*Snape walks in with a -foul- expression, carrying her and dropping her in the armchair* I'm better from my cold, but now my bad knee protests. Do you see a pattern here? *Snape hands her coffee* However, the perfect mood for what I am about to write hehe.
I am glad my Sirius wasn't blatantly off. And I am over 300 reviews!! *parties* thank you SO VERY MUCH!
*Snape clears throat* Also, my companion here reminds me that I have an announcement to make: This little fic here is going to be translated in French by Catherine! Cool! (cos I could never be bothered to do it) hehe. Look for it, all those that feel more comfortable with that language. And a BIG APPLAUSE TO CATHERINE!
ok. Chapter 12. *hits play*
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Snape apparated in the non-descript, mouldy house that dark gatherings were taking place when they did not involve large numbers of muggles. He looked around, feeling the hot puffs of his breath spreading beneath his mask. His heart always pounded like a rabbit's when he was among true Death Eaters-- it always had ever since he returned to them after a meeting with an old wizard with a long white beard. Today was no different.
Nor was there any reason for anything else to be different.
Tom Riddle was sitting in his large armchair-- this throne, as many had taken to calling it, and was watching the cloaked figures gather up. Snape noticed that there were only about three or four besides himself there. Not everyone was summoned to this. Snape's brow furrowed. What was so special about tonight that not all Death Eaters should be privy to?
"My loyal Death Eatersss..." Tom drew out the s's again, and Snape felt a shiver down his spine-- that was never a good indication.
"This is a gathering only for my besst... and mosst loyal followerss... feel priviledged." Tom drawled, and everyone bowed and said their thank yous in unison, with as much gusto as they could muster over their uneasiness.
"Ssseverus.... my loyal Potionsss Master...." Tom turned his gaze to Snape as he stepped forward, his heart beating so fast he was afraid the dark lord would hear.
"My Lord."
The Cruciatus hit Snape so hard and fast he was at first too surprised to feel it. What had happened? Why was he being punished? Had he been called to die?
Then the pain kicked in and all thoughts brushed away in one great wave of suffering. Snape screamed, the mask falling off his face, and stopped only when he was dropped on the floor. The rest of the Death Eaters were looking on, stunned, and somewhat scared. Were they all going to go through what Snape was?
"You betrayed me, Ssseveruss..." Voldemort said, and Snape's blood froze to the point he did not feel the after effects of the Cruciatus.
"No my Lord. Never." he said, trying to get to a kneeling position.
Vainly. The Cruciatus hit him again, and Voldemort nodded for the rest of the Deat Eaters to join. Relieved that they were there not to be tortured, but to torture, the Death Eaters complied, to the point that Snape's scream could not contain the man's agony, and therefore faded. Blood came from the potions master's mouth, and nostrils, his eyes rolled back into his skull and the convulsions became so dramatic that bones were heard protesting.
Then, the curse was let up.
"Make him able to talk." the cold voice ordered from far away, and some charm gave Snape painful awareness that his body was wrecked and the pain had not even begun to sink in.
"You failed me, Severuss... that hurts me-- and I have to show you how much." Voldemort said silkily.
"No, my Lord... how... could ...I have done so...?" Snape asked faintly, knowing that it was best trying not to attempt debating on a subject before Tom Riddle specified it-- otherwise, it would show that he had things to hide as it was.
"What have you to report to me from Hogwarts and Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked lazily.
Snape's mind reeled with pain and horror. Had he been seen? But how? When?
Nagini hissed something to her master, and Snape's eyes flashed as he replied.
"My lord... Du-- dumbledore has ordered me to... help Potter learn to duel... sightless..." he gasped for breath, "which is... most fortunate... because... I crush his self-esteem daily... and teach him nothing of concequence... the boy will be... inept when it comes to... real battle."
"I am not sure I believe you." Voldemort said and spat out another curse. Snape screamed again as his skin burst along the veins radiating from his dark mark, rendering his left hand useless. Blood streamed down his hand and on the floor, hot and acrid.
"It... it is the truth, my Lord." Snape gasped.
"What else?" Voldemort purred.
"S...irius Black has... come to Hogwarts.. my Lord..." Snape grunted, trying to press down on his left arm but finding out that his right hand's fingers were broken in odd ways.
Voldemort nodded to himself.
"Nothing more?"
"Dumble...dore... connected... Potter to his owl... as a seeing eye familiar... the boy is... now overly dependent on the owl." Snape said, wild with hope.
Indeed, Voldemort's eyes flashed with the new piece of information that he obviously had not received.
