Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.
A/N: I'm now home and my computer has been set up :).
- - - Book 3 — Part 1: Escape
Harry woke up to something small bouncing on his shoulder and two slightly fuzzy limbs drumming on his face. He, of course, immediately swatted it away, unsure of what it was, only concerned about getting it away from him.
"Ahh!" Teddy yelled, landing beside Harry's leg on the bed.
"Teddy! What are you doing? Trying to give me a heart attack?" Harry asked, now sitting up, the small adrenaline spike going back down and the things around him settling back down.
Wouldn't do to vibrate things off the shelves and desk. Some of those things were breakable.
"I… I was trying to wake you up," Teddy said, as shyly as any talking teddybear could, his arms in front of him sort of criss-crossed over each other. "A veryveryvery old man is here. I think they're waiting for you to wake up. I heard them talking about something. I think it's important."
Harry chuckled at Teddy's description of Dumbledore.
"Oh, alright. And the … 'old man' would be Professor Dumbledore. He's my Headmaster," Harry said, getting up to get ready.
"Oh… are you going to school now?"
"No, it's summer vacation right now, besides, my magic is still wacked. Even if it wasn't summer, I don't think it would be a good idea for me to go back to school right now."
"Your magic?" Teddy asked.
"Yeah, it's sort of chaotic. It's how you came about, actually."
"Hmm," Teddy hummed, thoughtful.
Harry got dressed, at first hesitant about getting dressed in front of Teddy, but Teddy was a stuffed animal! It didn't matter.
"Okay," Harry said, ready. "Let's go. I think the Headmaster would like to see you, it's probably why he came."
Teddy gasped, leaping off the bed and running as fast as his short little legs could carry him, and hid behind Harry's laundry hamper.
"Teddy, come on; don't do this," Harry said, walking over to him.
"He'll poke me! Just-just like Mr. Black!"
Harry sighed.
"He might — he might steal my stuffing! He can't steal my stuffing! I need it!" Teddy yelled, though his voice was muffled now.
Harry was sure he was now taking refuge in and under his dirty clothes.
"Teddy, Dumbledore is not going to steal your stuffing," Harry said.
"How do you know? Maybe he collects stuffing!"
Harry shook his head, trying to decide what to do.
"He won't."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"What if he tries?"
"I'll stop him."
Yeah… stop Albus Dumbledore…. Right.
"Okay."
Teddy peeked his fur covered head out from behind the hamper.
"Can we go now?" Harry asked, bending down to pick him up.
Teddy backed away slightly.
"I know, I know, 'Teddy doesn't like heights,' but I promise not to drop you," Harry said.
With that, Harry and Teddy finally headed downstairs.
O o O o O
Sirius, Lupin, and Dumbledore turned when they heard Harry coming.
Harry, of course, was still recovering, and his slow pace revealed this. Though it was ten times better than when he arrived at Grimmauld Place, it was clear that he got tired quickly, and was taking it easy.
"Ah, Harry, how are you my boy?" Dumbledore asked, glancing briefly at the clinging bear in Harry's arms.
"Better, Professor. I assume you're here to see him?" Harry asked, glancing down at Teddy.
"Er… actually, Harry, the Headmaster is here for some other reasons," Lupin cut in. "Though I'm sure he will look at your new friend too," he added.
"What's happened?" Harry asked.
Sirius motioned for Harry to sit down.
Harry looked to Dumbledore, Teddy still holding onto Harry for dear life.
"I have just been informed that five prisoners of Azkaban have escaped," Dumbledore said. "I have of course sent word to Severus and Augusta, and I am sure from there those who need to be told will be."
"Who escaped?" Harry asked.
"My cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange," Sirius spat, making Teddy jump a little. "And the Crabbe's and Goyle's."
"What?! How?" Harry asked.
"We do not know, Harry, but there is no doubt who this is tied to," Dumbledore stated.
"Voldemort," Harry whispered.
Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, are Vince and Greg okay? Are they safe? Where are they?" Harry asked, knowing, through his memories, their betrayal would be punished, and punished severely.
