Chapter 6: Fixing Problems
Author's Note: Thank you everyone who reviewed and alerted and everything else! I tried to write this chapter much faster than the last one and it seems that I succeeded! Yay! It is a bit shorter than the last one but hopefully you'll be so kind as to forgive that. Now on with the chapter then.
Disclaimer: I am most certainly not J.K. Rowling. If I were, dearest Harry would NOT have gotten with the Weaslette.
Tokugawa Blitzer: Thank you for your review. Yes, first Harry then Hermione, the Golden Trio isn't having much luck this year. But luckily Ron figured out Sev's secret. Unfortunately, I can't promise that Sev will be out of his cat body soon. There's still a lot coming for him.
new moongirl: Thank you for your kind review.
CarelesslyCamouflaged: Yes, life is quite hard for darling Draco right now. I'm happy to hear that everyone seems to like kitty!Severus. He's quite fun to write.
kokoro621: Hehehe, yes Ron is quite fun to write and I always knew how his first reaction to Severus was going to be. I am planning some funny (hopefully) stuff with Severus reacting to Charlie's interest in Draco. Thanks for you well wishes for me in college.
Very Small Prophet: Yeah, I figured I wouldn't worry too much about the names. Pure bloods do seem to have a knack for naming their kids odd things.
bkerrmom1: Thank you for your review.
Shadow: I'm glad everyone seems to like Ron's reaction. I thought it was delightfully Ron-like. Thanks for the review.
CHSgrl09: I'm glad I could surprise you. I was hoping that most people wouldn't be expecting it.
Brigit: Thanks for your review. I'm glad you liked it so much.
Emily Redbird: Hehehe, yep. I've been majorly overworked lately but everyone has been really nice about it so far.
Risi: Hehe, I've always liked the idea that the least likely person to find out would find out first. From the beginning I knew Ron would be the first to figure it out.
IchigoPudding: Thanks you soooo much for all of your reviews. I'm happy that you like my little fic so much.
mycatsaninja47: Wow. Thank you for your very enthusiastic review. And of course I'm a AVPM/AVPS fan. What good Harry Potter fan isn't?
T-TrainOrTurkeyT: I'm glad you liked my little surprise with Ron. Thank you for your review.
ThisIsTheOnlyNameICouldPick: I'm happy that you liked this chapter. And yes, Ron has a lot of insults coming his way. I'm sure he'll soon wish Severus was still dead.
Yashida: Thanks so much for your review!
Seto K4iba1: Hehehe. You may be right about Hermione. She does have a very logical mind and a person being sent back as a cat isn't exactly logical is it?
Stellaa limegood: Thanks for your review!
Dragon Soarer: Yeah, I've never really cared for Ginny. That may shine through in this story from time to time in the way she acts and the way I describe her. I can promise you that Charlie will not become creepily obsessed with Draco. I feel like Draco needs a healthy relationship and Charlie provides that. Yes, Severus being able to talk may take away a potentially funny situation but it also sounds much harder. Not to say that I want to be lazy with this story but if something gets too hard then my writing won't be at its best and that's the last thing I would want. Thank you very much for your long review!
Kayya: Thank you for your review. Yes, I thought that Ron finding out whilst in a rage was best. I'm amazingly happy that everyone was so surprised by Ron being the first to figure it out.
Hoho: Thanks a ton for your review!
: Thanks a lot for your review!
Maximus: I'm glad you found it funny. Here's the update that you seem to crave.
YeahMan: Thanks for thinking highly of my little story! Here's the update!
XoxoxoxoxoX
The room was dark. Harry looked around, wondering where he was. Whispering voices filled the room as he stumbled about. He wanted to find whoever it was talking and yet he wanted to avoid them at all cost. Their hissing voices filled the room to the point that he could barely stand it. They had to stop or he would go insane.
"It's real for us…"
Harry turned quickly, fearing what he would find. Behind him was a small boy, no more than ten, with over-long dark hair and a too big coat. The boy's hair hung in his face as he looked up at Harry. Harry knew he had seen this boy before and wondered where. His head was filled with the hissing voices and it was hard to think.