"I see. Are you telling me the truth?" the dark lord asked, and Crucioed Snape again.
"Yes, my lord." Snape sighed when he was able to.
"Are you still loyal to me?" Voldemort smiled and spelled Snape to shoot up in the air then freefall back down again.
"Yes... my.. lord..." Snape muttered desperately.
"Even through all the pain you are feeling?" Voldemort persisted, and made Snape careen into a fireplace and onto the poker. Snape grunted and managed to say through the jumble of his words:
"You... deserve all... my ... lord..."
Voldemort straightened up.
"This is the level of loyalty I expect from all of you. Let Severus be an example to you all.
And the meeting was called done.
***
Harry moved quickly towards the infirmary, his cane barely tapping, his wand tugging him switftly towards the right direction. He did not need to know-- he had witnessed it first hand. Sirius trotted alongside him and accompanied Harry in the infirmary as Snuffles. Dumbledore was already there, and Poppy was just walking away from the bed. Harry wished he could see their expressions.
"Headmaster?"
"Oh, Harry. Did you know I was already here?"
"I heard your whisper to Madam Pomfrey, sir. Is he..." Harry said quietly.
"He is going to survive." Dumbledore assured gently, but his voice was strained, Harry could discern.
Harry nodded. Snuffles' muzzle found its way into Harry's palm, and Harry felt the emotional support that his godfather wanted to offer him. It strengthened him.
"Severus will not wake for a while, Harry, I am afraid," Dumbledore's voice was caliming although he was not giving good news, "but he had scheduled for you to go to Diagon alley for your supplies with him tomorrow. I believe he would not like you not to go."
Harry frowned.
"Sir, I don't feel ready." Harry said quietly, his fingers rubbing Snuffles' ears without thinking.
"I think you are. You will not be alone. In any case I was apprehensive about you being seen with Severus in the first place-- perhaps things are for the best the way they are. I am informed that the Weasley family will be doing their purchases tomorrow as well. Molly would love to meet you there."
"I will be seen with a cane." Harry persisted.
Dumbledore sighed.
"That will not be concealed for much longer, I am afraid, my boy. However, you do not need to use the cane if that distresses you-- I believe you hace a trusty seeing-eye dog in Snuffles. I am certain he is perfectly trained for the job." he said, his voice a little more optimistic than before. Snuffles barked once to voice his assertion. Harry had to smile.
"And if needed, I will have Sasha." Harry said, and the colourful snake hissed affectionately from around his wrist. He was not using her as his eyes-- after the nightmare he found his mind reluctant to connect to any other anytime soon. Harry got up.
"I will go get ready... and I will be back again tomorrow." the boy said, his tone implying that he would not leave so soon from the potions master's bedside.
Walking back to his room, he asked Sasha in Parseltogue:
"How was he, Sasha?"
"Very hurt, Harry... ssssuffered a lot. Ssssleeping, and bandaged."
Harry said nothing, and when later in his room Sirius asked, he did not tell him what his dialogue with Sasha had been.
Instead, he turned his attention to tomorrow's trial: Diagon Alley.
***
Molly Weasley had had enough time to control her tears and swelling emotions at the news of Harry's predicament; she had also heard Ron's feedback about how adept Harry had been, and she was rather surprised not to hear teary accounts of a terrified boy. She therefore did not know what to expect, waiting for Harry Potter along with Fred, George, Ron and Ginny to go for the annual school supplies. Ron nudged her.
"Whatever you do mom, don't sniffle. Harry hears sniffling miles away."
Fred and George had already idolised Harry's new abilities.
"D'you think we could have him test some sound pranks? You know, something like 'whisper-and-blow-up' toffee, or--"
"I will not have such talk about poor Harry from you two!" Mrs Weasley snapped at Fred who grinned at his mother sheepishly-- however, the mischevious spark did not leave either his or George's eyes.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley." came the familiar, somewhat low voice to Mrs Weasley's left, so suddenly that the whole Weasley brood jumped. Harry chuckled, and Snuffles barked in amusement as well.
"Harry, dear! I didn't hear you coming!" the witch exclaimed and hugged Harry close to her-- a hug that Harry always relished, as it was the closest to a mother's touch that he would ever get. Harry almost giggled like a child during peekaboo.