"They are safe. Longbottom Mansion and Spinner's End are going under the Fidelous Charm, just as Grimmauld Place already is," Dumbledore said. "Let me assure you, Harry, every precaution is being taken."
"Hmm," Sirius said. "Not every one."
They all looked at him; Sirius glanced at Harry before talking.
"The Custosae de Lux. We should set a security ward on all the properties, just incase something ever went…bad," he said.
Dumbledore looked at him for a long while before nodding.
"I think that's wise."
Teddy was now openly looking at them, his head turning towards each man as they spoke.
"I'll inform my contacts and arrange it with Bill and Mad-Eye as soon as I can," Sirius said. "And I don't think it would be a bad idea to set one up at the Weasley's either."
The others nodded in agreement.
"So what now? With Bellatrix and the others I mean," Harry asked.
"The Minister has sent out as many aurors as he can spare to try to catch them, however, when I told him who is probably behind it, and that it is likely they had some help from the inside, he was hesitant to believe. I am pretty sure he believes Voldemort is somehow behind it, but... my other suggestion fell on deaf ears, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said.
"Who do you think the inside people are?" Harry asked.
"They're not people," Sirius said darkly.
Harry's eyes widened, instantly knowing what they were talking about….
The dementors.
Harry couldn't stop the memory from coming, and unlike the few he had had the past month, this one was entirely new and extremely powerful.
It was dark and cold, and the air… it was so full of despair it was sickening.
"Looord Voooldemoort…"
The voice was somehow pungent, so low and hollow, it nearly made his skin crawl.
He rose his face, finding several hooded figures before him…. It was obvious where the deep sadness was coming from, but it didn't seem to bother him much, if anything, he seemed to bask in it.
"Dooo weee haave a'deeeeaal?" they breathed.
"Yes," he smiled, "Yes, we have a deal."
With that, Voldemort raised his wand and cast a spell.
Harry, of course, instantly knew what it was, and if he could have, he would have screamed.
It was a dark binding spell. The dementors were now his servants.
O o O
Dumbledore and the others quickly reacted when Harry seemed to tense, and yet go limp at the same time.
Harry's knees gave out, Sirius quickly catching him and laying him on the floor as Harry gripped tightly onto Teddy.
They felt the air ripple with magic, but for some reason it resulted in no ill or adverse effects, though Dumbledore could have sworn he saw a shimmer of something pass over Harry's skin and the teddybear's fur.
"Harry!" Sirius yelled, kneeling over him.
Harry was hugging Teddy tightly against his chest as he tried to catch his breath and slow his pounding heart as he slowly opened his eyes.
Lupin and Dumbledore where kneeling on the other side of him, Dumbledore's hand resting on his forehead.
Harry met Dumbledore's eyes.
"What did you see?" Dumbledore asked in a very low whisper, privately wondering if Harry had ever had this strong of a memory surface while he was awake before.
"They're his. The dementors… all of them. They're his," Harry answered, unconsciously rubbing Teddy's back as he shut his eyes.
Sirius helped Harry sit up, allowing him to rest his back against the couch. Teddy continued hugging Harry, patting his little arm supportively on Harry's chest as his furry head leaned against him.
Sirius and Lupin glanced at each other.
What had just happened? What was Harry talking about? They knew something odd was going on, but didn't know what. A few times something sort of like this had happened, but it had been just before Harry would wake up from a nightmare with his bed shaking and things flying around his room.
Were his nightmares coming when he was awake now?
Dumbledore looked at Harry, gathering what Sirius and Lupin were probably thinking.
"You haven't told them, have you?" Dumbledore whispered again.
Harry wished he would stop whispering, a question like that was much harder to take when used in that soft wary tone.
Harry shook his head.
"Told us what?" Sirius asked, torn between anger and utter confusion.
Harry looked up at him with frightened eyes.
He had hoped he would never have to tell them. That they would never know. He knew the others would have kept the secret if they could have, but since he had had a 'flash' right in front of them… there was no way he could get out of it now, especially after Dumbledore's questions.
