Thank You Lord Voldemort
Chapter 23 - Second Day Back
Previously
Severus vowed to never tell Harry of the dire circumstances that led to him developing this potion. No, Harry needed to hold on to at least some of his innocence for now.
A gray, bony hand crushed the parchment he tightly gripped. "Is this true?" Voldemort's voice was nothing more than a low hiss. The pudgy man in front of him shrunk in fear.
Voldemort stood swiftly from his throne, wand pointed at the mousy figure before him. "I asked you, Wormtail, is this true?"
"Y... Yes, yes, My Lord," Peter squeaked out.
"Crucio!" Voldemort held the curse as he continued to speak over the screams. "You stuttering fool. I should kill you now. Why did it take me a full day to find out about Potter when I have a servant there?"
He released the curse and stormed over to the now unconscious Wormtail. His thin lips were pursed together tightly as he pressed the dark mark on his servant's arm.
Severus jolted awake, clutching at his left arm. The mark was an angry red. Severus closed his eyes briefly, trying to suppress the pain. It was clear that Voldemort knew, and that was not good for Severus.
"Severus? What's wrong?" Harry asked, yawning in the middle of his question. Then he noticed what Severus was doing. "Oh."
As Severus quickly grabbed his Death Eater garb he managed to gasp out, "Just go to your dorm. You will see me in the morning."
Harry opened his mouth to argue, but shut it soundlessly. This wasn't the time to argue. As Severus headed down the corridor to head out, Harry took his time returning to Gryffindor tower.
When Severus apparated he was immediately hit with the cruciatus curse. His screams echoed around the small chamber, and he could tell without a doubt how angry his 'master' was as the curse wracked his body with tremors. Just as he was about to black out the curse was ended, and he laid still on the stone floor. The only motion coming from his heaving chest as he fought for breath.
"Severus, I thought you were my most faithful. Have I been misled?" Severus managed to open his eyes to see the red orbs of the Dark Lord trying to probe his mind. "How can you be a faithful servant if you cannot even manage to tell me that Harry Potter mysteriously appeared at that forsaken school you teach at?" Grabbing a handful of Severus' lank hair, he hissed straight into his ear. "Did you not think it important?" Without pulling away he yelled in his high pitched screech, "You are worthless to me. Tell me quickly why I should not kill you this instant."
"My Lord, I am your most faithful servant. I have spent the entire day trying to figure out how he came back."
Voldemort released his hold on Severus' hair and took a step back, his face twisting into a horrible grin. "You did, did you? And what have you learned?"
Severus thanked Merlin for the distance he now had. "My Lord, it is my hypothesis that the curse you used on Potter was interfered with somehow. It may have opened some sort of separate plane of existence. The muggle-loving fool that runs the school isn't saying anything, but it appears that Potter went to a place where he was able to function because he has grown."
Severus was instantly relieved to see the Dark Lord glide away from him. Although his hopes fell as Voldemort spoke. "So you do have a worth." Voldemort grabbed a handful of Severus' hair once more. "I will give you tonight to prove that worth."
Severus carefully hid the shudder that racked his body as he saw the lust in Voldemort's eyes. He silently thanked Merlin that he had taken the muscle-relaxing potion that night. He had stopped taking it years ago when the Dark Lord grew tired of him, preferring to use his younger, firmer recruits. Still, it would be a long night.
When Harry arrived back at Gryffindor tower he paced in front of the portrait. The last thing he wanted was to see any of his friends.
"Did you forget the password young man?"
Harry looked up suddenly to see the fat lady smiling at him.
"No, I didn't. I just don't want to go in." He stopped pacing and leaned against the wall
"Everyone else is asleep, if that is what is bothering you."
Harry looked up, flashing her a grin, and gave the password.
She was right. The only people in the common room were a couple of third years that fell asleep studying. And when he got to his room, he was relieved to see Ron asleep in bed. He tossed and turned for hours, but his worry for Severus grew with each passing hour. At least in the past he knew when Severus came back because they slept in the same room. Knowing sleep wouldn't come, he pulled his DADA book. There were many new defense strategies developed in the past twenty years, and he had DADA first thing tomorrow morning.
Five hours later Harry opened his eyes to find that the book he was reading had slid off the bed. He instantly felt guilty that he had managed to fall asleep when Severus could be injured or worse. At least he was the first one awake, so he rushed to the showers and then quickly changed. As he practically ran to the great hall, his heart pounded in his chest.
Harry clenched his eyes shut before entering the hall. He hoped that when he opened them that Severus would be sitting at the head table. He hadn't yet decided what he would do next if Severus wasn't there, find the headmaster perhaps.
So, he took one last deep breath before opening his eyes, and he was relieved to see Severus sitting in his rightful place. Severus looked up briefly, but looked away quickly when he noticed Harry.
'Something's wrong,' thought Harry as he made his way to Gryffindor table. He couldn't bring himself to feel hungry as he looked more closely at Severus' appearance. His hair looked to be slightly matted in addition to being dull. His skin seemed paler then usual and Harry cringed as Severus' hand shook slightly as he tried to lift his cup. 'What the hell happened to him?'
