Chapter Twenty-eight
"Severus?" Harry said the next morning with a weak yawn. He still felt a dull pain from his stomach, but tried to ignore it.
Snape was, as the night before, sitting on the side of Harry's bed.
"Feeling better?" Snape asked as Harry picked his glasses up and put them on.
"A bit. How did my glasses end up on the bed? I don't remember taking them off."
"I came in during the night to check on you," Snape explained. "You were asleep, so I took your glasses off and placed them next to you. I'm surprised you didn't crush them in the night."
Harry managed a weak smile. "Can you answer some questions for me, Severus?" He asked, looking at Snape. "About last night?"
Snape nodded his head, giving Harry a sign that he would. So Harry started. "How did I end up wherever I was… with…?"
"It was the memory potion, I expect," Snape replied. "Instead of letting you remember the specifics of the dream, it brought you back there. But you didn't wake like you normally would. It was almost as if you were physically standing in that particular spot, but were also in the chair in my office asleep."
Snape eyed Harry's clueless expression. "Am I confusing you?"
"N—no," Harry said, giving his head a small shake. "No, I think I got you. How did I end up here, in the hospital wing, and why am I not dead yet? And… how was I able to wake up?"
Snape sighed, shifting his position. "Well, when I noticed you bleeding—very badly, might I add—I brought you to the hospital wing. Poppy was able to bandage you up and stop the bleeding, that's why you're not dead. I have to admit, I didn't know whether you'd wake up or not," he explained, "but, as I'm talking to you now, you did."
Harry nodded slowly. "I see."
"Now, can I ask you some questions about last night?"
Harry looked surprised, but nodded. Snape continued. "Who exactly was there with you? Do you remember?"
"A bit," Harry replied. "I—it was the parchment man."
Snape's brow furrowed. "The 'parchment man'?" He repeated cluelessly.
Harry smiled. "That's what I call him. But I think his name was Quirrel, and… and—the 'Dark Lord'."
"How can that be?" Snape said quietly, more to himself than to Harry. "You defeated him… that's not possible…"
"Then you think I'm lying?" Harry said in surprise, and Snape looked up at him.
"Did you hear me say that?"
"Well, if you don't think that that's 'possible', what do you think happened?"
Snape wasn't able to reply, since a cheerful voice interrupted their conversation.
"Oh, good," Aureus's voice said cheerfully from the hospital wing doorway. She walked towards Harry's bed, a buoyant expression placed on her face. "You're awake, Harry! I was hoping you would be."
She gave Snape a somewhat forced smile as she approached the two. "I had to be sure to come visit you before my class started," she explained to Harry. "Anyways, I promised! And Topaz Aureus never breaks her promises."
Harry nodded slowly, unsure of how to react. "Erm—that's… nice."
Aureus smiled, and then frowned. She reached over and pushed Harry's bangs up. "Those darn bangs are always getting in your eyes, aren't they? You really should trim them, dear." She kept her hand on Harry's forehead, his bangs still pushed up. "You're scar, love… looks painful. Ooh, and it's bleeding some too." Aureus searched her pockets and finally pulled out a tissue, dabbing Harry's forehead with it.
"Is that better, dear? Oh, yes, I suppose," Aureus said, answering her own question.
Harry looked at the DADA Professor awkwardly before turning his eyes to Snape pleadingly. "So, er, Severus—"
"Yes," Snape said, interrupting Harry and looking at Aureus. "I suppose you should leave for your class now, Aureus?"
Aureus narrowed her eyes at Snape. "You know, I was surprised to read in the Daily Prophet of your adopting Harry. Is it true?"
Snape kept a cool expression, staring Aureus in the eyes. "I really suppose you should go to your class now. You wouldn't want to be late on your first day… would you?"
Aureus raised her chin, turning away from Snape and smiling dearly down at Harry. "I'll be back, love, I promise. You just stay in bed and rest. Would you like it if I asked Dumbledore to bring you in something to eat?" Without waiting for an answer, she gave Snape a cold glare before turning around and stalking out of the hospital.
"Do you know her?" Harry asked.
"Not that well," Snape said. "But I don't want to get to know her any more than I already do."
Harry shook his head. He couldn't get over the DADA teacher—love? Harry couldn't believe she actually called him that.
"You know, I really hope she doesn't come visit me again," Harry said to Snape. "Unless you're here with me, then I could care less. But if she came, and you're not here—" Harry shuddered.
"Well, speaking of not being here," Snape said, getting up. "I have a class to get to myself."