Harry looked down at Teddy, drawing comfort from the small fuzzy guy.
It was probably better they know, they knew he was a Custosae after all, though not the leader. He just hoped they wouldn't freak out, or worse, treat him differently. He knew the others had adapted, but he was still afraid his guardian, and practically his second one, wouldn't.
"What haven't you told us?" Lupin asked, since Sirius now seemed beyond words and Harry had become rather silent.
"I…"
"Just tell them, Harry. They'll understand," Dumbledore said.
"I was afraid you'd freak out…" Harry said softly.
"Freak out about what?" Sirius asked, while thinking, come on, we're not freaking about the chaotic magic; what could be worse than that?
"What did you mean, 'they're his'?" Lupin asked, deciding to try a different angle, a part of himself beginning to put the pieces together.
"Voldemort cast a binding spell…. He bound the dementors to him. They're his servants, now and forever," Harry said.
"How do you know that?" Sirius asked.
Harry took a slow deep breath, not wanting to cause another chaotic flare.
"I have his memories," Harry answered finally.
Sirius and Lupin's eyes both snapped to Dumbledore, praying Dumbledore would have an explanation as to why Harry was saying this and not the truth. Instead, all they got was a look of resigned acceptance that Harry's words were the truth.
"This explains quite a bit," Lupin muttered.
"Who else knows?" Sirius asked, his voice barely calm.
"Dumbledore, Professor Snape, some of my friends and…" Harry's voice trailed off, wondering how to finish.
"The Custosae," Lupin finished for him.
Harry suddenly found a harmless fluff on Teddy very interesting. Teddy eyed him suspiciously before finding what he was staring at.
Teddy quickly brushed the fluff onto his paw and held it out for Harry, thinking he wanted it. It wasn't part of his stuffing, so he was happy to share.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful, Lupin's comment verifying what he had suspected. Harry was a source for the Custosae. And it was obvious that they were the ones who had given Harry the dagger that destroyed the diary, or at least stopped Tom's attack on Susan Bones in the Chamber. The question now was, how had they gotten to Harry without him noticing?
"You know, you could have told us earlier," Sirius said, not angry at all anymore.
"You guys had enough on your minds. I didn't want to add more to it and didn't want to risk being treated… I don't know, different," Harry said, taking the fluff from Teddy.
"You'll always be Harry to me," Sirius said, Lupin nodding while Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "And Lupin's right, this does explain a few things."
Harry gave a hesitant but relieved smile.
"Well, now that that's settled," Lupin said, glancing at Teddy.
Dumbledore smiled, suddenly looking at the now petrified teddybear who realized their attention had shifted onto him.
"I take it this is the illustrious teddybear," Dumbledore said, waving Harry to sit beside him on the couch he was currently resting against while on the floor.
Harry got up and sat next to Dumbledore, Teddy now trying to hide in his robes. Lupin and Sirius took their seats in the chair and other couch.
"Alright, let me take a look at you," Dumbledore said, holding out his hands for Harry to hand Teddy to him.
Harry took hold of Teddy, pulling him free from his robes and turning him towards Dumbledore.
"H-Harry?" Teddy asked, worried.
"I promise you he won't hurt you, and he won't poke you either," Harry said, hoping Dumbledore would take Sirius' word that Teddy was squishy.
Dumbledore pulled out his wand, before taking hold of Teddy with his other hand and waving his wand over Teddy. Apparently, he was able to get some secret information about the magic around and in Teddy by doing this.
"What's your name, little bear?" Dumbledore asked, as if it was an everyday occurrence to ask an animated object a question.
"T-Teddy Malimber…" Teddy answered, relieved he still had his stuffing, but not about to count his blessings yet.
"Malimber?" Lupin asked.
"It's the name of the owner and company that made him," Dumbledore said, pointing to the small cloth tag on Teddy's leg with his wand.
"Oh," Lupin said.
"So… what do you think?" Sirius asked, apparently over the revelation about Harry having a certain Dark Lord's memories and more concerned about what Dumbledore thought about a talking bear.
