Pairings: HP/DM SS/RL NL/BZ RW/HG PP?
Rating: R, drama, angst and sap. Post Hogwarts
Warnings: R, bad language. All flames will be made fun of! THIS IS SLASH! How many times will I have to say that for you homophobic guys understand that you shouldn't be reading these kind of fics I don't know… But you have been warned so I again tell you… All flames will be made fun of!
AN: This is not the first Harry Potter fic I've written, but the first I've ever published.
Disclaimer: I asked Dumbledore to magically give me the rights over Harry potter and crew, so now he has been arrested for plagiarism and fraud! Now I own nothing but the story T.T
Getting you back.
By Black Komagoro
They stayed till late talking, Harry told them about his time living with Charlie and the dragons, the only thing he left out was their relationship, even though they were his friends and adopted family he knew that was too much. All of them woke up later than usual, Molly prepared a good breakfast and after the good byes and see you soon Harry and Hermione were on their way towards Hogwarts.
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you're doing Hermione…"
"I'll think of a way, don't worry"
She smiled devilish and Harry shuddered, that was an expression so rare on her face that you learned to fear it. The trip was easier this time, it took a little bit longer but Hermione didn't really like to use brooms, so they had to go slower.
"You scare me"
"That's good to know…"
There was that smile again, the Slytherin side of Hermione, and he decided that she definitely was the best to help Snape, he wouldn't stand a chance. They finally arrived and this time they did take some time to talk with Hagrid, none of them mentioned a thing about his lost leg, and the half giant had managed to cover it well enough to make it look as if it was still there. The forest had been growing well and he told them it would probably be as it used to be in another two years or so. Hagrid looked happy and that made Harry feel the same way, it was good to see that his friends were finally recovering, and it gave him even more hopes.
Draco will be ok, he'll recover too and will be able to help Snape… They all will be ok
And for the first time in years his smile was sincere, because it was what he truly wanted, for those he cared for and loved to be happy. They finally left the huge man and resumed their way towards the castle and then the dungeons. Hermione was a bit nervous but wouldn't let it show, that would give Snape the upper hand and that wasn't going to happen if she could stop it.
"This is going to be hell you know?"
"I'm sorry, I know it will be hard, but you at least will have Remus on your side"
"That's true, which I'm sure will make Snape to be even more difficult"
"I'll repay you, all this suffering will have a fair reward"
"Oh, be sure it will Harry Potter"
Harry shuddered again but said nothing, they finally made it to the dungeons and to Snape's office. Harry knocked twice and waited, the door opened slowly and he sighed in relief when he saw Remus' face.
"Hi Remus"
"Hello Harry, Hermione"
He smiled to the girl and opened the door completely, letting them get inside.
"Hello professor Lupin"
"Just call me Remus, I'm not your teacher anymore Hermione"
"Er… Ok, Remus"
The wolf smiled happily and then closed the door behind them, Hermione looked around the room and as Harry did, saw it was just a potions master's office. Severus was once again behind his desk, passing his fingers over the pages of a book.
"Braille?"
"There are some wizards who can't see Miss Granger, they need a way to 'read' text books…"
Hermione felt her face turn red, Snape was right after all, he was a living prove that not everything can be cured. If Harry hadn't appeared with this solution Snape wouldn't have the slight possibility of maybe recovering his sight.
"I'm sorry professor"
This time she wasn't corrected and that suited them perfectly, there was no way she would call him Severus, even less Mr. Snape.
"Good, you should be…"
He stood up and taking a long roll of parchment he walked to where the other three were. He extended the roll towards the place he more or less knew Remus was and waited till the other took it from his hand.
"Those are the instruction you must follow, do exactly as it says or the potion won't work"
Remus nodded, even if he couldn't see him Snape knew he was doing it.
"Very well, I think it's time for us to go Mr. Potter…"
"Yes… Hermione, Remus… I don't know how long this will take us if you need anything send and owl to Malfoy Manor"
She nodded and soon they were gone, leaving the other alone in an office that didn't belong to them.