"You'll be back later, though, won't you?" Harry asked quickly, and Snape said 'Yes' over his shoulder as he walked out of the hospital wing.
-
True to what Aureus suggested, Dumbledore did come into the hospital wing with a bowl of soup for Harry to eat sometime during the late morning. He was relieved to find that Aureus hadn't visited him yet, and he was also pleased when Draco showed up.
"I told Father to bring me here so I could see you," Draco explained. "I can only stay a minute, but it's in the Daily Prophet what happened. Are you OK?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think I'll live. How did that end up in there? That just happened last night."
Draco shrugged, and placed the Prophet (which he had in his hands) in Harry's lap. Harry picked it up, and read the page Draco was talking about. Sure enough, there in huge letters was the title, and underneath was the article.
"Whoever wrote this got it all wrong," Harry said after he skimmed the first few paragraphs. "I didn't 'drastically (is that how you pronounce it?) plunge the jewel encrusted knife in my stomach because I couldn't bare the life I was leading without my deceased parents by my side, and I was becoming too doleful (is that how you pronounce it?).' It wasn't even jewel encrusted, and I don't even know what 'doleful' means!" Harry threw the Prophet down by the end of the bed and shook his head.
"This is all messed up," Harry said, frowning as he looked at the Daily Prophet. "And… it's too complicated to explain, but that's really not what happened!" He insisted, and Draco nodded.
"Okay, I believe you. I better go, sorry for the short visit. Father's probably waiting for me… I'll see you later."
Harry watched Draco leave the hospital wing, and fell into a silence. He couldn't believe what they had wrote about him. Trying to kill himself because he was 'depressed about how his parents were deceased'? It made him sound… crazy.
Harry (with difficulty) sat up and reached over to pick up the Prophet and see who the writer was.
"Oh, Harry! Don't hurt yourself!" Aureus cried as she ran into the hospital wing. She gave Harry a look before picking up the Daily Prophet. "Oh, dear, don't do that. You were in pain, I could tell. Next time, if you want something, don't hesitate to ask." She passed Harry the Prophet.
"You weren't here," Harry pointed out, holding onto the paper.
"Well, still," Aureus said, putting her hair behind her ears. "What did you need the paper for, love?"
Harry gave Aureus an odd look, before turning away and scanning the Prophet for a name. Rita Skeeter. Of course!
"Oh, dear, what do you know?" Aureus said, looking at Harry's forehead. "That scar of yours is bleeding again. Wait here until I find something—" She broke into a fit of giggles. "Well, silly me, of course you'd have to wait there! Where else could you go in your condition?" Walking away to find something to wipe the blood away from Harry's scar, Harry was thankful that Aureus was gone for now.
Where are you? Slyther asked. I haven't seen you since forever!
Slyther? Harry said back, surprised. He forgot about that snake. You don't know where I am?
That greasy human wouldn't tell me! Last night he just came in, I asked him where you were, he wouldn't answer and then went into his room and slammed the door in my face! I tried asking the greasy human just a while ago, but all he said was, "I'm trying to teach a class you... mean old... ugly snake!" and then that was it. I think he blocked me out, like SOME people I know!
I'm in the hospital wing, Harry explained. And I doubt Severus said that about you, Slyther.
What? What happened? Are you all right? Was it that tree again?
No, no, Harry replied. I'll explain when you come.
Well, I'm not that far, Slyther responded. I can see the door. But open it for me, will you? It's closed.
I don't think I— Harry cut himself off. He should at least try sometime or other to walk. All right. Tell me when you're there.
Harry peered around the curtain, hoping Aureus wouldn't come to him anytime soon.
All right, Slyther said finally. I'm here.
Harry took in a deep breath, pushing the covers off of him. Slowly, he turned around, setting his feet on the ground. His legs trembled as he stood on them, and he did everything to ignore the pain in his stomach. Not believing how slow he was to reach the door, Harry finally grasped onto the handle and opened the door.
Wha—
Slyther's voice was cut off as Harry fell to the floor, his arms wrapped around his stomach.
"Ow," Harry moaned, looking down as his bandages started to absorb a fresh round of blood. Slyther crawled up on his lap.
If you told me what your condition was, I wouldn't of made you walk up and open the door! Really, be more sensible!
A shriek from Aureus caused Harry to snap his head up. The woman rushed towards him, completely oblivious to the snake that Harry had weakly grasped onto.