"I think Harry, yet again, has demonstrated the near limitless power of magic, though, with Harry, magic having a limit could be disputed as well," Dumbledore said, putting his wand away while unconsciously bouncing Teddy on his knee, his other hand preventing Teddy from falling.
"Whoa—oa—ooa…" Teddy said, enjoying the bounces for the most part, minus the fear of falling.
"I think the twins may be right," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, looking at Harry. "Perhaps you should go into the craft business, make and create things."
Harry blushed slightly, taking Teddy from Dumbledore, but he didn't counter the suggestion.
"I also think it would be a good idea to keep Teddy close to you. He seems to be able to absorb a great amount of your chaotic magic, as we have recently seen, and according to my readings, he still has a long way to go before he is even halfway full," Dumbledore said.
"Okay, I will," Harry said, Teddy happily resting in his arms, now counting his blessings of: not falling, having a purpose (not to mention his stuffing), and not having been poked and prodded by the veryveryvery old man… er, Headmaster.
O o O o O
Harry and Teddy were on the couch, contently reading about wards and protective spells, well, Harry was sort of skimming in between thoughts, Teddy was the one really reading.
It was rather cute, to be honest. Teddy sitting in Harry's lap with a book in Teddy's, both of them looking at the pages. Harry didn't ask how Teddy knew how to read, just accepted it, it was easier that way.
Harry was no longer reading, he was thinking. He couldn't help himself about thinking over the last year, which is to be expected after everything that had happened.
He shook his head, realizing he had yet to deliver three of the five messages he had been given. He still had messages to give to Draco, Snape, and Molly (along with the rest of her family).
He was certain they would want him to give it to them in private, especially Snape. There was no way he would repeat what his parents had said with anyone else in the room, especially Sirius.
They were actually waiting for Snape and Draco to arrive at Grimmauld Place. Sirius and Lupin would be gone for the day on Custosae business. Harry and the others had decided it was time to bring Griphook (Rook) up to speed and attempt to get some shops in Diagon Alley under the protection of the Custosae. However, for that to happen, someone had to be with Harry.
Harry suggested Snape to be his 'sitter' (he rolled his eyes at this, but continued), saying that Snape was the only other adult (besides Dumbledore) who knew about him having the memories, and if anything involving them happened, they wouldn't be risking anyone else learning the truth. Sirius was of course hesitant in asking Snape into his home, but also saw he had nothing else he could do, so finally caved. Snape, Draco, and Dobby were told the location of Grimmauld Place from Dumbledore.
Harry sighed, also knowing that while Sirius and Lupin were gone, he would have an opportunity to give Snape and Draco their messages. Vince was going to go visit Greg and Neville, Lupin stating it was still a little risky to have too many people around Harry for an extended amount of time, considering Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore weren't close by if anything serious happened — not that it was expected to, just better safe than sorry.
Harry looked at the clock, wondering when Snape and Draco would finally arrive from the fireplace. Teddy seemed to be wondering the same thing as he slowly turned the page.
The following minute, the fireplace finally roared to life, and two people stepped in.
"Professor," Harry said, sitting up a little straighter as Draco stepped into the living room behind Snape.
"Potter," Snape greeted, eyeing Teddy for a moment before facing Sirius and Lupin. "Black, Lupin."
"Snape," Sirius said with a short head nod. "We should be back around dinner time. I trust Kreature or Dobby will be able to provide any needed meals for you all."
"I'm sure it will not be a problem," Snape said civilly as Sirius grabbed a handful of floo-powder.
"Harry, Teddy, be good," Sirius said. Receiving the nod from Harry, Sirius stated, "Diagon Alley," and disappeared in flames of green.
Lupin followed, but before leaving, thanked Snape for watching Harry.
With Sirius and Lupin gone, Snape and Draco focused their attention on Harry and Teddy. Dobby was at Spinners End, supervising Bill and Moody as they added the security system and the Fidelous Charm. Mad-Eye was the Secret Keeper.
"How are you, Potter?" Snape asked.
"Getting better. Some days are better than others, but none of them have been as bad as before," Harry said honestly.
