Pretty Boy

Chapter 43

Dealing With The After Affects

Severus woke with a start, wondering why he felt so dour, and then he remembered. Cursing when he saw the time, he slid out the bed was quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Harry. He'd been through enough, and sleep was the best thing for him. Dressing in his normal teaching robes, he left the room. The smell of coffee was divine; obviously Black and Lupin were awake. Merlin so much had changed; he was actually letting them stay in his quarters.

"I posted a note on your classroom door, telling them to go to the library and study the next potion they are brewing, I hope that's okay?" said Remus, knowing how possessive Severus was of everything he saw as his. He knew Severus wouldn't care, not with Harry being so injured.

"Thank you," said Severus sighing gratefully, as he relaxed. Though the kitchen he made himself a steaming hot brew of rich black coffee. His mind wondering at that last night meant, would it happen again? One of? But Severus didn't think it was as simple as that. He honestly didn't know and that's what angered Severus the most. The unknown, he normally had an answer for everything.

"Is he going to be alright?" asked Sirius, feeling useless. He wasn't the academic type, but Remus and Severus were. If they didn't know what was happening, it made him extremely edgy. He prayed to Merlin that it wasn't what they suspected, twenty Cruciatus curses, Harry would never survive this.

"I don't know," said Severus grimly. Just then a thump sounded from within his bedroom, gesturing to Sirius and Remus to stay. No doubt Harry would be extremely embarrassed if they saw him in anything less than perfect health. He saw Harry on the floor; he'd obviously tried to get up.

"What the hell?" murmured Harry, his mouth drier than a mummy's and his body ached like blazes.

"Calm down," said Severus "Come on; let's get you back to bed."

"I can do it myself," said Harry, batting Severus' hands away, only to fail his legs, in fact all of him was failing to cooperate. It was so humiliating, at least it was Severus, small consolation, and at least he wouldn't laugh at him. With shaky hands he held onto Severus, and allowed himself to be lifted onto bed. "What's wrong with me?"

"Drink," said Severus, enjoying the feeling at being able to take care of Harry for once. Harry drank the potion and his shaking immediately stopped, his aching muscles relaxed. Lying back against the pillows, he closed his eyes in silent relief.

"Do you remember what happened last night?" enquired Severus; it wouldn't surprise him if Harry didn't.

"Yes," said Harry "Can I get something to drink?"

"Of course," said Severus leaving immediately to fetch some Pumpkin juice.

"Tell me what happened from the beginning," said Severus as he helped Harry drink some juice.

"I remember you being called; I made my way down here right away. I had a coffee; I was waiting on you coming back from disposing him. I got your Patronus and realized you'd be gone a while. Then I went through to the bedroom, my bedroom, the next thing I know I'm in agony." said Harry. Unconsciously rubbing his forehead, before he added, "I felt a weird tingling in my forehead, the pain definitely started there."

"Then it is as I feared," said Severus quietly, his voice grave.

Harry stiffened at Severus' tone and words, what the hell did he mean by that? "What?" he asked. Whatever it was it didn't sound good.

"Harry you saw a Death Eater meeting, not only that but you felt the pain the Dark Lord inflicted upon his followers." said Severus quietly unsure of how Harry would take it.

"Fantastic," said Harry sarcastically. That's exactly what he needed, some sort of damn connection to Voldemort. As if life wasn't complicated as it was right now, dealing with being older, Dumbledore and his band of chickens. "Why can't I walk?"

"Nerve damage, twenty bouts of Cruciatus curses would do that to anyone. Harry you are lucky to be alive, that amount of damage should have rendered you insane." said Severus, his eyes filled with fear.

"Takes more than that to get me down," said Harry dryly, making light of it. Regardless of his words, his eyes spoke volumes, he was wary, extremely so. "Is this normal then? Connecting to people?"

"I think your scar is an unwilling connection between you and the Dark Lord. With your magic so badly bound, the bond was bound as well. Now you are back and using magic, getting more powerful as you should have been all along. Voldemort is getting more and more furious opening the connection unknowingly." said Severus.

"Great," murmured Harry his lip curling in distaste. Grimacing he added "I need the bloody toilet, please tell me there's a spell." anything was better than the humiliation required to help him do a pee!

"Unfortunately not," said Severus wryly, helping Harry up, and slinging his arm over his shoulders. Keeping him safe from falling, but not carrying him 'bridal' style. He would have gotten a lot of satisfaction out of that, but Harry would have been humiliated enough not to get help again.

"Turn around," grumbled Harry.

"You don't have something I haven't already seen Harry," chuckled Severus in amusement. He turned around, giving Harry some privacy, smirking in amusement. Once Harry had done he helped him back into the bed.

"Do you want to stay in the bed or come through?" said Severus. "Sirius and Remus are still here."

"I'll go insane if I stay here, can you get me some chocolate?" asked Harry as Severus helped him up, on shaky legs they managed to get him through. Sitting him on the couch, he disappeared into the bedroom and brought out the duvet and some pillows.

