Chapter 17 The Truth
Severus couldn't believe what he had heard. He had headed to Simon's room to check on him. He had figured the headmaster had been overzealous in his feast. Batty old man was always planning a celebration for one reason or another.
Severus snarled the entire way up the hall letting the bottom of his cloak wisp slightly off the ground. As he got closer to the room, he heard screaming. It was someone begging for life.
"Simon!" Severus ran to the room and swung the door open, only to find Simon in his bed, bathed in sweat and thrashing wildly.
"Mother! No Mother!" Simon jolted up wild-eyed and alarmed.
Simon stared at Severus and the only words Severus could utter were
"What have they done to you…?"
Severus was shocked. He had never seen someone so terrified for their life...from just a dream. When he finally didn't feel like his feet were glued to the ground he waved the door closed with his hand and went to Simon's bed. He said nothing but placed his hand on the man's head feeling for fever.
"...slight one…" Severus mumbled and took Simon's wrist for pulse.
Simon still sitting upright beneath the sheets, simply stared in confusion or perhaps fear. Severus could feel Simon's hands tremble within his own. He held it long, almost delicately stroking it with his other hand soothingly.
For a moment they stayed that way. Within breathing space of eachother. Severus could smell Simon's shampoo from that close. Lavender. His heart began to quicken. His senses heightened with the realization he was still holding Simon's hand. Severus looked up from Simon's hand and found his light brown eyes gazing into his own dark pupils. He swallowed quickly and Simon did not remove his hand. In fact, he almost seemed content in the arms of the surly potions master. Severus could feel the warmth of Simons face. He knew he could touch Simons face if he wanted to. Simon, he felt, in this moment...would not pull away.
But Severus couldn't do it. He couldn't touch him. Too pure of a man, Severus could not ruin Simon.
Simon delicately sighed. It was almost inaudible...almost. He wanted Severus back and there was no denying it in this moment. Severus got up from the bed and in doing so, broke the connection they were sharing.
He headed for the door.
Just before opening the door he looked at Simon's eye's, abashed and almost...quite possibly...disappointed.
Severus coughed uncomfortably.
"Meet me in my chambers when you are sorted...We have much to discuss…"
Severus slipped out and closed the door behind him. He headed for his chambers. A faint coldness reached him. He didn't know what was happening or even what had happened.
But he had initially gone in there to check on Simon. He couldn't imagine what would make the man so distraught...He would find out soon. He also wanted to ask Simon about Harry's initial living arraignment. Vernon Dursley mentioned to Severus that Harry Potter came back from school when he had interrogated them. He admitted Potter being alive and then...of course... like the slime they are, gave the dark lord Potter's living quarters, and he supposed Simon's as well. Did they intend to kill both magical relatives at once!?
Severus had not heard any news, nor had he been called to the Dark Lord's side. So they couldn't have found the boy.
Harry got dressed as quickly as possible. He stopped to take a deep breathe before leaving the room. He hadn't stopped trembling since the dream. How much had Severus heard. He couldn't tell from the man's face. Snape was always one of composure but for a moment, there seemed to be a moment of...vulnerability. Harry nervously opened the door and went down the hall. The dinner had ended while Harry had slept and he could see them through the windows playing quidditch outside. Harry longed for the game but currently had more pressing issues than flying. His skin still yearned for the touch he had on his hand.
He made his way to a door he knew as Severus' rooms but found the door style had change. Knowing the skulking man had bewitched the door, probably so others could not sneak in and hear their conversation. Harry knocked, faintly. Shivers and some arousal was went down his spine...
"Enter…"
Harry heard the words but somehow wished they weren't spoken. He opened the door and found himself in a room, similar to that of a library. Books of enchantment and evil covered the walls and there was a faint earthy smell to the room. Cauldrons of many sizes decorated the walls and the only window in the room was dressed in a black curtain. Harry knew the man that owned this room. It had a sense of familiarity and also a coldness that Harry felt from the first day he sat in this room. He was in the potions classroom. Or what was dressed in replica.
"Close that door unless you wish to join the decorations on my walls..." Harry jumped as he was snapped out of his trance.
"S-sorry Severus..." Harry moved quickly and shut the door behind him. No sooner did a crank come down quickly and ensnare the door into place. He was not leaving any time soon.
"Where is Harry Potter?"
"I-I...don't know what you're talking about...he's..."
"HE'S NOT DEAD!"
Harry's voice became tight. This wasn't the conversation he had anticipated. He became more nervous now, worried that Severus was onto him.
"Simon, I was hoping that you and I..." Severus stammered for words.
"I thought you could be honest with me by now..." Harry began to feel guilty. He had almost become fond of Severus. He didn't really understand his feelings...but he knew he didn't want them to stop.
"Severus, I am being honest with you." Harry sighed, "I honestly don't know what you are talking about. As far as I know, he is dead..." Harry tried to show as much openness as he could.
"I spoke with your family you know."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"They told me his address...your address... They intended to kill you both. Your address was given to Voldemort and you will never be able to return home, you or Potter. They told me you knew where he was hiding...Tell me, is he...Alive?"
Severus tried to hold his voice steady but it was beginning to break. Harry knew the Dursley's were up to something but he never thought they could do something so horrible. He had even begun to get close to uncle Vernon. He must have cried without realizing it because Severus seemed like he wanted to comfort him.
Harry wiped the tears off with his sleeve.
"Actually, that...eh herm...what you said is...news to me. Harry...is alive but hes not at the apartment...we only shared it for a small amount of time. He planned to take some monster down...didn't give me any details...They fucking told me to stay home all of the time..." New tears found their way back to Harry's face.