It was a little odd. The last time Harry had had a real discussion with Snape had been during Christmas break, when he had told him that he knew about the memories. Harry wondered how he was ever going to deliver Snape his parents' message, with or without Draco present.
Harry noticed Snape glance at Teddy again.
"Oh, this is Teddy. I uh… my chaotic magic…" Harry said, finding it difficult to explain what had happened exactly, though (unknown to Harry) Dumbledore had briefed Snape about Teddy.
Teddy helped Harry out.
"Hi! Harry told me you're one of his professors. Are you…" he paused, taking in Snape's attire. He gasped. "Are you a — vampire?!"
Draco couldn't help it, he started laughing.
Snape blinked.
"What gave me away?" Snape asked tonelessly.
Harry held back a chuckle. The Potions Master had a sense of humor?
Teddy's beady little eyes somehow widened in amazement, but surprisingly not in fear.
"R-really? So do vampires… turn into a… a bat too?" Teddy asked.
Harry was sure, if it had been possible, Teddy would be gaping at Snape in awe. Draco was laughing nearly uncontrollably behind Snape. Snape folded his arms and looked at Harry, who was obviously amused.
Snape decided to come clean to the little bear, thinking it unwise to allow anyone, object or otherwise, to believe he was a vampire.
"I am not a vampire," Snape stated.
"Then why—"
"Appearances can be deceiving, something I am sure Potter can attest to."
"So you're not a vampire?" Teddy asked, actually disappointed.
"No, I'm not a vampire."
"And you can't turn into a bat?" Teddy asked, as if testing him.
Harry blinked while Draco had to use the fireplace as support as he went into another bout of laughter upon hearing that last question. Snape actually looked, if Harry could read the nearly non-existent expression correctly,… embarrassed?
"I knew it!" Teddy declared, quite proud of himself.
Harry was a little confused now. Was Snape what he thought? An animagus?
Harry looked at Snape questioningly as Draco finally calmed himself somewhat, tears in his eyes.
"I'm not a vampire bat, if that's what you're wondering," Snape stated after a long moment.
"But you are a bat?" Harry asked, though it wasn't exactly a question.
"Not a word of this fact to anyone, understood? If I hear you have even muttered a word about this to —"
"Sev, Potter won't tell," Draco interrupted. "Will you, Harry?"
"Of course not," Harry immediately agreed.
Snape looked to Teddy.
"I won't either," Teddy said, raising a paw in promise.
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Actually, I'm a little more concerned about how you knew."
Teddy rubbed his paws nervously.
"Well?" Snape prompted.
"I'm Harry's helper, so have qualities that enable me to fulfill certain needed things."
"Like feeling people's abilities?" Draco asked.
"Uh-huh, sort of. How else am I suppose to know if someone is a threat or not and who I need to protect him from?" Teddy asked.
Snape raised an eyebrow at that. "You would protect Potter against threats?" he asked.
"Against anything or anyone who wished him harm," Teddy said with a great deal of ferocity.
Harry had the decency to look embarrassed. A teddybear protecting him? Suddenly, the image of a teddybear in shinning armor brandishing a sword came into his mind. Harry shook his head.
"I see," Snape stated. Harry wasn't sure if Snape was more amused or impressed by Teddy.
Draco moved forward, no longer laughing at Snape's expense.
"So, do you want to play Wizard's Chess or something?" Draco asked.
Snape shook his head and took a seat in one of the chairs by the fireplace and retrieved a book from his robes to read.
"Well, I can't play Wizard's Chess. My magic…" Harry began.
"Oh, yeah."
"Yeah. Sirius tried to get me to play the first week I was here. I touched the knight and he… galloped off the board and nearly stabbed Sirius. He exploded soon after."
"Wow."
"Yeah. I have a muggle chess set though. Lupin got it for me after he learned what had happened."
"Muggles have chess?" Draco asked, intrigued.
"Yeah."
"How is it different?"
"The pieces don't move; you have to move them yourself."
"Really? Weird."
Harry got up, Teddy jumping onto the floor and standing next to him.