"I hate him… What he's asking from Harry is wrong Remus, and it will hurt more than one person, that's not right, at all"
"I know, but those are his conditions… Severus is not a bad person, but his life and choices have made of him and even stricter man than he used to be… He's doing what he think is the best for all of us"
Hermione clenched her hands.
"And separating Harry from those he cares for and love is the best for all of us? Taking him away from the person he loves the most is the best choice? Forgive me if I can't see the logic in that, as I see it, is just his own hate for Harry what's actually moving him"
"And thus, Harry chose to sacrifice himself for Malfoy, even following an order he knows is not right… I don't think Harry sees Severus the same way you all do, he see him the way I do… Please, don't judge him so promptly you may find that at the end he was doing the correct thing"
Hermione frowned and looked at the other man with pure anger in her eyes.
"I can't understand why you defend him so strongly, as far as I can see, he's not any better than Voldemort himself… Snape is controlling Harry with what's the most important thing for him and making him do as he pleases"
"Hermione… I won't ask you to understand, just trust, if not me or Severus, at least trust your friend"
She sighed angrily.
"I do, I've always trusted him… I just don't like this"
Remus nodded, understanding and then led her towards the room the potion was being brewed.
Harry was closely followed by Snape, they both were flying top speed towards the manor, and the young wizard had to admit the other man knew very well how to handle a broom. Maybe, if things got less awkward between them, he would ask the man if he used to play quidditch.
I wonder if he actually had to fly against my father back then… Maybe I'll just ask if he played, period
Staying out of that path was safe, sometimes he cursed his own father for being such a bastard. Harry hated bullies, he had been under the constant abuse of more than one to understand Snape's hate towards his father. He sighed and continued; Snape was using a spell that made his broom follow the other and would modify the speed and direction when the other did. Though, he still controlled the broom, and the fact that the speed wasn't affecting him the same way it did to others, said a lot of the mans ability.
I guess Draco learned from him…
They were very close, Harry could see the roof the manor already and the rest of the house was appearing rapidly. He lowered the speed and height, knowing Snape was doing the same at the same time, in five minutes they both were standing in front of the manor's door.
"Umm... Professor?"
"Yes Potter?"
Well, he had to warn him, he didn't know how much Snape knew about Draco's state of mind.
"Well, Draco has created a world of his own, one where he's more of a friendly rival with me, and were his father and you work together for the light side… He's stuck in sixth year, long before the final battle, but close enough so his little fantasy can work"
Snape nodded but said nothing; he wasn't surprised as far as he knew it was the most logical reaction, most of those who turned to the light having Death Eaters relatives though around those lines. Harry turned and knocked twice, the door was soon answered by Pansy.
"Professor Snape!"
Her smile was wide and her happiness was clear in her eyes.
"God afternoon Miss Parkinson…"
She clearly wanted to go and hug him, but that was not the best thing to do and she knew it.
"It's so good to see you here, Blaise and I are sorry we didn't go to visit so much lately… But Draco, you know"
Snape smiled at his former student and nodded.
"Don't you worry Miss Parkinson, if my calculations are correct we will have Mr. Malfoy back with us very soon"
And your sight recovered too, isn't Snape?
He thought still bitter with the man for what he had asked, but would not say a thing. Pansy led them both inside the house and then directly to where Draco was now, this time Harry would only look from behind, not letting the other see him. Snape didn't like what he saw, Draco was once again near the fire place looking at the flames.
God Draco…
Harry saw the man running some searching spells at the distance, he wouldn't let Draco see him, at least not yet. He was unresponsive, his hands lay lax on his lap the wheel chair was secured not to move accidentally, but you could notice a slight motion. Draco moved very slightly on the chair, from side to side always looking at the flames.
So this is how he has been till I got here the other day?! Merlin please let Snape find the problem and the cure.
Finally the tall man got into Draco's line of view, and the result was as expected or at least as how the other three had told him things worked.
"Harry…"
The smile was almost invisible and his eyes were empty, his left hand moved a bit towards Snape but soon came back to its original place. This was what clued Harry about the state not being a natural process, retreating his hand meant he couldn't touch the 'illusion' and then prove that it was not Harry but Snape, and thus starting a chain reaction.
