Snape hissed, and Harry could almost hear his eyes narrow. "James Potter's son. Why should I cut that brat some slack?"
Remus clenched his teeth together. "Harry is not a brat. Why are you taking what James did to you out on Harry?" Severus was quiet, saying nothing. He clenched his own teeth together in anger. "See? You don't have a reason. You just do it," Remus continued.
"Harry Potter is an impudent, self-centered brat just like his father," Snape spat.
"Harry's not," Remus said simply. "He's not impudent or self-centered. He's the complete opposite of that. He's polite, respectful, considerate…"
Snape snorted. "You're his biggest fan now, then?"
"Let's just drop it," Remus said calmly. "All I was suggesting is that you should try acting a bit nicer towards Harry. He's done absolutely nothing to you." Snape, again, was quiet. Making no move to answer or retort.
"Well, your 'polite, respectful and considerate' Potter certainly isn't 'truthful'," Snape finally said. Harry felt his heartbeat quicken. Snape promised he wouldn't tell Remus about what had been going on; how could he do this?
"What do you mean?" Remus asked carefully. A cold smirk settled on Snape's lips.
"Oh, I really shouldn't tell—" Remus glared at him.
"Whatever your talking about, tell me now."
"Oh, very well," Snape said, trying to sound reluctant. He wasn't even close. "You're precious Potter has been lying to your face, Lupin. Conversing with Black, visiting Black in the Shrieking Shack—"
Remus's face turned pale. "What? You can't be... Harry wouldn't though, he knows—."
"It still doesn't stop him, does it?" Snape said.
Remus's shock turned to one of fury. "I didn't you tell me before? How long has this been going on?"
"Thanks a lot," Harry said, pushing the door open to reveal himself. "You promised you wouldn't tell!" Tears bubbled in the corner of his eyes, and he tried to hold them in. He was ten, he shouldn't start crying over something silly. But, to him, it wasn't silly at all. Sirius wasn't going to go back to Azkaban, and Harry had to make sure that wouldn't happen.
"Harry," Remus said slowly, turning around. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"Because I knew you were going to get the wrong idea!" Harry exclaimed, his face flushing with anger. He squeezed his hands into a fist, leaving deep fingernail cuts in his palm. "Like you are now! Sirius isn't a murder, he was framed!"
Remus shook his head. "No, Harry. Whatever he's told you—"
"Whatever you and Dumbledore have been telling me is a lie!" Harry exclaimed. "Sirius Black is innocent."
"Harry, I'm sorry, but he isn't!" Remus said, raising his voice. "He's not. He's a murderer. You should have told me sooner, Harry. You just be thankful that Severus told me about this now, so I can go tell Albus of his whereabouts—"
"I trusted you," Harry said, his voice cracking as he spoke to Snape, "I respected you. You promised me that you wouldn't tell Remus!"
"Well, I never promised," Snape said with a smirk.
"Well," Harry said hoarsely, "I'll make sure never to make the mistake of trying to like you again."
-
Harry didn't know where his feet were taking him. Hopefully they were taking him to the Whomping Willow, where he could go down to the Shrieking Shack and warn Sirius of what was going to happen.
Don't go so fast! Slyther said, I'm going to fall off your head again.
"I don't care," Harry said, still feeling anger towards the Potions Master. "I've more important things to worry about, Slyther."
Ooh, grumpy when we don't get our way, aren't we?
"Way?" Harry repeated, "what way? Snape promised me that he wouldn't tell Remus about what was going on, and here he goes breaking his promise!"
"Yeah," Harry said with a laugh, not even noticing the branch of the Whomping Willow that swung forward.
Harry? Slyther cried out as he was flung off of Harry's head. He landed in a clump on the green grass, far from where Harry lay. A-are you okay? Slyther stuttered, shocked from what happened. No response.
Weakly, Slyther was able to slither over to Harry, and almost flinched as another branch from the Whomping Willow swung forward, fortunately missing them.