He kept his eyes trained on Severus, hoping that Severus would look at him. The man looked haunted, defeated. When the headmaster entered Harry shifted focus to him. Dumbledore shook his head solemnly just as Severus rose and left the hall. Harry jumped up to follow him, but was held down by a charm the headmaster was using. The headmaster just shook his head.
Harry huffed and stared at his empty plate, trying not to glare at the headmaster. Luckily, or not, the rest of the students began arriving, Ron and Hermione among them. Both of them sat across from him silently except to whisper to each other. After rolling her eyes at Ron, Hermione finally spoke up.
"Harry, we are sorry that we got on your case last night, and we understand why you got upset" Harry knew that Hermione meant it, but the redness that was creeping up Ron's face showed that he was being forced along. He wanted to stay silent, and just glare his disapproval at Ron, but he really wanted his friends back so he gave in.
"I forgive you guys, if you'll forgive me. I shouldn't have blown up at you." He tried to give his best grin, but knew he had failed miserably.
"Is something else wrong Harry?" Leave it to Hermione to notice.
"I'll be fine," he said in a huff; "we'd better head to defense. I don't want to be late"
As they all headed from the hall Harry shook his head. He shouldn't be so short with his friends. It wasn't their fault that Severus was called last night.
Harry scowled as he remembered that Remus would be teaching this class. So, when they entered the classroom he picked a seat in the last row. Ron and Hermione gave him a sympathetic look as they continued up to the front row.
Class was a nightmare as Harry avoided Remus like the plague. Even when Remus was coming around to help everyone with the hex they were learning, Harry turned his back and walked to the other side of the room. Remus would just sigh and move on to the next student.
Harry gathered his books together as class came to an end, relieved to finally be leaving. 'Could this day move any slower?' He wanted to get to Severus.
"Mister Potter, stay after class." Remus' voice was polite, but stern. Harry cringed.
"You wanted to see me Professor Lupin?" Harry thought maybe if he kept Remus and Lupin separate he could make it through these last few days at Hogwarts.
Remus pointed to a chair, which Harry took, as he placed a locking and silencing charm on the door.
"Look Harry, ..."
"No, I don't want to hear it," Harry yelled, heading for the door. Another charm put him back in his seat.
"You will hear me out, Mister Potter. I know that you went through much this year, but you will behave in my class. You have one class left on Thursday, and I will give you detention on your last day of school if I have to."
Harry rolled his eyes and huffed. "Fine. One more class. Than I won't have to see you ever again." Once again he rose from his chair, only to be put back in it by Remus.
"Harry, be reasonable. That was twenty years ago for me. I'm a different person."
"So you are not a werewolf anymore?" Harry shot back, his face flushed.
Remus rubbed his face with his palms as he sat on the edge of his desk. "Do you know what that potion did? Twenty years ago, when they forced me to take a potion, do you have any idea what it did?"
"No."
"It ... It ... It made me sterile. It took away my possessiveness over Severus by making me impotent. They made sure that I was no longer a threat to anyone while in human form. Is that enough for you?" Remus's voice faded to a whisper as he spoke, his gaze falling to the floor.
Harry's eyes grew wide as he sat there. He never knew all of that. He thought it just made him not want Severus anymore. Yes, that was enough of a punishment for Remus. And, Yes, Harry should forgive him, but instead Harry grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room. Forgiveness wasn't an action he could perform right now. Maybe tomorrow. Now he needed Severus.
That was his only thought as he raced down to the dungeons. He waited in the hallway is the third year potions students filed out before rushing in. He was just in time to see Severus enter his office.
When Harry made it to the office doorway, he peered in to see Severus leaning on his desk. "Severus?"
Without lifting his head, Severus spoke, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Harry."
Harry saw that as permission and rushed to Severus' side. "You can tell me. I'm here for you Severus." He could feel the tremors going through Severus' body.
"This is not something I intend to discuss. It is enough that you are here with me Harry. I will recover."
"Have you seen Madam Pomfrey?"
"I took a potion that will help, but it is slow acting. Tomorrow I will be fine."
Harry had a million questions, but knew better than to bug Severus. He knew that he would want the same treatment in return. "At least let me help you to your bed. Do you have an afternoon class today?"
"No. Bed will be fine." Severus raised his head and Harry was able to meet his eyes. Harry could tell that Severus had more he wanted to say, but nothing was coming out.
"Can I stay with you Severus?" That seemed to be what Severus was going to ask about as relief instantly showed on his face. Harry could tell that Severus didn't want to be alone.
When Harry got Severus to his bed, he removed his shoes. He went to remove Severus' robe, but stopped when he flinched. Harry figured that Severus wouldn't want him seeing any new scars. So, instead, he pulled the covers up over Severus and undressed himself. He had herbology after lunch, but he wasn't going to attend. He wrapped a comforting arm around Severus and within minutes they were both asleep.