Hullo again! :D Thank you for the reviews, follows and favorites, it's greatly appreciated! It took me almost all day to write this chapter, but I hope it's to your liking. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me, or if you are reviewing, put it in there. A quick disclaimer: JK Rowling and her beautiful self owns all of the characters in the story, I am merely in charge of the plot and molding of the story. And without further ado: the second chapter of The Potions Masters Incubus.
The Potions Masters Incubus Chapter 3:
The sound of Snape's large strides and the swishing of his billowing robes echoed throughout the almost vacant, stone seventh floor corridor. The only thing interrupting its emptiness was the bright streaks of simmering moonlight which illuminated from the wide, open arched windows. The night was silent except for the echoing footsteps and the occasional hoot from the nocturnal owls that swept overhead freely. All the portraits were asleep and if there were other creatures prowling about the grounds, they kept to themselves. Not even the ghosts dared deserve this cloudless, peaceful night.
Though peace was all perception, because it certainly wasn't peaceful for Snape as he held his tongue painfully tight in-between his teeth, successfully suppressing the urge to growl- for what seemed like the millionth time that night- and call for the arrogant brat.
'Oh, but you may not call him that, though you speak the truth. Because you promised the dear old headmaster you would play nice with his Gryffindor Golden Boy.' Severus glared daggers into the pitch black midnight air.
He peered around, looking for movement besides his own or a small shadow, but instead noticed that he had once again passed the headmasters stone Gargoyle. He let out a heavy groan. He'd passed the Gargoyle for what seemed like a hundred times in the one hour he'd been searching for the little demon.
'Literally, now.' Severus noted, but somewhat scowled at his own mental note
'That was harsh, even for you, Severus.' The thought of Dumbledore's disappointed voice stopped Snape in his tracks. He leaned up against one of many stone pillars in the middle of the long hallway, across from the stone chiseled Gargoyle and breathed out a deep sigh and ran cold fingers through his night-like long hair.
Severus Snape was a man who cared little- if at all- of people's perception of him. Especially his students' perception. He knew they called him 'The Dungeon Bat of Hogwarts' and, while he didn't think the title was very original or in the least bit amusing, it was a title he prided himself on. He didn't believe in the coddling of children and instead had developed a firm belief that a good dose of fear was healthy for children when dealing with adults or higher authority. If that fear escalated into bitter loathing- well then he considered to have finished a job well-done.
He knew some his students' resentment was in partly due to a deeply ingrained paranoia of Death Eaters and former Death Eaters, which was so greatly bestowed upon the students by their parents, and really had no connection to his words or actions, though he knew both could be equally crude. Especially when dealing with the Potter boy.
"He's lost more than you know and he is more than you know."
Dumbledore's words bounced around in his head, though he couldn't fathom the meaning behind them. While Severus would never- even under the influence of the Imperius Curse, admit or make any inclination of such a thing, he knew Potter had had his fair share of losses. Growing up without the support of a mother and father was more than enough to birth emotional issues. And, drawing from the small amount of memories he'd seen of Potter's during Occulemency lessons in fifth year regarding Privet Drive, his "home" life had not been what he'd wanted to believe and probably only aided the boys trauma. Deaths? Of course the boy had seen a few of those. This was war with the Dark Lord after-all. Nobody was expecting a meadow full of daisies and buttercups.
But, until recent events, everything seemed to be going swimmingly for the boy wonder. Deducting house points for excessive rule breaking, obnoxious laughing and detentions almost every week because of petty pranks he'd participated in with the helping hands of the Weasley Twins. He'd noticed a slight change in the Potter boy's attitude towards his two friends, the younger Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger, but it wasn't such an unfriendly change, so his waved at it dismissively.
Severus once again exhaled deeply, refusing to put the strain on his mind for any longer. He looked at the stone Gargoyle.
"Do you know where Potter has gone off too?" He surprised himself with how calm his tone was, only holding minor annoyance.
"Now you think to ask me? You've only passed me ten times." The Gargoyle said mockingly.
Severus's eyebrow twitched. Calmness faded and was being replaced with the all-too-familiar feeling of annoyance building in his stomach. "I would appreciate if you could keep comments to yourself or I might just have to get a hammer and chisel." The Gargoyle stayed silent, obviously not doubting his threat, and so he continued. "I repeat, do you know where Potter has gone off too?"
