Harry cautiously opened his door and peeked out. He gathered up his courage and stepped into the hallway. He dreaded this conversation but recognized that it would happen, sooner or later. He might as well get it over with. Better to have it on neutral ground rather than have his father search him out in his bedroom. No, he shuddered; he definitely wanted to avoid that. He remembered all too well what happened when Vernon came "looking" for him.
He saw his father sitting in an armchair staring into the fire. Harry nervously stood in the doorway, waiting for Snape to look up. Finally, Snape noticed his presence and he motioned him further into the room. Harry sat down reluctantly on the other armchair across from Snape.
The potions master stood and walked to a cabinet on the left side of the fireplace and removed a bottle of golden colored liquor. "Whiskey?" Harry looked up, startled, then gave a jerky nod. Snape poured two glasses of the liquor and passed one over to Harry. "I know that it is rather early for drinks…not even lunchtime…I just thought it might help…" Snape's words faded away once more.
Both men sat, staring into the fire, sipping their drinks occasionally. Finally, Snape spoke again. "Tell me about this spell."
Harry took a deep, steadying breath. "I got the idea my first year when I was reading a book on protection spells. The author mentioned that there was a myth, an old wives tale actually, about binding magic to animate objects in such a way that the magic could then thrive and function on its own without the caster actively feeding additional power into it. The author dismissed the possibility, claiming that no one had ever been able to actually do it successfully. I decided then and there that I would do it."
Harry's words drifted off but Snape remained silent. He would let Harry move at his own pace for this. He could not force him. "I decided upon a sort of shocking spell. A brief touch would simply feel like static electricity. A longer touch would feel like a strong dose of electricity. Continued touch would feel like a bolt of lightning." Again, Harry paused to take a sip of his drink. The pause drew out, the only sound the crackling of the fire.
"I had initially thought to use a stunning spell but I realized after a few months work on it that that would be unacceptable. If…anyone…was left stunned I would either have to reverse it myself, thereby alerting the ministry of my use of magic, or else contact Dumbledore who, as you have seen, did not support me in my efforts to protect myself."
Snape nodded. He was just now beginning to understand how deep the treachery ran. Dumbledore knew that Harry was more than just unhappy with the muggles. He knew that his uncle raped him. He knew and he didn't get Harry out of there or help him to protect himself. Hell, he didn't even support Harry's decision to protect himself.
"Is there no one who can safely touch you? Does everyone alike get shocked?"
Harry paused for a moment, clearly considering whether he wanted to confide in his father. He finally shrugged his shoulders and decided he might as well at this point. "There are two women on a sort of all clear who can always touch me. There is also an alert mode that allows me to control the shock. If I even think the code word then they will get shocked. All women are on the alert system and there are two men on the alert mode as well. All other men are on a no-touch defense."
"Who are your safe women?"
"Hermione and Poppy."
"Poppy Pomfrey?" Harry nodded and took another sip of his whiskey.
"I had thought to only include Hermione but then she and Ron reminded me that if I was unconscious that the spell would go into defense mode and anyone not on the all clear level would be completely unable to touch me. With the amount of time I spend in the hospital wing it seemed the only reasonable thing to do. Poppy has long known of what really happened at home and she kept my secrets. She knew the basics of our plan—she had seen the tattoos. I had to remove my glamours whenever I was in the hospital wing. We decided to include her in the spell."
Snape quietly thought about what Harry had said. He had chosen the women well. The Granger girl would never hurt Harry and Poppy was a good, safe second choice. As a mediwitch she was bound to protect him and keep his confidence and as a friend he knew she would never hurt him either. Plus, they had the added strength and safety of an adult. Yes, it had been well reasoned. "And the men are Dumbledore and the werewolf, I presume?"
Harry snorted. "I don't trust Dumbledore as far as I can throw him. I never have. When I received my letter addressed to the cupboard under the stairs I realized right then that he knew about my situation but chose to do nothing."
Cupboard under the stairs? He would have to return to that later. Right now he needed to focus on this spell. "And Lupin?"
"I've seen what father figures do to their sons" Harry said bitterly. Snape was again uncertain what to say.
"I may not like Lupin but he would never hurt you. He would never rape you," he said cautiously. Harry shuddered at the word.
Harry didn't comment but his eyes told Snape his complete disbelief at that statement. Snape sighed. He would work on that later too. "Who are the two men that you have included then?"
"Ron Weasley…" Harry paused and took a long sip of his whiskey presumably for strength. "And Bill Weasley."
"The oldest Weasley boy? I wasn't aware that you really knew him."
"I've known him quite well for some time now. He helped put the finishing touches on the spell."
"When did you become friends?"
Harry blushed lightly and didn't reply. "I see. How long have you been dating?"
Harry looked up, alarmed. "We aren't dating. I wouldn't do that to anyone. I wouldn't put them into that kind of danger."
"I see. How long have you two not been dating then?"
Harry looked away and started picking at the frayed edge of his shirt. "About two years."
Snape wanted to scream at the boy that Weasley was entirely too old for him but refrained from doing so. It would not do to alienate the boy now that he was actually talking to him. "Have you informed him of any of the recent proceedings, both with the muggles and with the headmaster?"
"I thought to write him a letter today and see if he could come see me over the weekend. If that is alright with you, sir."
Snape wanted to scream that no, it was damned well not fine with him. Bill Weasley had to be at least ten years older than Harry. Once again, he bit back his initial reaction. "Of course. I can send him a portkey to the manor." Harry's face lit up for the first time in Snape's memory. Perhaps it would do the boy good to see his…not-boyfriend. He nearly snorted but wisely refrained from doing so. "Why don't you go write Weasley. You might want to send a letter on to Granger and Weasley as well." Harry almost smiled at Snape's ability to somehow differentiate the Weasley boys without resorting to their names. "I'm sure they will be frantic by now, having not heard from their boy wonder in so long. We will be leaving within the hour for the manor. Pack anything you need to take with you." Although Severus' voice had its typical snarky edge it lacked any sort of malice. Harry smiled internally, not allowing it to reach his face.
Harry nodded, set his now empty glass on the table and stood to leave when Snape's voice stopped him. "Harry…I would like to make a go at being a family. I know you don't know me very well, and I'm sure you don't like what you do know of me, but I think we can make this work. I cannot entirely excuse my past behavior but you need to know that my real feelings toward you were not what I acted out in public. As a spy I could not be seen to be kind to the Boy Who Lived. And I was unwilling to explain my position to you earlier. For that, I am sorry."
Harry turned slowly and looked up at his father. His words came out softly, so softly that Snape had to strain to hear them. "I understand, sir. I figured it out during fifth year. I knew you had little choice." He quickly turned and slipped down the hall to go pack.
Snape collapsed back into his chair. Harry had known. He had been able to figure out why Snape acted as he did; yet he didn't say anything. His son was becoming more of an enigma by the minute. Leaving Hogwarts and going to the manor for a few weeks would give him the perfect opportunity to get to know him a bit, to begin to crack the shell. He sent up a quick prayer to the gods for strength. He knew the coming weeks would be difficult.
-
-
A/N: Hope this cleared up some of the questions! I've got about eight more chapters already finished but after those I am up to a bit of suggestion so if anyone has anything they would really like to see in the fic let me know and I'll try to work it in. Review!