"Aunt Petunia would even call all day to make sure I was home...They bought me that apartment specifically...thought they loved..." Harry didn't know when he dropped to the floor. The urge to fight the tears became lost in the anger and betrayal he had felt.
"Fucking changed...my name...my look...my belief...for those utter pieces of dung!"
Severus couldn't move. He didn't realize how little Simon knew. He thought there would be more like Harry's new apartment. But informing him of the Dursley's plan broke his heart.
Harry got up. Wiped the tears away once more and had far more determination than before.
"I'd like to begin our lesson for the day."
"Are you sure...you've had to take in quite a bit-"
"DO IT!"
Severus nodded.
"So be it. Legitimence!"
A swirl of memories clashing about frantically nearly made Harry sick. It had happened so fast that he almost forgot to protect himself mentally so that his identity stayed unknown.
A memory passed by Snape with a baby crawling on the floor and a woman without a face picked the boy up. Harry hadn't made a new face for Simon's mother yet. Blurring took place with the memory giving Snape the information he needed.
The memories were tampered with. Severus went to a memory of the boy at 5 where he were at the Dursley's home and a young Harry and Simon played on the floor, the image began to fade as Harry couldn't think quick enough to give Snape images. Memories vague and blurred began wisping away like fog as one by one Severus destroyed the fakes, his anger overtaking him more and more. The realization became clear, he had been lied to.
"You truly are a powerful wizard... I must hold a high regard for you but make no mistake, I will find you out and won't stop till I either get my answers or your dead on the floor."
Harry's head began panging, too much holding back, not enough power to hold the angry professor back, Harry began fading. He was beyond tired and had never lasted so long.
An image floated to Severus and he found a boy with tears in his eyes walking up the steps of the inside of Hogwarts castle:
"Out for a stroll Mr. Potter?" Memory Harry looked at him with a blank look and shook his head no. Image Snape with a confused face saw the boy continue up the stairs.
"Mr. Potter I will not be disrespected by an imbecile with a complex now get back here this instant." Harry continued to move to the nearby window and as he looked out he looked back to his professor with a meaningfully painful face. Realization of what Harry planned to do next drew up on Snape's face.
Severus' stomach began to lurch.
"Potter, don't do anything foolish, I won't lose my job because you decided to be a drama queen now get over here and away from the window. " A fear Harry had never expected drew itself from Snape's lips. Harry's foot on the edge, one last look at this lovely castle and Harry's body had fallen aimlessly on the rocks where blood had mopped the structure and his body floated along the shore. Simon was outside the castle watching Harry's body fall. A tear fell from the boy's face as he drew up his cloak and ventured into the woods.
Severus stopped the spell in shock. What Severus had seen was Simon controlling Harry Potter's body and made the boy jump out of the tower. Harry moaned in pain reminding Severus of his presence.
Harry became confused and it clearly showed on his face. Before he could react, Snape had taken out his wand and pinned Harry to the floor with a curse. A great weight dropped on him and made him feel like he was trapped under a car. Severus snarled.
Harry tried to get up from the curse but he was far too weak. He realized how that memory had looked. It looked like Simon killed Harry Potter and Snape was looking at Simon like he had looked at Harry for the first time, with disgust…
"YOU!"
Please, Severus I can explain..."
"YOU DON'T GET TO EXPLAIN! I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU, BUT YOU TOOK THAT BOY'S LIFE AWAY! WHAT WAS IT YOU WANTED?! HIS HOME, HIS FAMILY...He never had a home or family...And you disgusting filth took away what the boy had left... your despicable… YOUR DEA-!"
Harry was dumbstruck...Severus never stopped thinking about Harry. He had shown little respect to the man because he never trusted him, but Severus Snape never forgot Harry...Even if the man was always seen as benevolent and vile.
"Very well Simon, you leave me no choice...AVADA KED-"
A door swinging open stopped Snape from using the deadly curse he intended to when Remus Lupin managed to break the lock on the door.
"GOOD GOD MAN! What in blazes do you think you're doing to Simon!?"
Remus ran to Simon's side and tried to find a way to get the man up. Severus waved the door closed, still shaking from anger.
"You don't understand Lupin, this LEECH killed Potter…"
Remus heard the words but couldn't believe it.
"You said Harry was alive!"
"The bloody Dursley's probably lied to throw me off this scum's trail. But I FOUND YOU OUT! You LYING SACK OF…"
"Severus! Stop, how do you know…"
"His bloody memory, Lupin. I watched him walk the boy right off the edge. Probably using Imperio...Years of my life Lupin...Nearly 3 years I watched that boy die in my sleep. And then I finally become fond of someone...Let my guard down...for what...FOR THE BAFOON THAT DESTROYED THAT BOYS LIFE!"
Severus was shaking, and Remus couldn't blame him. Snape seldom let his emotions run wild but he found a place in his heart for Simon even if he'd never admit it. He felt betrayed.
"Severus, let him up and we will interrogate him together...WITHOUT use of illegal curses…" Remus added when he saw malice in Severus' eyes.
"Remus, please...leave the room...I will explain everything to Severus...It may be too much to handle for you right away…" Harry asked hoping Remus could see the truth in his eyes.
"I'll be outside...Severus...NO ILLEGAL CURSES!" Remus went to the door and left, shutting it behind him.
"Start talking…" Severus watched as Simon got up, but what he found next truly made his gasp.
"I am Harry Potter." Harry disfigured his face, a familiar scar appeared and he removed the contacts that hid his beloved mothers eyes.
"You...You're alive…"