The Gargoyle stayed silent for a minute longer before muttering the answer. "He's retrieved to the dungeons I believe."
Severus only nodded to show he had acknowledged what the Gargoyle had said, but gave no thanks. He immediately turned and headed for the seventh floor stairwell with a low growl. Why had Potter not just waited for him outside of the headmasters' office? Was that too much to ask of an impatient brat?
Severus hurriedly passed the snoring pictures and nodded to some of the passing ghost before wrapping his arm around the handle that led to the dungeons. He heard some whimpering coming from behind the closed door. He halted.
'Was Potter crying?' Severus stood shocked. All previous feelings of annoyance left him instantly.'Well isn't tonight just the night for groundbreaking experiences. There is a lion crying in a serpents den.'
Severus hesitated for a moment before opening the large wooden door slowly, and wide watery ivory eyes instantly met him. Severus's breath hitched. His heart plummeted. All previous feelings of annoyance fled him instantly as he stared into the green orbs. They held such…agony and sadness. They were no longer the innocent eyes of his long deceased friend. They were the eyes still childlike, yes. But they had been forcefully molded into a mans. They were the eyes of a child who had seen too much in his short time of existence on the earth.
"Harry…" Severus mumbled and Harry instantly cowered, clutching his hands over his point ears that were enclosed in dark yellow horns in fear. His tail curled around his body and his wings seemed to shrink. The older man blinked, in both shock and curiosity. He crouched down beside the shivering boy and hesitant grabbed Potters hand. Harry gasped and his head flew back to meet Snape's eyes, which were currently transfixed on the smaller boys hands. The used-to-be pale white fingernails had turned a dark grayish color, and grown significantly longer, with a more curved end- much like the talons on the back of Potters wings. The whimper of pain from the boy pulled him out of his trance.
"Where does it hurt?" He whispered softly. Despite what most of his students believed- he wasn't a complete heartless bastard that didn't shed a scrap of sympathy for his students. His sympathy was extremely rare, but he did care about the general well being of his students.
"I-I-" Harry tried to stutter a sentence but cringed again, the lava returning to burn the rest of his being.
Severus didn't make a snide remark, instead he grasped Harry's hand tighter with one hand and forced the boy to look at him with the other. Harry's eyes couldn't open, too encaged by the pain but he did feel the faint trace of fingers cupping his face.
"Point to where it hurts, Harry." He said gently and the hand that he'd been holding moved slowly. He instantly released it and watched as it pointed shakily to his mouth.
Snape nodded. "May I please see?"
Harry stayed still and silent for a moment more before nodding his head once. There was stillness for a moment more, but Snape waited patiently. The muscles around Harry's mouth shook violently as he went against the instinct to snap his mouth shut. When it was open enough, Snape leaned in to inspect the source of the problem.
Some of Harry's front teeth were no longer their straight selves, and instead were pointed.
"Fangs." Snape stated. He pulled himself and Harry up in one quick motion and Potter's eyes were once again open and wide, staring at Snape in pure shock. Snape didn't answer. They quickly swept through the dungeon, or more so, Snape pulled Harry through the dungeons. They stopped in front of a large portrait with a sleeping man in it. Harry cringed. His wings flapped nervously and his tail hung low. He was almost positive Snape was going to make him into some potions experiment.
"Glacier Vines" Snape bellowed at the portrait, successfully startling him. Severus glared impatiently at the portrait and it immediately swung open. Snape pulled Harry inside his quarters before unclothing him and storming into what appeared to be a storage room. Harry cringed a bit and his arm throbbed as the strong hand let go. He looked around the room. He was standing in the middle of the sitting room, judging by the one large navy blue armchair in front of him, accompanied by a nightstand which held one stained-glass lamp. Two sets of large mahogany bookcases stood on either side of the room. His eyes widened as he glanced at each of the shelves- filled to the brim with books. He blinked a couple times before turning. He was greeted with a open, welcoming stone fireplace. On the mantel there were even more books. If Harry's mouth wasn't in so much pain, he would have smiled. He moved closer to the fireplace.
"Sit." Came the commanding voice behind him. His body stiffened and he slowly looked slowly at his potions professor. His face was completely stoic, just as he had intended it to be. Both of his hands were held two different vials of potions. The right held a light red potion and the left held a violet potion, with little tints of green. He heard his professor release a low growl.