"Chess?"
Snape nodded, he found the table and set the pieces, letting Draco start the game. A few minutes from starting the game Draco stopped, and tilted his face to the side frowning. Since Draco rarely moved, the board was spelled so you needed to say the moves, which worked perfectly for the other man.
He's... Reacting?!
Maybe he would say something more or do something different to what he always did, but that never came, Draco's frown disappeared and continued with the game, not caring that 'Harry' was winning so easily for the first time. They kept playing, Snape not really interested in the game, his ears and one of the spells that linked his magic with Draco's for one hour told him everything he needed to know.
Come on! This is taking too long!
Harry was getting desperate, and Neville noticed it, he put a hand over his shoulder and shook his head, Harry sighed very lowly and continued waiting. Snape continued the game, registering every little ting that happened with his god son. Finally he finished, he had won the game and was waiting for Draco's reaction; as he suspected there was nothing a small frown that soon was replaced for those empty eyes, something he could not see but suspected, there had been an almost imperceptible change in Draco's flow of magic towards the man.
"Thank you"
Snape nodded and got away from Draco's vision, he motioned the others to follow him and soon they found themselves inside the small room Harry had been when he first got to the house. They all took seat and waited for the man's explanation.
"Mr. Potter, you were right in your assumptions, Draco has effectively been affected with something else, a curse to be more precise… How or who did it I don't know, but I don't think it really matters right now…"
Harry nodded, he knew there was more, but Pansy couldn't stop herself.
"Why do I fear that the solution is not easy?"
"Because is not Miss Parkinson, his state is very advanced though not as bad as it could be. To help him, not only will he need a potion, but he'll need to be prepared to take it"
He took his quill and a piece of parchment and wrote some things on it, mostly ingredients he would need soon.
"What do you mean professor?"
"That he'll have to start fighting the curse first, so the shock of coming back to reality won't be so hard Mr. Zabini… From now on, every time he calls you with other name than yours you will not answer, that will be the first step… Mr. Potter, do not get close to him during the next few weeks, that would only confuse him more"
He was about to protests but stopped in time, Snape's words sinking in.
"Very well professor"
Snape could have smiled but that was not going to happen in front of so many people and much less in front of Harry.
"However, you will send Hedwig with a letter, do not say anything too compromising… You will send three letters per week during the next four weeks. Once that time has passed we will come to see how he is doing"
Harry was looking at the man with a look that said, 'What are you on man? Crack or something?' What was he supposed to do during those days?
"Two letters will say something about two things from year one, then another two about second year and so on till sixth year, something significant, truthful and that involve the both of you, I don't really care what it is"
Clearly…
"If he seems to be more aware of reality then you'll have permission to come back… If he's not, then you'll have to stay away another month. You will only use your owl, he knows it and trust her, do not mention the war or his father, those will be taken care later"
They all nodded, Harry may not like it but he understood the man's procedures were right. If Draco was going to be saved he'll have to do some sacrifices, some grater than others. Pansy, Neville and Blaise didn't look very pleased though, for they knew Harry was a key piece for the blonde's recovery.
"I'll be leaving now, I still have to talk with Madame Pomfrey and check the potion. Mr. Potter, you may stay here for the next two days, but after that I want you to leave. The sooner we start with this the better… You don't have to guide me back to the castle, I know the way here from the school very well, and my broom has a navigating spell, now if you'll excuse me I have to go"
Snape didn't wait for someone to take him to the door; he had been in that house so often he already knew how things were arranged. Soon he was gone, leaving the other four alone and three of them quite confused.
"Potter… Wouldn't it be better if you stayed? I mean, if Draco has a real Potter to interact with?"
"No Pansy, because the one he sees when he looks at me its part of that world he has created for himself. He can't relate me to the real one"
They nodded, it made a lot of sense but Neville knew there was something he was not telling them.
"Harry… There's more isn't there?"