"Look…at…me…" The boy gasped out. His voice was louder than any of the others and as Harry looked at him he began to grow.
The boy was soon a teenager; lanky, awkward, and dark. "Look…at…me…" He reached out for Harry, causing the man to stumble back in fear. Snape, Harry placed him, started to grow once again. Then he was a man, just as Harry had always known him. Snape grabbed at his throat as blood began to spill from large puncture wounds that rapidly appeared.
Harry wanted to scream as blood began spilling to the floor, Snape collapsing. Blood flowed from his body, flooding the room until Harry was up to his neck in the stuff. "Help! Someone help!" he yelled, trying to swim as the blood began to churn like waves in the ocean.
A hand shot out of the water and gripped Harry's arm in a bruising grip. Harry twisted to see a corpse starring him in the face. Its body was nothing but bone covered in a lily pale skin. Its face was pulled into a grotesque grin and its eyes were the color of pus. More inferi began to appear from the depths of blood. They grabbed at Harry, pulling his hair and snatching at his clothes. He tried to scream only to have blood flood into his mouth. The inferi dragged him down into the depths, shrieking with laughter as he drowned.
Harry shot up in his bed with a gasp. Sirius, who had been trying to wake him, pulled his hand back. "You okay, Harry?" he asked with a concerned frown.
Harry's eyes darted around the room in slight panic until he realized that he was still in the Hospital Wing, perfectly safe. "I-I'm fine, Sirius. Just a bad dream." He attempted to smile.
Sirius gave an understanding smile as he took a seat next to Harry's bed. "I came to get you. Pomfrey said that you were allowed to leave today and, since it's a Hogsmead day, me and Remus are taking you to a celebratory dinner in the village! Ron should be coming too. Remus went to find him."
"Sounds good. It'll be great to get out of this bloody bed." Harry grinned, the dream fading into the back of his mind.
Harry went into the Hospital Wing bathroom, looking into the mirror as he began to take the bandages off. Madame Pomfrey had been amazing when it came to preventing scars. There were none on Harry's face except for a small one on the side of his jaw. His arms were still noticeably scarred, being the part that took the brunt of the potion, but there was no longer any pain. Madame Pomfrey said that his arms would probably always be scarred. Burn scars tended to be more difficult to heal than those made by a cut.
Harry finished taking the bandages off and pulled on some clean clothes. "Alright, I'm ready Sirius." He gave a small smile to his godfather as he came out of the bathroom. Sirius had been trying to sneak a chocolate frog from Harry's pile. Sirius jumped at Harry's reappearance and the frog took the opportunity to leap from his hand.
"You look good. I was afraid you'd be more heavily scarred." Sirius grinned as he checked Harry's face. "Well let's go. Remus should have found Ron by now."
XoxoxoxoxoX
Draco was currently hiding out in the library. It was mostly empty at the moment seeing as most of Hogwarts' inhabitants were enjoying their day at Hogsmead. It was one of the last nice days of the year before cold weather came. Draco had considered going to the village but in the end he had decided to take advantage of the lack of hostile glares and get some homework done.
He was halfway through a painfully difficult essay for Transfiguration when someone plopped down gracelessly across from him. He nearly jumped out of his skin before he saw who it was. Charlie Weasley smiled cheerily back at him. "Hello."
Draco scowled at him. "Do you always just plop loudly wherever you want?"
"Pretty much, yeah. Anyways, why are you all cooped up in the library when you could be enjoying a perfectly lovely day?" he asked as he carelessly leaned his chair back on two legs.
"I figured I'd get some homework done." Draco said shortly.
"Instead of getting out and going to Hogsmead?" Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. And you are distracting me. So please leave now." Draco looked back to his essay, trying to hide the way his cheeks were coloring at Charlie's stare.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see I came here to get you to come with me to the village." Charlie grinned.
"W-what? Why?" Draco blushed and quickly looked back to his essay.
"Because I wanna go out with you." Charlie shrugged.
"What, are you trying to ask me on a bloody date or something?"
"Well I didn't think you would like it if I called it that." Charlie grinned again.
Draco blushed darkly. "Why would you want to take me out on a date?"
"Because I like you." Charlie smiled charmingly.
