Should I have a mailing list for this or start a Yahoo group or something? That way I could contact you all when I update this.
Thanks to: Alynna Lis Eachann, debz (I wouldn't do that), Yulara, selena123, Blood-Red Pearl, sesshyluver03, BlackRaven13, Katie Lupin Black (the comment on Harry's size is just my hate of the Dursleys showing through - malnutrition and all that, about the sex - look below), juliedecarson, Klondike Bar, Nichalia, thesecretcharacter, Sh'arra Rie, The Minstrel, Astrea Von Hurston, penny, Awen, Beautiful Tenshi, Snaketalker, Lydia Blue, Jimaine, Amanda Saitou, Lady Darkness13, xikum, SidheLady, SabrinaD, brokentoy19, Lady Lightning (yes! You noticed!), purple paper, rosiegirl, Hyouden, Kateri1, Arch-Nemesis, HecateDeMort, CannonFodder, Danu3, im-a-daydream-believer and kestral-girl.
Harry and Sev's sex-by-next-week thing: Remember, the attack appears to have happened early... the reason they were to have sex was to boost Harry's chances of winning in a confrontation on homeground. The question is - is there no longer a point?
Boost me up to 400 reviews and I'll love you all forever!
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CHAPTER 16
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Tenderness - a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
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Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolutions.
Kahlil Gibran
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Severus hurried to the Hospital Wing. They had received the firecall from Lucius just moments before. Albus would meet them at the gate and direct the two Malfoys and Potter straight to Poppy. Severus himself needed a potion from the Infirmary to abate the pain from his broken wrist. It was closer than his stores and he needed to see Harry. He scorned his own inability to block the bone breaking spell, delivered by Nott to his right arm. Clever man.
He arrived at his destination at the same time as the rabid Black. Severus would usually have used some choice insult and pushed past the man, but the hysterical tinge in Black's eyes put him off right away and he said nothing. He commended himself for letting the other go first.
Seeing Harry on the bed was almost more than he could handle. He let down the shield he had up for a moment and cringed. The boy had just regained consciousness, it seemed, and was gasping for breath through the pain. Black was looking horrified at his godson's condition, shouting at Lucius for his incompetence. Severus could say he quite agreed, though he would deny it later, Harry was looking like he'd been dragged through hell and back several times. Almost as pale as himself, his partner was shaking like a leaf, blood was gushing from his shoulder and his face was bruised.
"... broken ribs." He heard Poppy finish off her list of Potter's ailments.
He watched in silence as Poppy clotted the blood in his shoulder and began it knitting itself up. The wound looked disgusting and Severus wondered who had cast what looked to be a piercing spell. The result was a small Muggle bullet-sized hole that punctured straight through.
"The prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus curse is my largest worry." Poppy said with a frown. Long ago Potter had passed out again, he wasn't there to hear the anxiety clear in Poppy's voice. Severus felt a shiver run down his spine as he thought of Harry being like the Longbottoms.
Albus had stood quietly in the corner up until that moment.
"I think everyone should settle in my office for the moment, Harry will be fine with Madame Pomfrey." Severus could see Black ready to disagree but Albus stopped him with a raised hand. "Sirius, Harry will not be conscious for a few hours yet, I would imagine." He looked to Poppy for confirmation.
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "I am going to wake him in three hours to check on his mental state, then I will see where we go from there." Black blanched at the words 'mental state' but managed not to start screaming again. Severus was particularly concerned over the statement also, though he hid it much better.
He, Black and both the Malfoys, followed Albus to his office, all subdued.
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Draco really didn't know what to think. Everything was hugely confusing and unbelievable. Of course, he was incredibly grateful that he did not have to make the decision between his father and Hermione. Still, it didn't make any sense and he was slightly suspicious of Lucius. He knew first hand how insanely manipulative his father was.
"How long was Harry with Bellatrix Lestrange?" Was Dumbledore's first question after offering them all lemon drops, which were refused with thinly veiled disdain from both Malfoys and impatience from Snape and Black.
