Chapter nine
The sun pierced his closed eye lids as he was wheeled out of St mungos hospital by the man dressed in black. Muggles walked past oblivious to the two people who had just emerged from the deserted shop window. They strolled down the street in silence neither knowing what to say to the other plus Harry was enjoying the silence.
"I thought we would get home the muggle way Potter, its not too far from here." He said keeping his grip on the handles of the wheel chair. Harry just hummed a little yes and continued to enjoy the slight breeze brushing against his face. Traffic moved around them in a blur as they moved closer to their home both dying for a drink to wet their dry mouths. As the gate to their home approached Snape broke their silence once more.
"This is it, number 24." He said raising his hand to point out the house unaware Harrys eyes had remained closed this whole time. Slowly he allowed the late afternoon sun to fill his eyes as he took his first glimse of his new home. It was a thin building that raised to reach three floors a bit like Sirius' house only smaller he thought taking in the view before him. A little metal fence surrounded the house keeping the overgrown weeds from escaping into the surrounding streets. This house looked dark and grubby compared to the rest but thats what Harry liked the most, he'd spent most of his life being surrounded by unnaturally clean houses so much so that he hated them. The gate swung open with a squeak and slowly Snape pushed him over the uneven paving up towards the old wooden front door. The door opened to reveal a long passageway with different rooms branching off and the foot of the stairs hidden behind the open door. The dull light made by the candles mounted on the walls, temporarily brightened by the sun through the open door, lit up the faded wall paper peeling from the walls.
"Well this is it, this will be your home for the next few weeks." Said Snape pushing Harry in front of the stairs so he could move to shut the door. Darkening the corridor light enough to make Harrys eyes to have to adjust. "Your room is on the first floor but before i take you up there i think we should eat." Said Snape making his way towards a door at the end of the corridor concealing what he guessed was the kitchen. Slowly he began to put weight on his feet intending to follow Snape into the kitchen but found he didn't yet have the strenght to do so. The sound of pots and running water drew his head up to look at the door ahead hiding Snape from view. After 5 minutes Snape returned a weak smile on his face.
"Im making soup, but in the mean time maybe we should get you a strenghtening potion." He said hanging his cloak on the hook beside the door. He pulled Harrys chair towards him, away from the stairs then swung him round towards the door he disappeared behind minutes before. Before him stood a rectangular kitchen with a table placed in its centre. Cupboards and sides surounded the walls each with something on top: Pots, pans, plates, cups, vials and somethings Harry had never seem before. The soup began to boil over the crackling fire as Snape stirred it with his long spoon.
"Thats nearly done..." He said more to himself than to Harry too many years living alone can do that to a man. "Ar yes your potion." He said spinning on the spot remembering where he put it. He left the room leaving Harry temperailly alone again. Seconds past when he saw the blur of his cape reappear in the room carrying a small vial of what looked like purple liquid.
"Now this is to be taken just before food to get its best result thats where they went wrong at st mungos you had it after you ate, yes?" Said Snape grabbing an upside down glass from beside the sink and filling it with water. Harry gave a little nod and continued to watch his guardians actions. With a flick of his wand two bowls sprang down and settled on the table a spoon landing beside each. Turning back around Snape settled the glass and vial down next to one bowl and moved towards Harry to position him at the table.
"Right you can take this now whilst i prepare the soup. I would take a drink of water first no doubt your mouth will be dry and believe me its better if your mouth isn't when taking that." He said with a smirk, turning round to give the soup one last stir before he took it off the fire. Harry watched Snape as he did this through the bottom of the water glass taking deep refreshing gulps to satisfy his thirst. Once the glass was empty he layed it back on the table as Snape scooped enough soup to fill each bowl.
"Sip it up Potter you'll be eating in a second." Said Snape pouring the last scoop of soup into the bowl and laying it in front of Harry. The soup smelt delicious thought Harry compared to the hospital food he could tell he was going to enjoy this and without a second thought brought the tiny vial to his lips and drunk the entire contense in one and choked.
"Uglhhh" Gagged Harry grabbing the empty glass of water to get rid of the horrid taste and remembered he had drunken it all. He had never had anything like it and he thought skelligrow was bad, this tasted nothing like the one he had at the hospital. A deep bellowing laugh erupted from the man stood beside him. He looked up in annoyance at the sound.
"you did that on purpose, what did you do add in an extra ingredient to make it taste more foul?" Asked Harry scowling at the older man.
"You should know by know Potter that you can't add anything toa potion without either weakening it or totally ruining it." He said moving closer to Harry waiting for a smart comment to come back his way but when Harrys didn't answer he moved on.
"A refill it is then." He laughed taking the glass and filling it up. Waiting as the water splashed over the sides of the cup whilst it rushed out rather fast. Once it was nearly full he walked back to Harry and handed him the glass which he suddenly half emptied in one go. Snape stared on in disbelief taking his seat beside him and pulling his bowl close. Harry watched him dip his spoon into his bowl and bring it up full of soup to his mouth, before he grabbed his own spoon to eat, feeling the new surge of energy bursting through him. As they ate silence fell, not a sound could be heard but the slurping of their soup being drunk from their spoons. 10 minutes later Snape stood and took both their empty bowls to the sink ready to be washed.
"I think it's time we got you to your room." He said walking behind him to grab the handles of his wheelchair. "Wait i want information first whats going on with me? What happened a week ago after i killed Voldemort?" Said Harry turning in his chair to look Snape in the face.
"I don't think your up for that just now Potter do you? I bet your dying to sleep after the move today it would of taken alot out of you." Explained Snape looking back into the green eyes looking up at him. Without waiting for an answer Snape wheeled Harry out of the room and towards the bottom of the stairs.
"If you can stand Potter i think it would be easier if we apparated upstairs." Said Snape grabbing Harry under the arm to help him stand. Harry pushed his weight onto his feet and slowly raised, shakily reaching his full height.
"Ready, Potter?" Asked Snape wand in his hand. After a weak nod from Harry he closed his eyes and spun on the spot.
Harrys legs landed on the carpeted floor theatening to collapse beneath him, in fact if it hadn't been for Snape he would have fell on impact. "You okay?" Snape asked looking at the bits of him he could see whilst still keeping his grip on him. Harry was glad Snape had ordered him to bed rather than telling him everything now because he was infact exausted and he didnt think he could last another minute without passing out. With a lot of help from Snape, Harry made it to the bed and lay down beneath the covers his heavy head sinking straight to the pillow. His eyelids grew heavier and every second causing him more struggle to stay awake.
"We'll talk things over in the morning but for now get some sleep." He walked out the room blowing out the candles with his wand saying a last "Goodnight Harry." before he finally shut the door behind him. He wasn't sure if he had heard him right but he thought he heard Snape call him Harry, well that would be a first he thought before sleep finally overpowered him into unconsiousness.
Thankyou for reading please review. The next chapter will finally explain what happened to Harry the day Voldemort died. Hope you enjoyed.