"What if I'm not gay?" Draco challenged without really knowing why.
Charlie looked slightly surprised. But the surprise soon faded into a smirk. "I don't believe you. I've seen the way you look at me and you're diffidently interested."
"Well you're quite cocky." Draco stood and brushed imaginary dust from his robes. "I suppose I can allow you to take me on a date." He said this in the most dignified way possible.
"Why thank you, your highness." Charlie smirked sarcastically.
XoxoxoxoxoX
"Do you even know where you're going?"
"I lived in these rooms for nearly seventeen years, Weasley. Of course I know where I'm going."
Severus and Ron were currently walking through the dungeons, Severus walking ahead of Ron with his tail up. Severus would not admit he was lost. True, he could picture the path to his rooms easily. However, there seemed to have been a few changes over the summer. It made sense considering all the repairs that the castle had needed. Now, instead of a long corridor leading to a staircase that would lead down to his rooms, there was a wall. It didn't help that it was dark in the dungeons even in the daytime and while the ability to see in the dark was useful it was also still a bit disorienting.
"We've passed this picture twice." Ron pointed out.
Severus turned with a hiss, about to tell the idiot boy off, when they both heard a familiar voice say, "Ron?"
They both turned to see Remus standing at the end of the hallway. "Professor Lupin?"
"What are you doing down here?" Remus asked as he approached.
"I'm…uh…I was trying to find Prince." Ron pointed to the cat. "He's Harry's and I figured he'd want to see 'im when he got out of the Hospital Wing. What are you doing down here?"
"I was looking for you. Harry's out of the Hospital Wing and we're taking him to Hogsmead to celebrate. Sirius and I figured that you would want to come too." Remus smiled.
"Sounds good." Ron smiled back. Severus looked up at him.
"Have you forgotten what we are doing, you stupid boy?" he hissed quietly.
Ron gave him a look and then looked at Remus. He didn't want to look crazy talking to a cat in front of the older man. Severus huffed and followed them, deciding that seeing Potter wouldn't be so bad. At the very least he was the only one that fed him properly.
Remus was looking at the cat that was following Ron closely. It was close to the full moon and his senses were heightened dramatically. The cat smelled…familiar. Remus was sure he had smelled this scent before but he couldn't quite place it. For some reason he associated it with the color black. He dismissed it from his mind as Sirius and Harry came into view.
"Harry, you're looking much better mate!" Ron exclaimed, clapping Harry on the back.
"Yes. I'm glad there wasn't too much permanent damage." Remus smiled and ruffled Harry's hair lightly.
"Thanks you guys. What's Prince doing here?" Harry asked, kneeling down to pet the cat.
Ron wanted to laugh at the glare Harry received from Severus as he stroked down the cat's body. 'I bet that git's never been touched so much in his life.' He thought with a smirk. "He followed me down. I guess he missed his master while you were away."
Severus' glare snapped to Ron. "Keep your mouth shut, you imbecile." He hissed. Ron smirked at the cat in return.
"Have you two been getting on a bit better then?" Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron.
"Yeah. We've kinda bonded." Ron grinned, ruffling Severus' fur.
Severus hissed viciously and clawed at Ron. "Keep your hands to yourself, you impudent brat."
"If you say so." Harry said, sounding doubtful as Severus glared at the red-head.
"Well let's get going boys. It took you long enough to find him Remy." Sirius grinned at Remus.
"Yes well I wasn't expecting to have to search for him in the dungeons. If it wasn't so close to the full moon I wouldn't have caught his scent and I probably wouldn't have found him at all." Remus gave a mock glare to Sirius.
"Why were you in the dungeon, Ron?" Harry asked, having picked Prince up and carrying him along.
"I was looking for Prince. He's been missing for a while and I figured you'd want to see him."
"Actually, he's been coming to the Hospital Wing almost every night." Harry smiled down at the cat.
"Oh. Well I didn't know." Ron shrugged as they began going towards Hogsmead.
Severus eventually managed to climb from Potter's arms in favor of perching on his shoulder, digging his claws into his robes to prevent him falling. He was satisfied by this position, feeling it was much more dignified. Potter flinched slightly as Prince's tail tickled him as it wrapped around his neck.