"It's up in my room. We can play up there," Harry said.
"Alright," Draco said.
"If you need me, I'll be down here. And lunch will be in an hour," Snape stated, turning a page in his book.
With that, Harry, Draco and Teddy made their way to the stairs. Draco could tell Harry was taking it slow, and didn't rush him. If Draco had to guess, Harry was currently feeling like a big bruise.
They came to the stairs.
"I take it Teddy needs to be carried?" Draco asked, but before he got an answer, Teddy jumped on Harry's foot and hugged Harry's shin and calf.
"Ready," Teddy stated.
"He doesn't like heights, so we've decided this is the best way for him to travel if he can't walk himself," Harry said, now going up the stairs. Draco noticed that Teddy didn't look down, but hid his face in Harry's pant leg, still standing on Harry's foot.
Entering Harry's room, Harry pointed to the shelf on the left side of the room where the muggle chess set was as he settled himself onto his made-up bed.
Sitting cross-legged, Draco soon joined him, and they set up the game.
Draco moved his pawn forward, wondering how to remove the awkward silence that had now surfaced in the room.
"I'm glad things have moved along well even with all of this," Harry said, taking his turn.
"Yeah, Hermione has been using the mirror a lot with Neville, Greg, and Vince," Draco said. "And the Weasley's have been busy too, though the twins won't say much about what they're doing, they said something about a surprise."
"Hmm, I don't know if I should be excited or worried."
"I'm not worried, though I feel bad about not feeling bad about what the twins are probably coming up with to fight the Death Eaters," Draco said with an evil grin.
Harry laughed.
"The next thing we need to do is write Dumbledore another letter. We need to bring him up to date with what's been going on Horcrux wise. He still doesn't know we've wiped them all out, well, at least the ones Riddle made before 1981. Part of me is wondering if Mage should talk to him through the mirror again, but I don't know if or how I can pull that off. Anyway, Sirius and Lupin are bringing Rook up to speed right now. Do you still have the goblin dagger on you? Does Ron have his?"
"Yeah, we both do, and Snape told me Dumbledore is holding yours. I had brought it up a few days ago, saying the Custosae wished to know it was safe. And I'll mirror Hermione about the letter; we'll get on it right away. Oh, and Hagrid said he had spoken with the Centaurs for a moment. They haven't promised anything, but Hagrid says we've made some progress with them, especially since they are willing to talk to him about alliances and things."
"Very good."
"Hagrid also suggested maybe getting Dumbledore in on this. The centaurs respect him a great deal, and getting another adult in on the talks probably wouldn't hurt," Draco said.
"I think that's a good idea. We'll put that in the next letter as well then," Harry agreed.
They played for a bit longer, both falling into silence, thinking. Teddy took his spot next to Harry and looked curiously at the board.
Harry knew this was a good opportunity to give Draco his parent's message to him, but he didn't know how. Draco must have noticed something was wrong after Harry gave a resigned sigh, because he paused slightly as he moved his knight.
"Something wrong, Harry?" he asked.
"Uh, not really, but…"
"What?"
"You know I was in the Realm, right?" Harry began, uneasily.
"Yeah. You spoke with your parents and the Minister's grandfather, you told us that."
"I-uh… spoke with some others too."
"Really? Who?" Draco asked, curious now.
"I would have told you earlier, but with everything going on, and never having the opportunity to speak to you alone, I didn't," Harry said.
"What is this about?"
"I spoke with your parents," Harry blurted out.
"Wha—?"
Teddy looked back and forth between Harry and Draco.
"What did they say?" Draco asked after a long pause.
"That you made the right choice, and that they're proud of you. Your dad said he was glad to know that the sins of the father will not rest upon the son. He wanted you to know that."
There was a long silence between them. Teddy got up and quietly waddled his way across the bed and gave Draco's side a small hug. Draco padded his fluffy head, appreciating the gesture, but none the less feeling awkward about a teddybear giving him a hug.
Harry found one of the rooks particularly interesting while Draco collected himself.
Draco cleared his throat. "Thanks… for telling me."
Harry nodded.