"Approximately five hours." Draco looked to his father as he answered and was surprised to see something masked in his face. He wasn't saying something. What was it?
Immediately Snape's hands reached to cover his face and Draco sympathized. If it were Hermione he'd be completely out of it. He remembered how he'd felt when his girlfriend had first told him about the two. He'd first wondered if he and Hermione could have the same thing and then wondered if they'd want it, considering the strings attached. When it sunk in, though, he'd been practically frozen in disbelief at the thought of Potter and Snape. Professor Snape, who Draco was allowed to refer to as Severus but not during school, was one of the hardest and most bitter men Draco knew. He did tend to favour Draco in his own way but Lucius had told his son how difficult the dark-haired man found relationships. He could not imagine one between the Boy-Who-Lived and the Hogwarts Potion Master.
Black's reaction was more verbal and the chair hit the wall with a surprisingly loud 'crack'. Dumbledore moved to calm him quickly, silencing him and immobilizing him in a new chair, removing the remains of the original. Draco found himself admiring the old man's cool control over the situation.
"Did Voldemort mention anything about Legilimency?" Was the next question and Draco wondered why he was even there.
Lucius looked pensive but shook his head. Something came to the front of Draco's mind and he waited to see if his father would say anything before speaking up.
"He said something strange after Potter came in." Everyone focused on him. "He touched Potter's hand where Potter stabbed himself yesterday, and asked him if he thought he could do that himself. Potter looked surprised and the Dark Lord said he could see right through him." He trailed off, remembering how weird he'd found that at the time.
It clicked. "He was talking about mind-magic, wasn't he?" The Headmaster, his father and Snape all looked vaguely uncomfortable and Black looked furiously at Dumbledore as if understanding something.
"Merlin, Potter's going to be possessed and kill us all." He muttered under his breath, feeling the disapproving gazes of the occupants of the room.
No one actually responded to his words though, and that set him on edge. For once, he really wished he wasn't right.
Dumbledore continued asking questions, some obscure, and Draco could hardly see how they were relevant. All he really wanted to know was if Potter was going to be okay and what his father was hiding. He wished fervently for Dumbledore to finish. He could tell Black was hoping for the same.
"Severus, Sirius, you may keep vigil by Harry if you wish, but you are to sleep or you will do the young man no good when he wakes. Lucius, I imagine you would like some time alone with your son, you may use my office for this."
Draco was left alone with Lucius. He waited for the man to begin.
"I apologize for not informing you of this earlier." Draco nodded, knowing this was the best he would receive from his father.
"Where's Mother?" He thought to ask.
"She is in the castle at the moment, I will bring you to see her later."
"You've been here the whole time?" Draco asked, stunned.
There was a pause and Draco reminded himself not to push it. "Father, I'm dating someone." He interrupted whatever Lucius was about to say. "Someone I think you should meet." He finished hurriedly.
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Someone you think I should meet." He repeated slowly. "She is pureblood?"
Draco swallowed. "Not exactly."
He could see anger flash upon his father's face and for a second he thought he would be disowned or something equally horrific. But then, he was his father's only heir, the man wouldn't dare, he thought smugly.
"I see." Lucius' expression was clear. "I shall meet her. I hope she is a her." The dangerous tone made Draco silently thanked any deities listening for his sexual orientation.
"Very much a her." He promised.
It wasn't until he left that he realized he'd never asked his father about Potter. He swore he would remember to later. Possibly after Lucius had met Hermione. Or possibly not. He took a deep breath.
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"Lucius." Snape couldn't lift his head. He couldn't take his eyes off the delicate-looking boy on the bed. He felt an insatiable urge to touch him but refrained as Black was only a few feet away.
"My friend, you are looking particularly pale." Lucius observed from the entrance.
Potter seemed to rouse protective urges. Severus held a small comfort in the fact that it was not only himself, almost everyone who met the boy felt like they needed to protect him. All the while, putting him in danger constantly. Especially Albus, Severus pondered darkly, he must talk to that man.
