Chapter 7- The Dark Lord Returns
Minerva joined them in the kitchen when the smell of roasted chicken drifted into the living room and woke her up. She attempted to keep composure but couldn't help but blushing when Severus smirked knowingly at her.
After a quiet dinner Harry went straight to bed, exhausted from the rather emotionally- draining day. Minerva and Severus stayed in the kitchen and waited until they heard Harry settling into bed before they started their conversation. Severus cast a silencing spell just in case.
He sighed, feeling as if the effects of his brief sleep had suddenly been erased. Minerva pulled out the news from that day and showed it to him. Severus didn't read past the headline which proclaimed in bold letters, "The Boy Who Lived Taking You-Know-Who's Place as the Next Dark Wizard of the Century."
"This is ridiculous," Severus muttered darkly pushing the paper away with a disgusted look on his face. "The boy is only ten; he's hardly dark lord material."
Minerva looked grim, "Well you did see what he was capable of."
Severus looked up at her sharply, "You believe this utter nonsense? I thought you had better reason than that."
"I wouldn't have offered to help if I thought he was turning into the next Voldemort," she replied coolly, watching as Severus rubbed his left arm subconsciously. "But you have to admit- a show of that much power in a child his age…" She trailed off giving him a meaningful look.
"I know," Severus admitted tiredly. "But the Ministry would never be able to understand that he was acting out of a place of fear. After… Voldemort, they won't take any chances."
"I agree."
"So what are we going to do?" Severus hated asking for help but he recognized that this one was far above his capabilities.
"I think Dumbledore should be contacted."
"No," Severus spat out, suddenly finding himself standing, "No I won't let him near Potter."
Minerva looked at him calmly, despite the rage written over his face. "He's changed you know."
"No one can change that much," Severus retorted bitterly.
Minerva gauged him for a moment and then started carefully. "I think you're letting your emotions get the better of you. This is no longer about you and what occurred between the two of you those many years ago. If you truly care about Harry…"
"You're implying that I don't care about the boy?" Severus didn't notice the cabinets starting to rattle violently as anger tore through him. "I risked my life to bring him here and now you suggest to bring in the very man that almost ended it? You're blind Minerva, he has you as brain washed as the rest of them, he doesn't give a shit about anyone except himself and the sooner you realize that…"
Suddenly a searing pain in Severus's left arm cut off his rant. He let out a gasp as his dark mark burned angrily against his skin. Somehow he knew exactly what that meant. He ignored Minerva's questions of what was wrong and charged out of the room.
As soon as he passed through the doorway, out of the reach of the silencing spell he heard the screams splitting the air. How could he have been so stupid to not realize that silencing spells kept sound out as much as they kept it in? He burst into the door, to find Harry writhing in the sheets, his hand pressed against his scar as the inhuman screams of agony tore from his mouth.
Severus wanted nothing more than to run to the boy, but he had seen what happened when someone touched Harry while he was in this state. "Harry," he shouted, "Harry wake up, it's just a dream." Except it wasn't.
Severus watched hopelessly as none of his calls made it to Harry. He barely caught Minerva as she hurdled through the door, desperately trying to get to Harry. She turned to Severus with a wild look in her eyes, grabbing her wand as if preparing to hex him. "Minerva, you can't, he's too scared."
Her eyes darkened with realization and she turned back to the boy whose mouth was open in a silent scream, his face contorted in pain. "Get Dumbledore," Severus snapped at Minerva and she disappeared with a crack.
"Harry, Harry it's okay I'm here," Severus said, suddenly wishing that Harry was still screaming- anything was better than the sickening silence that had fallen over the room. "Harry, wake up."
Severus took back his wish as Harry suddenly started screaming once again. This time he shouted out words. "No, not my parents, please no."
"Harry, snap out of it, it's not real, please." Suddenly bright green eyes met him through the dark and Harry let out a startled shout. Then he threw himself at Severus, wrapping his arms around his neck as he buried his head in his cloak, sobbing heavily.
"He's back," Harry choked out brokenly.
"I know," Severus said quietly, rubbing his back soothingly as he stared blankly out the window into the sleeping world that had no idea who had just returned. Had no idea that its fate had just been sealed. "I know."