"So… did you meet any others there you need to…? I mean…" Draco trailed off.
Harry nodded again. "Yeah, I uh… I actually have a message to give to Snape."
Draco blinked. "Oh. Well, do you want me to… go get him?"
"Yeah, I suppose. I don't know when I'll have another chance to speak with him alone," Harry said after a moment.
"Okay. I'll go get him. Do you want me to take Teddy?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, I guess Snape wouldn't appreciate Teddy overhearing this," Harry said as Draco got off the bed, gathering up the chess pieces.
O o O o O
Snape didn't know what he was going to talk about with Harry, but by Draco's face, it had to be important, whatever it was. He made his way up the stairs, after swearing Draco to secrecy about acting as an elevator for Teddy (letting him stand on his foot while going up the stairs), since 'Teddy is afraid of heights'.
Draco had been surprised that Snape didn't mind letting Teddy be in the room while Harry spoke to him about the evidently important something. The fact was, Snape sort of did mind. If Harry felt that he wouldn't want Teddy there, there had to be a reason, but the conversation he had with Dumbledore before coming here stopped him from letting Teddy leave Harry's side for too long.
Teddy was the safest and fastest way for Harry's magic to drain itself.
Snape came to Harry's room, the sign on the door telling him so.
"Potter?" he asked, opening the door. Teddy peeked in from the side. "Draco said you wished to speak with me?"
Harry noticed Teddy and was about to say something after he nodded.
"Teddy is staying here, Potter. The Headmaster informed me that he is not to leave your side for an extended amount of time," Snape stated, entering the room and closing the door behind him.
"Are—I mean… I don't know if you want anyone to…" Harry began uneasily.
"Teddy is able to keep secrets, correct?"
"Yeah…"
"Then he can keep whatever this one is," Snape said logically, figuring his bat animagus was probably going to be the most guarded secret Teddy had of his.
"Oh, okay, sir."
Harry fidgeted as Snape pulled up a chair and casually flopped Teddy on the bed. Teddy quickly sat next to Harry, not commenting on the less than gentle treatment from Snape.
Snape couldn't help but feel a little nervous, wondering what on earth this was about, but he hid it well, much like everything else.
"Potter, what is it?"
Harry slowly looked up, his green eyes meeting Snape's black ones.
"I would have told you sooner but haven't gotten the chance, but now that I do, I don't know how."
"What is this about? Just say it."
"When I was in the Realm, I spoke with my parents," Harry said quietly.
Snape made himself appear calm. "The Headmaster mentioned you had met with them. Is this what you wanted to tell me?" he asked, hoping that was all this was about.
"No."
"Then what?"
"They wanted me to tell you some things. My dad wanted to thank you… for looking after me. Your debt has been paid in full."
The moment he finished that sentence, they felt a brush of magic, but Harry's magic didn't react to it. Snape knew what it had been. The life debt had been lifted.
Snape's eyes grew wide, his hand unconsciously going to just above his eyebrows. This was probably the most overwhelmed Harry had ever seen Snape be. Actually, the only person who had seen him more overwhelmed was Albus Dumbledore.
Snape exhaled slowly, collecting himself. Though no matter how much collecting he had managed, it all would be wiped away soon enough.
Seeing Snape wasn't going to say anything after that, Harry continued.
"My mom also wanted to let you know that she has forgiven you, though she didn't elaborate. I just know she thought it was important enough for me to tell you," Harry said.
"Forgiven me?" Snape whispered.
To Harry's surprise, Snape's voice was a little rough, though he was managing to control his emotions, it was clear how close he was to losing it.
"I don't deserve forgiveness, let alone hers," Snape muttered.
"That's why it's called forgiveness. It's given, not earned," Harry muttered back.
Snape's eyes glided back to Harry's, somehow staying steady.
Harry and Teddy both stayed silent as Snape slowly stood up and went to the door. He stopped at the doorway and turned back to Harry.
"You're right, but it doesn't mean I can't or shouldn't try."
With that, Snape silently shut the door behind him.
O o O o O
Next Part: Reaction
