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Chapter 4
The two figures huddled against the wall were bathed in light but neither of them seemed very happy. The girl was crying helplessly into the male's shoulders and he seemed just to be keeping it together. A few feet away, stood another man. He was gazing upon the scene with obvious concern and distance.
"Harry? Hermione?" said George Weasley solemnly. "You guys go in, me and Fred are gonna sit out for a while."
"You sure? He's your brother," said Harry gently.
"Yeah, he loved you like a brother and we all know how he feels about Hermione."
Harry nodded and took Hermione's hand, he led her into the room as though she was a child and in a way he did feel like her parent. Trying to keep it together for Hermione was the only thing stopping Harry from falling apart and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
The atmosphere in the room was so delicate, no one said a word and Harry was afraid of breathing too loudly. The fear of losing one of their much loved children appeared to kill Arthur and Molly Weasley as they sat, surrounded by their remaining children. Harry felt alien in the situation, not even having the connection that Hermione had from being Ron's girlfriend. After exactly three minutes, Harry swiftly exited the room. Everyone watching him in astonishment.
Once outside he leant against the wall, breathing loudly through his mouth and tears flowing heavily down his face. Severus was still there and watched Harry, aching to touch him and comfort him but unable to find the strength to move. Suddenly Harry threw himself at Severus, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist. Awkwardly, he reached out and pulled Harry closer. Placing his nose on top of that unruly hair and taking in the scent.
"He's hurt," mumbled Harry, the sound lessened by Severus' body.
"It will be ok."
"It won't. We all know there is no cure of a bite from Nagini."
"How do you…"
"It's obvious."
Severus just nodded.
"I want to go to your rooms for a while," said Harry.
Severus nodded and led Harry there. Neither of them said a word during the walk but Severus could not help but notice the way their fingers and hands gently brushed against each other as they walked.
Once they actually got to his chambers Harry all of a sudden seemed to be possessed as he chatted blindly, avoiding anything of real importance and rambling about things like the weather and classes and how good the food was at Hogwarts. Severus stood and watched, waiting for the right moment to step in.
Just as suddenly as it began Harry stopped in his tracks, stood for a few seconds and fell in a miserable lump on the hard, stone floors. Severus then bent down and took Harry into his arms. He sat with him for a little over an hour before feeling Harry's figure becoming less and less coherent and a little more as he drifted of to sleep. He swept the black hair out of Harry's eyes and smiled as he wrapped the boy's arms around his neck and carried him to his bed. Carefully he lent over Harry and pressed his lips against one closed eyelid.
Hours later found Severus Snape pouring over potion books about snake bites, hoping that anything you bring any light to the situation but nothing seemed to link. There was only one spell possible but it was considered dark magic and would therefore be frowned upon by everyone involved. Unfortunately finding a "good" spell to cure something controlled by dark magic was virtually impossible. If he was honest, though he had no homicidal thoughts directed at Weasley himself, he knew he was just doing this to please Harry. Something which had quickly become very important to him. The voices in Severus' head were normally not very comforting so he tended to ignore them but he couldn't ignore how they almost taunted him at his desperation to make Harry happy.
"Severus?" said a very sleepy looking Harry standing at the door.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing?"
"Reading books about potions."
"Do you ever think about anything else?"
"Yes."
"Ok, well. I'm going to make lunch. You want anything?"
"Yes"
And with that Harry left. It was not a very unusual conversation for one to have with one's husband but it made Severus feel very unsure. He was almost shaking and he could not understand why. Five minutes later Harry placed a plate of sandwiches and an apple in front of Severus and waited for a response.
He brought his head up from the books and thanked him. Harry puzzled over the snake books for a few seconds and then it all appeared to click as his face became blank. He bit his lip and rolled it between his teeth as he tried to distract himself from thinking about how he had failed to save the one person who had always been there.
"Severus? You don't like Ron."
"You thought I didn't like you, you have been wrong before Harry."
Harry said nothing but took a book and sat next to Severus.
"What are we looking for?"
"Something about bonds between wizards and snakes."
"Bonds?"
"Yes, like the one she shares with the Dark Lord."
Harry nodded and began to read, the pages becoming blurry as he found it hard to concentrate. The guilt he felt about Ron was tearing him apart. He knew if he had been there he could have saved him or if he had never made friends with Ron in the first place this never would have happened. The more he considered this, the harder he found it to think about snakes and bonds and everything else. The tears came back but he desperately held them in. He did not want any more breakdowns in front of Severus. Eventually, when he thought the tears had passed, a sudden hiccup and it all began again.
Severus turned around to see Harry shaking. He carefully wrapped his arms around his neck, having never comforted anyone too often before, Severus was unsure of what to do. He just rubbed Harry's back and made, what he hoped, to be soothing sounds.
"I'm sorry," mumbled Harry, pulling away. "It's just…all my fault."
"What is?"
"Ron…Nagini…everything."
"It's not and you know it isn't."
"It is! If I had never stayed down here or made friends with him…this never would have happened."
"He would have been in danger either way; his parents are a member of the Order."
"But…"
"You cannot play the hero all the time Harry. This time you can help by sitting here and helping me."
Harry said nothing but buried his nose in the book. Now realising this was the best and only way to help his best friend.
"Severus," Harry mumbled hours later.
"Hmm."
"I've found something."
"What does it say?"
Harry handed him the heavy, leather-covered book and pointed his eyes to the ground.
"Kill Nagini?"
"Yeah…"
"That is going to be impossible without contacting the Dark Lord or him noticing. He cherishes that snake beyond anything else."
"I can do it."
"How will you manage this Harry? I'd love to see this."
"Shut up you snakry bastard for once."
"What?"
"Listen to me! I will need your help though, this is it Severus. No more beating around the bush, it's time."
"Time for what?"
"The end," smiled Harry.
"You are not prepared for that."
"I will never be more ready, I have the motivation to destroy the last of the horcruxes now. I need to save Ron, Sev. I really do."
"I just…If you think I will help you all the way."
"Thank you…"
"I think we need to talk to Albus."
"Yeah…"
"How about we wait until morning?"
"Ok, Sev."
"You called me Sev…"
"I know. Sorry, do you not like it?"
"No…It's just…my mother used to call me that."
"I'll stop if you want, it's okay."
"No…I like it."
Harry smiled and pulled Severus to him, wrapping him tightly in his arms.
You wanted longer. I think I achieved that. Hopefully. Just like you to know I am a huge fan of Severus with emotions. He is a person after all and he does have them, he just keeps them hidden because no one has ever really been that kind or affectionate to him (in the books I am talking about.) So I hope this isn't too out of character. I also realise Harry is a little OOC. Tell me if you think it's too much, I do not think he is usually this emotional but it is Ron and we all know how much he means to him. I would be happy to answer any questions or sort out any problems.
Thanks for reading and reviews would be lovely.
And finally, so sorry for the long update. This chapter took millions of rewrites and I have been surprisingly busy.
Thanks again, Sarawr.