"Well, few people do, lately. I don't like to hear my own footsteps." he smiled softly as he broke off the hug and his hand tightened around the leash on Snuffles. Mrs. Weasley lost her words, now noticing the differences in the teen: his eyes, though sparkling, were unfocused and unmoving, staring at some middle distance-- the light did not make him react when it hit his face, like before. His head was subtly, slightly tilted to the side and upwards, as if poised for better listening. Fortunately, the pause in her words and actions was filled by Ron:
"Harry, mate it's so good to see you, and Snuffles, too!"
"Yes, he's helping me around-- didn't want to get Hermione's cane out here yet." Harry smiled as Snuffles wagged his tail.
"Harry, how cool, you can sneak up anywhere-- is it true you can even hear Snape coming?" George said excitedly and Harry smirked.
"Well at least Filch is not going to be a problem." he said, but he avoided any talk abot Snape. Not while the man was lying in bed struggling to keep body and soul together.
"You look great, Harry." Ginny said simply, and Harry beamed-- the simple words waming his heart effectively.
"Thanks, Gin." he said quietly again.
"Well, don't let's linger here, boys. We have shopping to do, things to tend to." Mrs Weasley had found her bossiness as well as her voice in the short time her children bought her, and successfully did not show any difference in treatment as far as Harry was concerned. Sirius was extra careful guiding Harry around, determined to be far more effective than the cane. Harry was somewhat silent, as at first the wave of sounds overwhelmed him.
To his pleasant surprise, Harry found that he had much less trouble distinguishing between sounds and he adjusted to the hubbub of Diagon Alley much faster than he had from the quiet of his room to the rest of Hogwarts castle. That realisation filled him with joy and hightened self-esteem.
"I don't need refill for Potions, I have already all that I need, curtesy of Snape." Harry said as he and the Weasleys went through their lists of school supplies. The twins leaned over Harry conspiratorily.
"You wouldn't happen to have access to Snape's stash, now would you? Or have heard him whisper his password or--"
"Eh, Snape doesn't even let me into his dungeons, much less his personal office." Harry smirked as he heard both twins exhale disappointedly.
"But don't worry, it's much easier to sneak into other secret places..." Harry added, thinking of the secret garden, and hoping he would not have to break that rule and take the terrible duo there. In any case, he succeeded in cheering the twins enough.
"Okay, now for our books." Ginny said, and Snuffles started to pull Harry towards the correct direction along with the rest. Harry bit his lip thoughtfully. Hearing Ron walking beside him, and Mrs Weasley occupied in shaking her two older sons down about their mischief, Harry leaned to the side.
"Say Ron..."
"Yes, Harry?"
"While in the bookshop, mind warning me if any kind of... eh..."
"Don't worry Harry. I'll warn you of any reporters. Hermione said you might be feeling nervous about that. None will get past us Weasleys." Ron's voice was full of the usual bravado, and Harry smiled.
"Where is 'Mione, anyway?"
"She's busy-- letting a ... certain bug go free. Under specific provisos, as she said." Ginny said in answer, and all three teens laughed upon entering the bookshop.
In choosing his books, Harry established the mind link with Sasha, to see the titles and covers and get them as efficinetly as he did before. Ron kept his distance from the colourful snake and Harry's wrist, whereas Fred and George were simply fascinated, and then asked Harry if Sasha would give them any of her poison. Sasha was vehement in her negative answer. Harry stopped the charm as soon as he was done, overtly worried that he might cause harm to his serpentine companion.
"Well, well. If it isn't Potty and the Weasels." the drawling voice was unmistakable. Harry scowled as he turned towards where it was heard. He heard Ron bristle nearby and Ginny suck in her breath, and behind him the twins shift their weight aggressively. Mrs. Weasley was busy paying for Ginny's books.
"Malfoy, you really should choose another routine. This is far too tiresome." Harry said in a staccato manner that surprised both the blonde Slytherin and the Weasleys. In fact, Draco did not know what to answer for a while, and Harry muttered 'let's go Snuffles', to exit. That brought Draco back. He sneered.
"Aw, how quaint. You got a common mongrel as a consolation present for being blinder than a bat!"
Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George and Mrs. Weasley coming with the books all froze. Snuffles turned and bared his teeth, held back only because Harry kept a strong grip on the leash. Harry smiled a smile that Ron would swear he had seen many times on the Potions Master's face.
"As a matter of fact, Malfoy, I haven't got my consolation present yet." he said flippantly, with that steely quality his voice had at times. In fractions of seconds, his wand was out. "Murkus." he grinned with the satisfaction of justice served, as the laughter erupted around him. It did not matter that he could not see how Draco's face suddenly and squarely received a large lump of mud. It sufficed that he heard the results. "Now, I can say I have gotten my consolation present." Harry said smugly, and exited before Draco could react at all.