Harry nodded and sighed, he was getting tired to have to explain the same thing again and again, next time he would call for a meeting so he would have to say things just once.
"Before he agreed to help me, help Draco, he made me promise something… Once Draco gets better and the curse has been lifted, I'll have to go"
"Go? Go where exactly?"
He shrugged, that didn't really matter, as long as he was far away from the blonde.
"Wherever far away from the country… He doesn't want me near Draco, for I was the one who provoked his present state, and I don't blame him"
Three pair of eyes looked at him with disbelief, and they gave words to it, not very nice though.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Neville and Pansy both screamed at the same time.
"Harry, are you nuts?!"
He looked at Neville and was about to answer when Pansy interrupted him.
"Potter are you stupid or what?! This was a curse! Not your fault and it will NOT be good if you leave right after he's fine… BECAUSE HE WON'T BE FINE! What the hell is that man thinking?!"
"He's doing what he thinks is the best Pansy, and please don't do anything… The only one who has the right to say something is Draco… Snape cares a great deal for Draco, he is his godson and to him I'm the cause why Draco's not with us, with him"
"Potter, I understand your reasoning and maybe even Severus', but doing what you think is correct, not always is the correct thing"
"I know, but I gave him my word… Besides, even if I'm gone Draco won't be back to this state, the curse would have been broken and he'll be able to live a normal life again… Maybe even getting a good girl, marry and having an heir. He will be able to continue the Malfoy name"
Pansy clenched her fists and brethren slowly, Harry was grateful for that, because he knew she wanted to slap him again and his face could do with some resting time.
"Potter, for a man who has gotten the title of the most powerful wizard in the world, you are the most stupid and ignorant of them all…"
"Maybe, but I want him to have a normal life… If leaving will bring that to him then I'll be more than ready to do so"
They all noticed that he didn't say 'happy' because he would be not. And then and there they understood the sacrifice Harry was ready to do for Draco's safety. And Pansy knew, right then, that no matter what Snape said, Draco wouldn't do as he said.
"I hope the both of you know that Draco will skin you alive for making decisions for him… He never liked that, that's why he refused the dark mark and looked for help with the light. He wouldn't let Voldemort to manipulate him however he wanted, especially if that meant to do so much damage to innocent people, muggle or not"
"I'm not manipulating him Pansy, I'm just trying to give him what he deserves"
"To be unhappy? To be cured and left alone right away? I don't think that's what he deserves"
"You know what I meant Blaise… And please, both of you, do stop calling me Potter, after fighting a war together I think we at least should call each other by our given names"
Pansy and Blaise raised an eyebrow.
"Then do something to win that, help Draco and stay. Who cares what Snape has to say? It's your life and Draco's not his"
They understood, that didn't mean they liked it and would stay put doing nothing.
"I care Pansy, I won't jeopardise his health. He wants me to stay away I will, he wants me to write a thousand letters to him I will. He wants me to give half of my fucking blood for him and I will do it"
"Harry…"
"No Neville, he defied his father and fought him, he lost his family as a lot of others did and no one thought it was so bad, because his father was a Death Eater, he was still his father and it's worst because he had to confront him. And it was thanks to him I got the power to destroy Voldemort. And what he got for all his efforts? Get to live in a fake world, from where he can not escape without help from others, a state I know he would prefer death instead… So yes, I'm ready to give away my own happiness for his, I'm ready to be treated as nothing more than just a tool by someone who hates me more than anything, and I'm definitely ready to give my own life if that means he will have a normal life"
The other three stayed silent, for what could you say to words like those? What could you say to make him feel better and assure him he still have a chance to be happy? Nothing.
"Now, if you excuse me, I want to play a last game of chess with Draco and see him smile when he defeats me…"
He stood up and left the room, leaving three souls behind that just now understood the real power The Man Who Lived had. Yes he was a powerful wizard, he could destroy a place as big as Hogwarts with the shake of his hand, but what really made him a powerful man was how much he could love, how much he was ready to give away for the one he loved. And they all felt relieved they were not enemies anymore, one of them had the feeling that not even those closest to Harry were really aware of how lucky they were.