Please, Slyther said, hoping that Snape wasn't blocking his voice out. Just come to the Whomping Willow. Harry, he's sleeping—and not answering, he won't open his eyes, the snake tried to explain. Hopefully, Snape wasn't that mean as to not come to Harry's rescue.
-
He won't open his eyes, the snake finished. Snape frowned. Was the snake being serious? Did Potter really get himself unconscious?
"Why did you choose to get a shower at this time, Lupin?" Snape muttered. Grabbing his cloak, Snape left his quarters to go down to the Whomping Willow. The foolish things that boy got himself into.
… … …
Right here, Slyther said, relieved, as Snape approached the snake and Harry. Snape's lip curled in disgust as he surveyed the unconscious boy. Blood seeped down Harry's cheek from cuts, and his eye was turning a purple-ish blue and bruising quickly. Blood dripped from Harry's mouth like drool, and Snape just couldn't imagine the bruises that would form on the boys' stomach from the blow.
Well? Slyther demanded impatiently, what are you waiting for? Harry to jump up and yell, 'Gotcha!'? Take him somewhere to get healed!
Snape was surprised when he lifted the boy up that he was as light as a feather; possibly, even lighter. "No wonder," he muttered to himself, "with the amount you eat." Which was barely anything. He had caught Potter—as the boy was chatting away with Lupin—eat just a spoonful of potatoes, and that was nearly it.
Hey! Slyther exclaimed as he tried to catch up with Snape, wait up!
Snape didn't bother to listen to the snakes complaints as he approached the Hospital Wing.
"Oh, dear me," Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse, said, taking in a breath as she noticed Harry. "What happened to the poor boy?"
"An accident with the Whomping Willow," Snape explained briefly.
"Set him here," Madame Pomfrey instructed, pulling back a blue curtain to reveal an empty bed. Severus did as told, setting the boy on the bed. "Keep an eye on him until I return with my wand."
Finally, Slyther breathed, crawling up on the bed in which Harry lay. I made it.
"All right," Madame Pomfrey said, coming back to the bed. With a sweep of her wand, the blood from the cuts on Harry's cheek stopped, and the blood dripping from Harry's mouth stopped, too. "Oh, my," she said as the blood came again as soon as it stopped. She glanced up at Snape. "Severus, I'm going to need you to fetch me a Blood-Replenishing Potion."
Snape gave a swift, brief nod before leaving the Hospital Wing to get to his Potions classroom.
"Severus," Remus called out, jogging up to the Potions Master. "Where's Harry? Do you know?"
"Potter's in the Hospital Wing," Snape said coldly. "He was attacked by the Whomping Willow. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
"Where are you going?" Remus asked.
"I don't appreciate nosy people," Snape responded, "but, if you need to know, I'm going to get a Blood-Replenishing Potion for Potter."
"Please remember what we talked about," Remus said. "Harry didn't do anything to you." He gave Snape a look before rushing to, where Snape guessed, the Hospital Wing.
… … …
"Poppy," Snape said as he came back into the Hospital Wing. Remus was sitting by Harry, holding his hand and looking trying to wipe away some of the blood that dripped down from Harry's face with a tissue. "I have the potion."
"Excellent," Poppy said, taking the potion from Snape's hands. "He hasn't lost that much blood. But this potion will make up for the blood that he has lost," she explained. "Now, if you two can keep an eye on Potter, here, I'll go get the bruise-healing paste to apply on his bruises."
As consciousness finally consumed Harry, he moaned at the instant pain that he felt in his stomach, and his face ached. "W—where's Ember?" He asked softly, his voice hoarse.
Ember! Slyther cried out in fury, Ember! Why do you want to know where that ruddy owl is? It was I who was flung off your head! Me who could've died!
"I don't know," Remus said softly. "Probably in the Owlery."
"H—how's Slyther?" Harry asked quietly, obviously not hearing Slyther's raging cries. "Is he all right?"
"He's fine," Snape said, glaring down at the snake, who was huffing. "A bit cranky, but fine."