"Sit, Potter or are you deaf?" Harry peered down at the carpet as he made his way to the armchair hastily, noticing the carpet was a crimson red. He clutched his knees as he sat and felt the presence of Snape quickly make his way towards him.
"I expect you to drink every drop of both of these, do you understand, Potter?" Snape held out the violet, green-tinted one first. Before Harry could raise an eyebrow, Snape gave the potion a description. "It's a pain numbing potion, or are you not in severe pain anymore?" He grasped the vial with both hands and looked up. Snape simply raised an eyebrow, daring him to drink it.
Harry did. It tasted like soap and muggle cough medicine. He belched at the taste. Snape sneered. "Well what were you expecting? Bubblegum?"
He reached his hand out for the next vial, choosing to ignore the remark. Snape gave it to him but as he put it to his lips, Snape coughed to stop him.
"Do not drink it until I say." And he swept out of the room. Harry didn't bother questioning his professor about where he was going, too overcome with relief as he felt the lava in his mouth lose temperature rapidly. His lips twitched into a pained smile. His tongue swept over his newly molded teeth. Sharp. His tongue quickly retrieved, afraid of the possibility of cutting it and receiving more pain. His eyes closed for a moment as he waited Snape's return.
Five or so minutes later, Harry's head perked up as his nose caught the scent of his favorite tea. Spiced Chai. Sure enough, Snape came into the room carrying a tray with two cups of tea, a small pot of milk and a bowl of sugar cubes. He set the tray on the nightstand before picking up a book from the library, setting it on the crimson carpet, and transfiguring it into another matching navy blue armchair with a flick of his wand. He took another book and transfigured it into a small oak coffee table in the middle of the two arm chairs. Harry was mildly surprised, but watched silently. Snape took the tray and set it in the middle of the coffee table. He gestured towards the cup nearest to Harry and he took the cup into his hand, allowing his hand to be warmed by the heat radiating from it. He shivered. It was only then that he realized how cold it was.
'Well it is the dungeons.' Harry thought.
Snape seemed to notice the shiver, because Harry heard the starting crackle of the fire. He lifted his head and Snape was casually picking up his teacup, smelled the aroma and smiled. Harry's eyes widened.
'Since when did Snape smile?'
Harry immediately felt stupid afterwards, and he looked down, his face flushed in embarrassment.
'Of course Snape smiles, dimwit.'
He looked up at his professor again after a moment, seeing him pour a small amount of milk and one sugar cube into his drink. Harry followed the movements. The moments passed quietly, both men watching the crackling fire and enjoying their sweet tasting, late-night tea. Harry was near done with his tea, his head and eyes nodding off as sleepiness washed over him Once his drink was done, he placed it back on the tray.
"Do you want more?" Snape inquired. Harry's covered his both, stifling a yawn and shook his head quickly. Snape then lifted himself off from the armchair and silently took the tray away. Harry looked into the fire. Watching the embers fickle and dance around.
He smiled softly. 'This is nice…' He thought as sleep wrapped itself around him.
Severus returned into the room and saw Potter asleep, his black tail curling around his body like a blanket. Snape smirked. He quickly transfigured the coffee table back into a book and placed it back on the shelf. He looked at the boy again, he shivered slightly and Severus rolled his eyes as he transfigured the added armchair into a wool blanket. Harry's lips twitched and his body nuzzled the blanket, accepting its heat. Severus nodded approvingly. He notice the vial of crimson potion on the nightstand.
"I guess you won't be needing this." He took the vial into his slender hands and went to put it back into storage. When he returned, he crossed the room to turn off the lights, deciding to keep the fire on. He looked at the dark-haired boy again.
"Good night, Potter." He whispered.
Before retiring into the comfort of his rooms.
:D I hope you enjoyed it guys, I enjoyed writing the ending.
(I dunno how the updating thinger works, but if you guys can see that I've updated a chapter, here is why I did: I've made a gio-mistake, at least in my opinion. I've always thought ivory was green, but apparently it's white. Why I thought ivory was green my whole life, I have no frackin idea. Perhaps it's because the only time I ever heard of ivory was 'the ivory laced forest' which to me, just made sense that it would be green. Either way, I'll be updating all the chapters to change this mistake. If you come across it, would you be so kind as to message me and tell me where it is is? God I feel like an idiot at the moment. THANK YOU PERSON WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION!)
~ Rising Nightengale