***
Harry returned to the infirmary the same day in the afternoon. He was alone, if one excluded Sasha, permanently coiled around his wrist. He listened hard, but heard nothing more than the rythmic, gentle breathing from the bed that he was coming for. Apparently Poppy was not in the infirmary. Harry walked silently to the potions master's bedside and fingered about for the chair. When he found it, he pulled it close and sat down.
"I am not tired, Harry." Sasha hissed quietly. Harry considered it, but found he did not want to actually see Severus Snape hurt and broken, after all. He liked to keep the image of the audacious, controlled man in his mind.
"It's alright, Sasha." he hissed back and for a long time he simply heard the Potions Master breathe, trying to sort out his feelings. He had witnessed every single moment of the process that had landed Snape in the infirmary-- had felt part of his pain, although not enough. Harry's respect for his stern teacher had increased during that vision. He could not believe that Snape could undergo so much pain, suffering, fear, and not give him away, to have the clarity of mind to distort the truth to have Voldemort relax, to protect the Boy-Who-Lived so that when the time comes he would have the element of surprise on his side. Harry marvelled and felt his heart go out to the limp form he could feel laid out before him.
Without thinking, he reached out with his wand hand, the right hand which he used the most. His fingertips, touched flesh. It was not clammy, it was not repulsive. It was warm-- too warm. Perhaps the Potions Master had some fever. His fingertips travelled down the stern forehead, the aquiline nose--
"Are you having fun, Potter?" the voice was hoarse and weak, yet still silky and challenging. Harry immediately retracted his hand as if caught doing something he shouldn't. He heard Snape sneer softly.
"You are probably triumphant, aren't you... the mighty greasy bat finally down and--"
"Stop." Harry said softly, hurt by these words simply because he was given an insight he did not expect. "Please, stop, professor. I... admire you."
Snape did not expect to hear that from anyone-- much less from the Golden Boy. It sufficed to make him open his eyes and turn to look at the teen sitting in the chair. Harry was hunched, head tilted slightly forwards, his eyes alive with emotion. Snape was certain the boy was holding back tears. He was unsure, and so he said nothing. Harry continued.
"Nobody could do what you did, sir. I... am sorry I was the reason for it."
"The world does not revolve around you, Potter." Snape snapped at the boy, but his voice was almost amial.
A long silence ensued, then Harry swallowed.
"Sir..."
"Still woken up by you, Potter."
"In two days school starts."
"How perceptive of you."
"They will ask how I became... blind."
Another pause.
"Least said, soonest mended, Potter. Rely on adolescent imagination." Snape said as he shifted in bed painfully.
Harry smiled. In the rest of the half-hour that Harry stayed before Madam Pomfrey came to 'ensure the Professor's rest', nothing else was said.
Nothing else was needed.
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That's that! Upcoming chapter: September 1! Weeeee!
Phoenix Flight: Hmmm. I doubt Snape would do anything for Sirius' benefit willingly. We'll see.
Katy999: Yes, I am planning on using JK's hint about Petey's wizard debt. :) You predict well. *smiles widely* and Voldemort is not exactly keen to depend on a gryffindor, I should think.
Jordan: I hope the answer was to your satisfaction?
Lady coriel: The idea has merit...
Kaat Shadow Lover: *shares cheesecake with Snape* mmmm delicious! Yes, Voldemort knows, but he is not certain, and Snape still is the top potions brewer... and so he tries to scare him into loyalty. Sirius doesn't mind being Harry's guidedog-- he is competing with the cane. *laugh* School starts on chapter 13. And that is NOT some kind of omen. *smirks* Oh, and some more cheesecake please-- Snape ate my share. *glare at Snape*
Raging Silence22: Voldie will be much surprised when I am done with Harry. ) As for sneezing, I did-- and Snape gave me extra powerful pepper up potion. *L*
Lirael: hm. You really want me not to turn Draco bad in this one?
Zardiphillian Berillyx: *laughs* yes, it does seem to get him to his senses, no?
Mikee: Sasha has voiced that desire many times. Eventually, I may allow her. But not soon.
Melissa Lupin: Yes, there might be some point in time Snape remembers his rendez-vous with Vernon :)
Angel Baby: Harry can't save Severus at this time. Be patient. :)
sk8reagle: I don't think so. I am assuming Snape is not aware of Wormtail's existence except by word of mouth.
epholge: I promised, as close to canon as possible. I'll do what I can. :)
Kemenran: wait and see, it is in the next chapter. :)