"Perhaps we should converse elsewhere." An obvious glance at the mutt.
Severus didn't want to leave Harry's bedside but agreed anyway, knowing Lucius would not keep him long, the blond knew him too well. He'd know, without Severus saying, how much he needed to be there.
He stepped into the hall with Lucius. Hogwarts was still empty, the students had been sent home until further notice.
"Severus, I have a confession to make." He said quietly. That was enough to spark Snape's curiosity.
"A confession?" He repeated.
"About Potter." There was a long moment in which Lucius did not say anything. Snape did not say anything either, he was too busy trying to figure out what Lucius could have done. He waited for the man to continue.
"I could have spared him much of the time with Bellatrix." There was a short flare of disbelief. Severus knew what Cruciatus felt like, he knew the feeling well, but five hours? Of course, knowing Bellatrix, some of the time would be spent taunting the victim. Again, the Longbottoms came to mind and Severus shook it off because the idea of his partner being practically comatose made him feel ill.
"Elaborate." He carefully measured his tone. Stoicism was his forte.
Lucius felt the familiar excitement that went with being summoned. The excitement, the anticipation and the recently acquired fear. His occlumency was very elementary, Severus was trying to drum it into him, but he was a very poor student. The idea was outlandish. Lucius couldn't understand how anyone could be expected to 'master the mind'. Severus seemed to be very adept at it, but the man was incredibly impassive by nature, or he was conditioned that way anyway. Lucius thought the skill might have been a birth-power for the man.
"Lucius, Bellatrix has Potter!" The gleeful voice of Gerod broke Lucius away from his thoughts. He smirked and Gerod was satisfied with his response. He fingered the small ball-bearing in his pocket.
"I don't suppose there's any room for revenge?"
"You want to see him?" Gerod didn't appear to find the request strange, in fact, he sounded enthusiastic.
"Of course."
The Death-Eater just grinned and told him where Bellatrix was. Lucius wasn't surprised he knew, rumor had it Bellatrix was sleeping with the man, Rudolphus was probably aware, but who challenged that woman about anything? Besides, Lucius' face darkened, the Dark Lord had 'borrowed' her enough times for Rodolphus to be accustomed.
The large mansion, one the Dark Lord was fond of using, contained a dungeon almost as complex as that of Hogwarts. Lucius was familiar with the place and navigated the halls easily. He had never been sure of who the house had belonged to before the Dark Lord claimed it. It was a tangent he did not care to follow.
The moment he saw the boy, on his knees in front of Bellatrix, the only thought that crossed his mind was one of admiration. He personally knew the strength it took to drag himself up after a few bouts of Cruciatus. Of course, it wasn't the most dignified position, but lying on the floor was much worse.
Moments later Potter was writhing in pain. Neither the torturer or the tortured had noticed him yet. He observed Potter's attitude and had a strange sense of pride when he saw the boy didn't make a sound. As if he had jinxed it, a piercing scream sounded and Lucius winced in sympathy.
"You see, Potter? I can break you!" The pride and victory in Bellatrix's voice made Lucius step forward.
"Bella, yet again torturing a guest, don't kill him before the fun starts." To think, just months ago, this situation would be highly amusing. He studiously ignored Potter's gasp of shock.
"My son will be very pleased to see you, Potter." He tried to get across an encouraging message before he touched the boy. In hindsight, to Potter it probably wasn't the best image, Lucius recalled how his son and Potter were rivals.
"Your son is-" For a split-second Lucius wanted to hear exactly what his son was, but he quelled the urge and interrupted.
"Looking forward to tonight." The sentence made an alarm go off in his mind, still, it was what Bellatrix wanted to hear.
"The little bastard won't have the guts." Lucius agreed. He prayed his son didn't.
He could see the obvious side-effects of the Cruciatus curse. Potter was shaking so hard his teeth were clicking. Lucius knew it was time.
