AN : - Huge thanks to all my reviewers, if I didn't know you were reading along I'd long since have given up, for those of you who said you were going to look for the cello concerto I hope you found it its well worth it :)
Chapter Eight - Who art as black as hell, as dark as night
Stir
Stir
Stir
Stir
Stir
A bubble rose from within the liquid which had turned the perfect colour of a midwinter's sky, grey blue and filled with white streamers of bubbles that could be clouds or the jet streams of dragons. It was hypnotic watching the changing colour feeling the spoon sliding through the liquid seeing the delicate trails left behind and smelling the potion fumes, lavender and old fashioned lemonade.
"Its boiling" his own voice quiet and detached, he liked it that way, perhaps learning to be more detached was the answer to his problems, yes that and figuring out exactly when it was he'd gone crazy.
A long fingered pale hand flickered into his vision and a fall of dark petals shimmered onto the surface of the potion "Keep stirring" the voice in his ear was dark toned and quiet; there and gone in an instant. Nothing like the Snape of his classes….. class, that had been where it all started.
Slicing hellebore one eye on the knife the other on Snape, watching him stalk around the room, he could see where Ginny got the idea that he could be attractive there was a certain grace there, and he had a voice that could probably melt chocolate, but the man sucked at personal grooming and Merlin the attitude. Tall dark and dangerous, Harry shook his head, give him bright and uncomplicated any day….
Liar
His hand faltered on the knife, the voice curled around him like a snake sweet velveteen mockery of his own. It was a voice he had only know in his darkest dreams before, never in waking life
Ah precious, but you've never needed me before like you need me now.
He watched a tremor shoot through his hand making uneven slices where precise cuts had been what do you mean There wouldn't be an answer of course, he was getting as bad as Neville, talking to himself….
Harry. Harry. Harry. You know what I mean precious you're drawn to darkness its where you belong after all, drowning in darkness, surrounded by death…
A sudden whirling montage, his parents, Cedric, Sirius, people he didn't even know dying to keep him safe Hermione and Ron in pain… A sudden sharp sting cut off the images and he looked down to see that the hellebore had ended and he'd sliced the end of his finger and blood was seeping like a crimson serpent towards the potion ingredients he pulled his hand up and stuck his finger reflexively in his mouth, copper taste flooding over his tastebuds in a wave as a malevolent hiss filled his mind
Golden boy
The memory staggered him and his stirring faltered for a moment, but he managed to pick up the rhythm "What is it Harry?" that gentle dark glissando ran over his nerves like warm water numbing him for a moment "A memory" his voice trembled this time and he felt his knuckles whiten on the spoon as he tried to keep a grip on the here and now, on sanity.
"Ah" there was a world of meaning in that syllable as if Severus Snape knew all about bad memories
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Severus Snape felt chill slide down his veins, the tone of the boys voice when he spoke of memories, oh yes it was familiar to him , as familiar as his own reflection in the glass, he glanced down at the potion, a perfect sunset pink colour "Stop stirring Harry" between them they had made what, even to his exacting standards, was a perfect influenza potion.
Pulling a dipper from the wall he carefully ladled some out and gently pushed it towards Potters mouth "here, try this" his voice was carefully controlled, he owned the boy, but did Harry trust him, pink lips opened and without a question or qualm Harry sipped, and then surprised wonder crossed his face lightening the memory that had been there "It tastes like chocolate, and, and cherries" He felt a smile pull at the corner of his mouth "Not everything I make tastes bad Harry"
Green eyes met his, and for a moment time stood very still as Harry said "I know"