"Some how… I have the feeling that everything will be alright"
Blaise and Pansy looked at Neville, and the soft smile on the man's face gave them the same feeling, and they smiled. On the room next to theirs two men played an ancient game of fake war and strategy, and once again the lion was being beaten by the serpent.
"I knew that last time was just a fluke… You were lucky"
"I guess, it seems Ron's teachings finally helped, I'll practice more and one day I'll win again…"
They smiled and Draco had this air of superiority that Harry knew so well, but had not seen since a long time ago.
"You wish Po-"
Harry looked at the other man, his eyes weren't as empty as they used to be and he knew that this was the real one.
"Draco?"
His voice was faltering, he wanted to touch him but couldn't.
"Pl… please"
Draco's voice was dry, it sounded pained as if he were making a great effort to talk.
"Hel… help… me"
The other three had followed Harry to the room and had just entered to see this, they were shocked, it was the first time Draco had somehow reacted.
"P-Pott… Potter…"
Harry was unable to talk, this effort only meant that Draco soon would be back to his previous state and he wanted to hear whatever he wanted to say or needed to say.
"Ha-Harry… Please…He-Help me"
Draco's head fell and his hands went limp, he was unconscious.
"Merlin's beard!"
"Draco!"
Harry was at his side, but there was nothing he could do so he just held the man in his arms.
"Don't worry Draco, we'll help you and soon you'll be back to what you used to be… I swear to that"
He lifted Draco's face a bit and kissed his forehead before letting him go and stepping aside so Blaise and Neville could take him out of the chair and lay him over the large couch there.
"He… Reacted"
Pansy had tears in her eyes; she couldn't believe it because it had never happened before, not even when Harry had come the first time.
"It was Snape"
Three pair of eyes turned to look at him, Neville voiced their question.
"What do you mean?"
"That it was Snape's presence here what provoked the reaction"
Pansy shook her head.
"It makes no sense"
"It does Pansy… You see, Draco sees you all as me, and so he saw Snape as me as well… However, when he played chess with Blaise Draco always won, when he played against me he also won, but when he played against Snape he lost. Draco's so aware of me being a lousy player that it just didn't make sense"
"His mind won the battle for a few seconds and the curse was unable to overpower his memories"
Harry nodded at Neville.
"Exactly, and I had to lie not to create a paradox with his memories, the problem is… Draco knows Ron never taught me chess, because he never had the patience for it, he actually saw us once in the Great Hall… That created another paradox and this is the result"
"He's out because the curse needed to take over the mind again… The only way to overpower him was to turn his mind off"
Once again Harry nodded at Neville's words.
"That's right Nev… You know my friend, you really had all of us fooled. You are way more intelligent and analytic that you let others think… Why?"
Neville blushed and Blaise let a small laugh out.
"Because he doesn't like to be the centre of attention"
"Which is, as I see it, a very good thing Neville… I'm very glad you're with me and not against me, that would really scare me"
Even though the situation was not a laughing matter they still let go a good laugh. When they calmed down Harry got closer to Draco and kissed him again, this time softly on his lips, caressing his hair lightly.
"Don't worry, you'll be alright"
He stood up and walked to the door, took his broom and his cloak and smiled at them.
"I shall go, if anything else happen, send Snape an owl right away. I'll tell him about this time… If you need me, I'll be staying with Ron…"
Pansy walked towards him and hugged him tightly.
"You know Harry…"
She looked at him in the eye, and smiled happily.
"Everything will be alright"
He smiled and hugged her back, he then said his good byes to the other two and left. From now on things would be very busy and he still had a lot of things to do. He had to go back to his own house and put his things in order, had to call his costumers and tell them to get their things because he was going to close for undefined time. Go to his house and take some things with him, put charms to water the plants and cover his furniture, empty the fridge and pay all his bills. Well, at least he wouldn't be motionless, besides, he still had to repay Ron. For the first time in his life he was glad to be the once boy who lived and to be Harry Potter, and let fame and glory do what it is supposed to do, move people.
TBC