Trust In Me
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story or added it to your alerts or favourites! Just in response to a few reviews I've received, I know this story has been very short so far, but the chapters will get longer as the story progresses. Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it; feel free to let me know what you think :D
Chapter 2
Harry followed Snape reluctantly through the castle, careful not to fall too far behind. He was curious as to where Snape was taking him, but as they started to climb down the marble staircase, he realised with a quiet groan that he was taking him to his office. For the first time since telling Harry to follow him, Snape turned to look at him and gave Harry his best glare. Oops, Harry thought to himself, cringing slightly, maybe he wasn't as quiet as he thought. The rest of the walk to Snape's office was carried out in silence, the soft shuffling of their footsteps the only sound that could be heard. As Snape opened the door to his office, Harry couldn't help feeling nervous; the only times he had been in here before was when he was in big trouble. "In." Snape commanded, holding the door open for Harry before closing it quietly. No escape now, Harry thought, clutching his hand closer to his chest. Carefully avoiding eye contact with Snape, he surveyed the room and straight away could tell that it hadn't changed much since he was last in here; the walls were still a dull, shadowy grey, and hundreds of disgusting potions ingredients lined the shelves in large glass jars. Knowing he couldn't put this off any longer, Harry turned his attention back to Snape, who was stood watching him with his arms crossed. For a moment, neither of them spoke, before Harry decided enough was enough. He was tired and he still needed to write his Transfiguration and Charms essays for the next day.
"Yes Professor?" He asked impatiently.
"Don't take that tone with me Potter!" Snape commanded.
"Sorry," Harry said, although he didn't really mean it. "Why did you want to see me Professor?" After all, he thought to himself, he could have just given Harry his punishment when he found him in the corridor. Snape considered him for a moment before pulling his wand out of his robes.
"Your hand, Mr Potter." Snape said, looking at Harry's hand for the second time that evening. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes; hadn't they done this already? Harry moved his hand in front of Snape once again, hoping this wouldn't take long. When Snape gently grabbed his hand again, Harry was surprised when he started to try to heal the wound, quietly murmuring spells Harry had never heard before under his breath. However, apart from stopping the trickle of blood that was still seeping out of the wound, nothing seemed to happen; the words I Must Not Tell Lies still remained carved into his flesh. A look of grim determination appeared on Snape's face, and he continued to cast spell after spell on Harry's hand, but Harry didn't know why Snape was even bothering; it was becoming obvious to him that the scar on his hand was here to stay.
For several minutes, the only sound was Snape's spell casting. Harry grew more and more confused as Snape worked, wondering why the man who hates him so much was trying so hard to heal his hand. Eventually Snape lowered his wand, before turning and removing one of the glass jars from the shelf. Harry watched, fascinated as Snape conjured a small bowl and began to pour some yellow liquid into the bowl, before walking in front of Harry and passing it to him. At Harry's blank expression, Snape sighed. "Sometimes your stupidity amazes me Potter. Put your hand in the bowl. This is a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it has healing qualities. It should help."
Harry flushed pink but did as he was told, before sighing with relief as the aching pain in his hand disappeared. "Thank you sir."
"Now Potter, I think it's time you explained to me how this happened."
"Why should I?" Harry said, avoiding the gaze of the potions professor, his face once again adopting his look of deep loathing that was usually reserved for Harry.
"You will treat me with respect Potter!" He snarled, his nostrils flaring in anger. "That wound on your hand was created by a Dark magical object, how did you come across it?"
"I haven't been using it for fun!" Harry yelled. "Sir." He hastily added.
Ignoring this outburst, Snape continued. "Correct me if I'm wrong Mr Potter, but you've had detention with Professor Umbridge all week, have you not?"
"Yes – sir." Harry muttered, looking down at his feet.
"What have you been doing in these detentions? I'm guessing it's not lessons in respect or anger management, both of which you are sorely lacking." Snape commented spitefully. Harry snapped his head up to look at his professor and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"I've been doing lines sir." Harry finally said.
"I suspected as much. Our new High Inquisitor no doubt provides you with some parchment and a quill?" Harry nodded, not trusting himself to comment any further on the Toad's method of punishment. "Mr Potter, for the wound on the back of your hand to be as deep as it is, you would have had to have been continuously exposed to a Blood Quill; how many detentions have you had?"
"I've had detention for 6 hours every night for the last 2 weeks." Harry said flatly. Snape sighed.
"I assume that is why your last Potions essay was even more abysmal than usual." Snape said harshly.
"It wasn't –"
"Potter, even you cannot defend the monstrosity you handed in last lesson." Several responses to this darted through Harry's mind before he decided that silence was the best option; he didn't have time for any more detentions. Snape looked at Harry once again before heading for the door of his office. "Come on Potter, I'll walk you back to Gryffindor Tower. If Professor Umbridge were to catch you out of bed, the quality of your essays would only suffer further and I don't think my head can take it."
The walk to Gryffindor Tower was awkward, neither Snape nor Harry knowing what to say to each other. Both were relieved when they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and they could finally escape each other's company.
"Thank you for the Murtlap essence Professor." Harry said hesitantly, before saying the password and entering Gryffindor Tower.
"You're welcome Mr Potter." Snape quietly said before turning and walking away. It was time to have a word with Albus Dumbledore.