Severus gave both men a warning look, not to overwhelm Harry right now. He was still getting used to people caring, never mind actually displaying it. He went into the spare room and took out a few bars of chocolate for Harry. Placing them in Harry's lap he made a new coffee for himself and one for Harry.

"Thanks," said Harry taking the coffee gratefully. He was no longer shaking but his muscles were weak as a new born baby's. He grabbed at the cup tightly, before taking a long drink. He had never felt more vulnerable and weak before in his life. He hated it, yet at the same time he felt gratitude and love.

"How are you feeling now?" asked Sirius hesitantly.

"I'm not dying so you can stop bloody worrying," snapped Harry; he didn't like people worrying about him.

"Harry," sighed Severus exasperated giving him a very pointed look. The world had truly turned; he was defending Sirius Black of all people.

Harry's lips curled in distaste before he said "Fine, I'm alright ok? Just stop making a fuss."

Sirius just turned to stare at Remus exasperated; honestly Harry could be more hostile than a nuclear bomb. From one day to the next, he didn't know how Harry was feeling. He hid his emotions so well, and Sirius felt as though he was walking on egg shells sometimes.

"I wonder what was on the Daily prophet today?" mused Sirius quietly. After five minutes of silence, which by the way was driving him mad.

"The chamber of secrets, myrtle dying and Dumbledore being at Hogwarts while it happened. She's speculating that Dumbledore might have been able to stop the first war with Voldemort happening." smirked Harry despite his weakened state.

"The Dark Lord has been very amused with Skeeters. I think he's planning on sending something in as well." smirked Severus.

"How often do these meetings happen?" asked Harry, dread pooling heavily in his stomach.

"Perhaps ever three four weeks. If he's out on raids four or five times a month." said Severus, wincing at the thought.

Harry closed his eyes in dread; he was going to have to put up with this four or five times a month? What about their plans? His plans? Why didn't anything go right for him? Yet he wouldn't wish it away, wouldn't go back to his small flat with nothing but silence for company. For Severus he would put up with anything, even if he'd never admit it.

"I'll do anything I can to cut it off, I promise." said Severus sitting behind Harry. Putting his arm around him, giving him some comfort he probably needed but never would admit to.

Harry nodded before opening a bar of Honeydukes chocolate and began eating. Severus opened his book back up, and began reading from that. As promised he would find a way to keep him safe.

"Albus was any of this true?" asked McGonagall sitting in Dumbledore's office along with nearly every Order member.

"Of course it's not! How could I have known Tom Riddle would have done this?" stuttered Dumbledore. His reputation and nerves were shot to hell; he had added more calming draught to his lemon drops just to get by. He was as paranoid as hell, and the Death of Moody wasn't helping matters. His reputation had been totally trashed by the fact he knew about the abuse Harry suffered. His usual supply of lemon drops hadn't been delivered, nor had anything else. He was receiving Howlers by the handful every day. He no longer went to the Great Hall to eat for fear of being accosted with one during it. Its bad enough someone actually sending him one, but for them to be heard by children was just the icing on the cake.

"Everything else reported was true," snapped McGonagall. "If it wasn't for the children I would leave. I've never been more ashamed of anyone in my life. To let Harry be abused… I told you they were the worst sort of Muggles but you already knew that didn't you?" said Minerva, her voice pained.

"That memory was faked! And the money I took out was for Petunia and Vernon. I also admit I took some for the Order, I knew Voldemort would be back and we would be facing war again." whispered Dumbledore.

"Some? SOME? That wasn't some! That was a lot!" snarled Bill Weasley, "My mother could have survived ten years on what you took out once never mind again and again. You still tried taking money after Harry came of age! I hope he sues you for all you are worth when he is finally found!"

"Listen to me! I regret it! I haven't tried again I did what I needed to do. I also swear I didn't know about his abuse, and when Harry is found I shall get down on my knees and beg for his forgiveness and repay what I took. We are at war, we cannot continue to fight among ourselves!" boomed Dumbledore.

"Some things are just too damn bad for forgiveness!" shrieked Molly. She hated thieves or thievery above all others. Her children knew this she didn't tolerate it at all, the children had learned that at a very early age. If she knew two of her children were up to she would explode.

"I will attend the Order meetings but that's it." said Shacklebolt, scornfully. "I don't want anything else to do with you, no more favours." This was going too far, stealing money was just so wrong. He hadn't been sure about Dumbledore and Moody being behind Harry's abuse. After all they were leaders, they had solid principles, but it was looking true now.

Most of the Order members were nodding along to Shacklebolt, they didn't trust Dumbledore anymore. The only Order member's not there, but was looking in vain for Harry Potter was Ginny Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Sara Granger.

Having said their piece, they began to Floo out or leaving Dumbledore's office. Which Included Bill Weasley, instead of leaving though he made his way down to the Dungeon's. He had been away for a few days doing a job for the Guilin's in Wales. Warding their new home and also getting rid of any harmful cursed objects. Which had made him some money, he didn't so much as look at his family, or Ex-family now.

"Albus…" sighed Minerva sadly." I have to agree with the others. I am sorry; I just can't talk to you. I think you might want to stay up here…the students are heartbroken."

