A/N Sev and Harry go to SE.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Duh!
Blind
Chapter 10
Severus let Harry guide him up to his house on Spinners End, feeling rather... like an invalid.
But of course, close walled Spinners End was a lot better than wide open Hogwarts. After two more panic attacks, Albus had insisted he return to his summer home. With Potter.
Granted, the boy had been rather helpful and understanding when it came to his... problem. But it WAS still Potter.
Or was it? A lot of his preconceived thoughts on the brat had been destroyed. The boy wasn't spoiled, nor pampered by his relatives. Quite the opposite, in fact. And, without having to see Potter Sr's face staring back at him with Lily's eyes... the boy was much easier to get along with.
The conversation with Dumbledore after he had collapsed sobbing in the middle of the Great Hall was what finally convinced him to leave.
***Flashback***
Severus sat, breathing heavily, in the Headmaster's office. He felt so cold, despite the now heat-charmed robes he wore and the strong tea he now gulped greedily.
"Severus. I must insist you go to your home where you are more familiar with your surroundings-"
"I am fine, sir," Severus interrupted, pulling the soft robes closer to him.
Albus was silent for a minute, making Severus feel as if he was drifting away again. He gripped the chair arms tightly.
"Yes. You seemed 'fine' this morning when you had a panic attack in the Great Hall and were inconsolable," Albus muttered sarcastically.
Severus released his hold on the chair to press his eyelids, the horrible hurting/itching taking root again.
Albus sighed. "I know you can't live there alone, not with how sick you are still. Would it be possible for Harry to go with you? I know you two have talked about such things..."
Severus nodded slowly. "Indeed, we have... But it was just talk. I do not know if he would want... someone like me as his guardian. Plus, how would I support him? Without any job-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who said ANYTHING about you not having a job?" Albus asked, slightly worried about the degrading manner in which Severus was describing himself.
Severus gave him a dumb look. "Well, I can't see to brew. I would get myself blown up!"
Albus gently placed his hand on the other man's shoulder to placate him. "We will work something out. But as long as you are alive, you will always have a home here."
Severus bowed his head, tears jumping into his dark eyes. "Merlin, why am I so emotional?!"
Albus gave a small smile. "Perhaps that's a good thing." At Severus's disgusted expression, the older man couldn't help but chuckle. "But about Harry-"
"I will take the boy in IF he wants to."
***End Flashback***
Apparently, for reasons unknown, the boy wanted to.
"This house is really... dark," Harry muttered. Severus could have face palmed. Ever since he had lost his sight, he had not turned on a light or lit a candle.
"Its a Muggle house. The lamp should be... Here it is," Severus muttered, flicking on the light. He sighed, as nothing in his vision changed.
Harry looked around the dark and dingy interior of Snape's house. It was cramped with lots of worn chairs with springs sticking out of them, and three legged tables, which were held up by stacks of books. In fact, there was hardly a place there wasn't books!
The kitchen was small and dusty, but gave off an air of a kitchen that had been used, and used often. There was also a small table with a couple rickety chairs in there.
Snape walked easier through these rooms, since he could be touching something at all times. He stopped at a bookshelf, and opened it to reveal stairs going up.
"Our rooms are up there, if you want to take your stuff up. You should take the second room. Fresh linens are in the closet," Snape muttered cordially, as he relaxed down into an armchair, looking exhausted.
Frankly, Harry felt exhausted as well, but he needed to take his trunk up the stairs. Which was easier said than done.
Once he finally made it up the steep wooden stairs, he dragged the heavy trunk to the second door.
His room was about like the rest of the house: Dark, yet warm and cozy. The walls were painted a deep gold, though it was a bit faded. The bedding he had just added was light blue, and heavy velvet curtains covered the windows.
Harry shoved his trunk aside, too tired to unpack it, and fell onto the creaky bed, instantly asleep.
A/N All right, so here's the deal. I'm going to be working hard on Save Me No One, Destroy Me, and a new fic for a little while, because I got to placate my muse, and if I keep on this story right now, I will get burnt out. So be patient. (Plus, school just started. Yippie.) Hehe!
Review!