He rested one hand on the boy's shoulder and the other subtly in his pocket.
"Bella here is quite the expert on the Cruciatus curse, I'm sure you'll come to appreciate the skill under her tender care." He gripped tighter.
Suddenly his ring burned. His son was near. He kept his composure as he thought about what that meant. Lucius' earlier statements about Draco came back to haunt him. He did not want his heir in the middle of this. He did not want Draco around when the Dark Lord found out Lucius had taken Potter from his grasp. He swallowed the guilt lingering in his mind and he lifted his hand from the boy's shoulder. He wondered if Potter would forgive him.
Severus felt somewhat relieved. In truth, he had expected worse. He could understand loyalty. Perhaps not blood loyalty, his family had not been loving and the notion of familial bonds had been lost on them.
"Fair enough." He watched Lucius' face relax. His friend had been tense throughout the telling and Severus hid his shock at seeing his friend so open with his emotions. He didn't know whether to thank Narcissa or the Dark Lord.
"I love my son, Severus." Lucius stated quietly. Severus looked him in the eye.
"Fair enough." He repeated, firmer this time. There was a short silence, in which Severus cast several nervous glances towards the Hospital Wing, masked as they were, Lucius spotted them easily.
"I will not keep you from him." Severus nodded shortly and turned away. A hand stopped him, however, and he spun back to the blond.
"Do you love the boy?" Severus flinched at the word 'love'.
"I..." He found himself speechless and he just stared blankly.
Lucius sighed and let go. "I think you had better find it in you to try." Severus was about to retort when Lucius held up his hands in defense. "I am only looking out for you, my friend."
He would have bit out a cutting comment about Lucius' own relationships but he didn't. He was too weary. Too confused.
Without any further words, Snape turned away from Lucius and made for the door of the Infirmary. He heard Lucius mutter something but didn't stay to listen.
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Ron felt sick whenever he looked at Harry. His friend was gaunt and as pale as Draco. Hermione was sitting at his side, her hand in his, her eyes tearful. Ron had been worried Draco would be jealous, the Slytherin was way possessive, but he had seemed to realize it was assurance between the closest of friends.
When Snape walked in, Ron's eyes were immediately focused on the Potions Professor. Ever since Harry had told them about his predicament, Ron had been watching the older man, he didn't want to admit it to Harry, but he was terrified Snape would hurt his friend. It was just the sort of thing Snape would've done less than a month ago. His thoughts had only danced around the idea of rape, but he was still painfully aware of the notion.
"Snape's here, Harry." He said to his friend's still body. It wouldn't be the first time he'd visited an unconscious Harry in the Hospital Wing. In fact, it was an increasingly large part of their friendship.
He could feel Snape's sneer on his back but stubbornly ignored it. He wasn't going to be forced out of the room by the Potions Professor. Though Ron had to admit, he was really hoping Hermione would be back soon.
"Has the boy woken?" He was startled to hear Snape ask in a somewhat civil manner.
"No, sir." He mumbled. Madame Pomfrey was a bit worried about how long Harry had been out, she was planning to wake him after lunch if he hadn't already roused.
As if she'd been summoned by his thoughts, she bustled into the room with several vials in her arms.
"Severus," She started when she saw him. "Good, you're back."
Snape nodded in acknowledgement. Ron was surprised he wasn't scowling.
"I want you to touch him with your shields down."
Ron was confused but Snape seemed to understand. He was frowning now, which made him more familiar to Ron.
There was a second of apparent indecision as Snape leaned over his dark-haired friend. Finally a bony hand touched the side of Harry's face.
The moment lasted forever. Ron's heart almost stopped beating at the tenderness he could have sworn he was seeing. Just a fleeting feeling of care. And he realized that perhaps he didn't need to worry about his friend at all.
"He is fine." Snape's hand left Harry's face but traveled to rest on his arm, as if to keep the contact.
Yes, Ron thought with a small smile, Harry would be safe with Snape.
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