Hah! Cranky? You should listen to yourself! Slyther cried.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice at you, Harry," Remus said, "but this is Sirius Black we're talking about. He could've killed you, Harry. And lying to me?"
"You wouldn't of understood," Harry whispered, glancing down at the floor. "You didn't understand. You won't even listen to me. Sirius is innocent. And he didn't kill me, did he?"
"No," Remus said softly. "But he still could've. You've got to be more careful. Harry, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to inform—"
"No," Harry cried, sitting up abruptly. He yelped out in pain, tears streaming down his face. "Ow," he whimpered.
"Lay back down," Remus said gently.
"You can't," Harry said, sniffing. "You can't tell Dumbledore about Sirius and where he's hiding." With effort, Harry lifted his hand and rummaged through his pocket before he took out a picture. He handed it to Remus. "See? Sirius gave me this for my birthday. It's a picture of my mum. She's pretty, isn't she?"
"Yes," Remus agreed, a smile tugging at his lips as he surveyed the picture of Lily Potter.
Harry gently took the picture back from Remus and put it carefully back into his pocket. "Please don't, Remus."
"Ah, here we are," Madame Pomfrey said as she came by the bed. "This was a bit difficult for me to find. But, I found it." Harry winced as she carefully and gently rubbed the paste over his bruises. "This should heal that up."
"How long will I have to stay here?" Harry asked quietly, shivering under the coldness of the paste.
"Until you get better, that's for sure," Madame Pomfrey said before once again leaving.
The room was filled with an eerie, uncomfortable silence until Harry spoke up. "It's all your fault that Remus is going to tell Dumbledore about Sirius," He said to Snape. "Why did you have to break your promise?"
"Harry, it's not his fault," Remus said gently, brushing the hair away from Harry's face.
"It is!" Harry cried. "He told you! He promised he wouldn't."
"Potter's right," Snape said thoughtfully, "it is my fault. If I hadn't of told you, you wouldn't be going to Dumbledore now telling him that Black is hiding out in the Shrieking Shack. Right, Potter?"
Harry just glared at the man, not in any hurry to reply. With one last look, Snape muttered a, "feel better," and left, his cape (as usual) billowing out behind him.
"How does he do that?" Harry asked Remus.
"Do what, Harry?"
"Make his cape go out behind him when he walks?" Harry asked, wincing as his he felt another jolt of pain from his bruises.
Remus chuckled. "It's a mystery, Harry."
"I don't like him," Harry said, glaring at the spot where Snape stood. "He told me that he wasn't going to tell you about Sirius. He lied to me."
"Oh, Harry," Remus sighed, "be thankful that Severus told me when he did. Sirius Black is a dangerous murderer."
"No, he's not," Harry debated, and found himself too weak to argue with Remus. "I want to go to sleep now. Can you leave please?"
"An excellent idea," Madame Pomfrey spoke up. "Potter needs his rest."
"All right," Remus reluctantly agreed. "I'll come back when you've had a rest, okay?" Harry nodded in reply, stifling a yawn.
"Leave Slyther here, okay?" Remus nodded, ruffling Harry's hair affectionately before he left the Hospital Wing.
Are you feeling all right? Slyther inquired.
"I'm sore," Harry said. "I forgot that the Whomping Willow comes…alive. I was real stupid to forget that."
Just rest, Slyther said. Feel better when you wake.
"I hope Remus doesn't tell Dumbledore," Harry yawned. "I just—yawn—hope he doesn't…"
What did I just tell you? Slyther demanded. If you want to feel better, go to sleep!
Harry sighed and closed his eyes, surprising himself as he fell into a deep, agonizing sleep.
-
A/N: So, I'm here, sitting at my computer desk and just mourning the deaths of three of my favorite characters in the HP series. I won't say anything else for those of you who haven't finished DH yet... but I have a feeling everyone's read OoTP already, so one of the three deaths I've been mourning is, of course, Sirius.
Just a question, but did those of you who HAVE read DH find that it sort of resembled fan fiction, especially the last epilogue part of the book? Or is that just me? Maybe it is... but that's just my opinion. Thanks.