Nothing was going right, he was going to be going to a trial soon, and everyone hated him. His secrets were all spilling out, how was Potter doing this? How did he know so much and where the fuck was he? How could he see the Leaky Cauldron? His magic was bound. He had exhausted himself completely just binding a one and a half year olds magic. Even at one and a half the child had been Voldemort's equal. If he hadn't bound the magic he would be more powerful than anyone by now. He had to find the boy before his twentieth birthday or the world was boomed.

Chewing another three lemon drops he felt the calmness invade him. He sat slumped on his chair wondering when things had begun to fall apart. No one was listening to him anymore, if the Ministry had its way he wouldn't be Headmaster anymore. Thank Merlin Fudge wasn't Minister anymore; otherwise he would have already been removed as Headmaster and replaced.

"Someone's at the door, stay there," said Severus, putting the measuring cup down. Both of them were in the lab, Severus was brewing an experimental potion, hopefully it would help Harry. Fortunately with two more anti-Cruciatus potions and a bone strengthener, he seemed be mostly recovered. Sirius and Remus had left a few hours ago, promising to Floo and see how Harry was later.

"Come in," said Severus relieved that it was only Bill Weasley.

Severus began walking back to his potions lab, not waiting to see if Bill followed or not. Harry was sitting on one of the benches helping Severus prepare ingredients. And a book was popped open in his lap. He was reading when no potion ingredients needed prepared. Some ingredients needed to be freshly cut.

"So what's up?" asked Harry his attention on Bill Weasley.

"Dumbledore has lost every Order member, they want nothing to do with him." smirked Bill.

"Who wasn't there?" asked Severus intently. "Other than me."

"Just Ron and Ginny…oh and the Grangers." said Bill.

Severus grimaced. Sara Granger had been given special permission to leave school for 'family matters'. Of course Severus knew she had been joining the Order to look for Harry Potter.

"So what's been happening? Apart from the papers? Any new information?" asked Bill curiously. He was getting a kick out of everyone's reactions, they were so shocked - he didn't get it really.

"Nothing much," said Severus. He wasn't going to share the information, about the bond Harry seemed to have with the Dark Lord. Not even to Bill, vow or not they didn't want too many people knowing. The more that did, the greater the chance of Voldemort finding out. That thought sent shivers down Severus' spine. He knew what Voldemort would do then; go on the longest raid in the wizarding world history. He would drive Harry insane, he felt sick with that thought. No as far as he was concerned better safe than sorry.

"We need a new leader." said Bill. Sitting down on one of the stools, watching Severus begin preparing ingredients and stirring them in a precise, standard order.

"We do," said Severus nodding, agreeing with Bill but knowing it was useless to think about such thing.

It was two weeks before Severus felt the tingling of the Dark Mark. He watched Harry like a hawk, holding his breath. Waiting to see if the potion he'd created had worked. It didn't work; Severus jumped across the room and held Harry down. Harry screamed in pain, causing Severus to wince. The Dark Lord wasn't in a good mood that much was obvious, cursing them so soon. Severus summoned a dreamless sleeping potion, prying open Harry's mouth, keeping it that way. Once he'd stopped screaming, he poured it in hastily. Rubbing at his throat, until it had all disappeared. Then Harry went lax in his hold, and drifted of into a peaceful sleep.

The potion he had created hadn't worked; Severus wasn't used to his potions failing. Cursing in irritation, he placed Harry on the couch, covering him up. Severus got his journal once more and began creating yet another potion, a more powerful potion to see if it would work. They couldn't rely on the dreamless sleeping potion; it was highly addictive and could cause permanent damage.

The Daily Prophet, Skeeter's was very good at what she did; no one could have done it better. Today had been about Dumbledore's father being in Azkaban, and the mysterious death of Dumbledore's little sister. He had all but been accused of killing her, so he could go after the legendary Deathly Hallows.

Dumbledore no longer left his office; the students had left immediately after he came in. It would have started hunger strikes, if it wasn't for the House elves sending the food up. Now the Headmaster no longer made appearances, and his trial date was looming incredibly closer.

"Any blow ups?" asked Harry curiously. When Severus walked in, he'd been teaching all students today. As Harry had to recuperate, this normally took one day maybe two. Harry would be going back tomorrow, as 'Hadrian' obviously thankfully it had happened on a Sunday this time.

"Of course not," said Severus chuckling wryly. "How are you feeling? Any pain at all? Did you take anything?"

"No I'm fine," said Harry. With the dreamless sleeping potion he hadn't felt a thing, for that he was eternally grateful.

"Good," said Severus sitting down, immediately opening his journal and planning a new potion.

"Coffee?" asked Harry, standing up, proving he was better.

"I wouldn't mind," said Severus, rubbing his forehead tiredly.

"Alright," said Harry moving off towards the kitchen grateful that he could use his legs again. If this kept up he'd need to defeat Voldemort really quickly. He didn't want to continue this for a year! It would drive him insane.

as always Severus is cautious :D even with the folk he half trusts :P R&R