"Oh my god! What are you doing up? You should be in bed!" Aureus grabbed onto Harry's arm and pulled him to his feet, but she shrieked again as she noticed Slyther in Harry's hands. She let go of Harry's arm, causing him to topple down on the floor again.
"Good grief!" Poppy Pomfrey, the mediwitch, exclaimed as she caught a glimpse of Harry falling over. She rushed over to Harry's aid, glaring at Aureus. "You're a Professor!" Poppy said in an angry tone. "When you visit one of my patients I expect you to be gentle with them; not throw them on the ground!"
Harry moaned as Poppy led him over to his original bed and helped him lay down. Slyther was still curled around his hand.
"Snake!" Aureus shrieked, looking horrified as she looked at Slyther. "Y—you've got a snake on you!"
"I know," Harry said weakly as Poppy helped him onto the bed. "He's mine."
"Ooh, dear," Poppy said, taking in a breath as she saw Harry's soaked bandages. "We should put some more bandages on you, shouldn't we, Potter? I should ask Professor Snape for a Blood-Replenishing Potion, as well…"
Poppy glared at Aureus briefly. "Now, if you'll excuse me while I find him, I would appreciate it if you keep an eye on my patient and do not let him get up."
Aureus nodded as Poppy walked away. Cautiously, she looked at Harry. "Y—you should really get rid of it."
Harry looked shocked. "Get rid of Slyther? Why? He's my friend."
"Well—well all right," Aureus said slowly. "Whatever you say, dear."
Harry nodded uncertainly, and looked up as the doors opened and Poppy, along with Snape, walked up to him.
"Poppy told me what happened," Snape said, and Harry noticed Poppy had the Potion in her hand. "Are you all right?"
"And you, Severus Snape, care?" Aureus said, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise.
Snape turned his head towards her slowly, his eyes narrowing in a glare. "You care about that why, Aureus?"
"Well," Aureus started, putting her hands up innocently. "I mean, with your little 'disagreements' with Harry's father… His real father—"
"I think you should leave," Harry spoke up quietly, while Poppy handed him the Potion. He didn't dare get in eye contact with the DADA Professor.
"What?" Aureus's voice sounded surprised.
"I—I think you should leave," Harry repeated, quieter than before. "J—not to be rude, but—"
"I couldn't agree more," Snape said coolly, and Poppy was sensible enough to keep her opinion to herself.
Instead, she said, "Just sip the Potion, Potter. It'll return some of the blood you lost. Excuse me while I get some bandages."
Aureus, her face expressionless (though her eyes reflected hurt) gave a swift nod and a forced smile. "Of course, Harry, dear. Whatever you want." She extended her hand and pushed his hair back, and Harry was shocked as she leaned in. Like she was going to kiss the top of his head or something.
"Soon, Harry," Aureus whispered in Harry's ear. As Aureus straightened up, Harry widened his eyes in surprise.
"E—excuse me?"
Aureus smiled. "Such a polite little thing, aren't you, love? Yes, well, I should go." Putting her hair behind her ears and then patting it down, she smiled at Harry before leaving.
"What did she say to you, Harry?" Snape asked warily as he watched Aureus leave.
Harry shook his head, he himself confused at what Topaz Aureus had said. "I… don't know." He shook his head, taking a gulp of the potion.
Poppy soon returned with the bandages, and instructed Harry to take his shirt off. "She's gone, is she?" Poppy said as she started took Harry's blood-soaked bandages off and applied the new ones. "Good," she muttered.
Harry, is brow furrowed as he still tried to decipher what Aureus had meant, leaned back against his pillow as he put his shirt back on.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Snape asked, interrupting the silence.
Harry glanced up, nodding in an assuring way. "Fine. Just tired," he lied.
Snape didn't look convinced, but let it go anyway. "All right, then. I should go." Harry nodded. He forgot that Snape still had classes to teach. "I'll be back soon, though," he promised.
Are you positive that you're okay? Slyther asked after Snape had left.
"Fine," Harry said with an unconvincing laugh. He couldn't be honest to Slyther, since Snape was most likely listening into their conversations.
But he couldn't help but wonder what Aureus meant by, "Soon, Harry." Was it a threat… or a warning?
-
A/N: Well, there's the last chapter for today! Next three will be up tomorrow. Oh, and this question has been bugging me for a while: While two Houses are at a Quidditch match (say like Gryffindor and Slytherin or something) the other two Houses, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, where are they? Do they watch the matches too? Thanks to anybody who can answer! -