XoxoxoxoxoX
Harry kind of envied Sirius and Remus. As they walked to Hogsmead the two men held hands happily. Sirius would every now and then give a playful tug to Remus' arm, pulling him closer. Remus would shoot Sirius a mock glare which never failed to fade into a smile.
Ever since the end of the war life had improved more for Remus and Sirius than it had for most people. The anti-werewolf laws were reevaluated and removed, Sirius' name was cleared, and they had both survived the war. Life was going well for them at last after a really long period of hardship after hardship.
Harry envied their relationship a lot. A little over a year ago he had thought that him and Ginny would be in a similarly happy relationship. 'I just had to have a sexual awakening.' He thought, slightly glumly. He supposed he might have figured his orientation out sooner, thus saving everyone a lot of heart ache, if he hadn't had a mad man trying to kill him at least once almost every school year. He had only really had time to think about what he wanted after the war had ended.
He could admit now that he really hadn't fully believed that he would survive the final battle against Voldemort. That was probably why he had never consciously questioned his preference. But it was as if after the war his body had taken the opportunity to make it perfectly clear what it was that he actually wanted. When his nights weren't being tormented by nightmares he was usually having highly erotic dreams featuring a different dream man each time. In truth these dreams were probably a bit late in coming but that was just another thing he could blame on Voldemort.
So now all he really needed was a boyfriend. Surely, even though he hated himself slightly for thinking it, it couldn't be that hard for the Defeater-o-Voldy to get a date. But it was exactly that which seemed to be the main problem. Most people were more intimidated by him now that he had killed Voldemort with a disarming spell. He had shyly tried to flirt with a guy in Diagon Alley during summer break and the boy had completely clammed up before running off. Hermione had assured him that it probably had nothing to do with him being a guy. It had to do with him being Harry Potter. Harry knew that who he was could affect the relationship but surely it wouldn't completely prevent one from happening, would it?
Harry sighed slightly as they walked into the village. "Where are we going to eat? The Three Broomsticks?" he asked.
"Nah. We figured we'd go somewhere a little more special. We're going to The Silver Turtle. It's a new place that was just recently built over the summer. Me an' Remus have been there and it's pretty nice." Sirius grinned.
They reached the restaurant shortly. Harry could see that it was obviously new and fancier than the Three Broomsticks. The inside was decorated in earth tones with a large fountain in the middle of the restaurant. The fountain was of a large silver turtle with the Earth (A very realistic revolving Earth. Made of magic and glowing softly a pleasant blue.) balanced on the turtles back. When they entered the hostess nearly squealed at seeing Harry. She immediately got them to a table while barely hiding the fact that she was about to swoon.
A smiling, and thankfully calmer, waitress took their drink orders and gave them menus before going off. "So has there been any news about Hermione?" Remus asked with a concerned frown.
"Not yet. The Healers still don't know exactly how the spell is hurting her yet." Ron's jaw was set. Thinking about Hermione going through horror after horror again and again made him sick. It also made him want to grab Snape, rush out of the restaurant, and get the damn plant he was supposed to be looking for. But doing so would bring up too many questions that Ron literally couldn't answer. Not to mention Harry would probably try to follow him.
"She'll be fine. We can do some research later if you want." Harry offered, giving Ron a sympathetic look. Hermione was one of his best friends in the world but she was Ron's girlfriend. Ron, though he may not have said it yet, loved her. He couldn't imagine what his best mate was feeling.
"That sounds good, mate. Let's not think about it for a bit. Just enjoy our time here." Ron gave his companions a small smile.
XoxoxoxoxoX
Charlie and Draco were chatting and eating at a two person table in The Silver Turtle. Draco was truly surprised at how interesting he found Charlie. The only guy he had ever dated was a fellow Slytherin who had been a year ahead of him named Victor Fagan. Draco had dated him in his fifth year for a grand total of two months. In those two months they had snogged a lot, frotted a bit, and had seen each other half naked once. Draco honestly couldn't tell you anything about Victor's interests, home life, favorite school subject, or anything that was even the slightest bit personal.
Charlie was different. Charlie was fascinating and funny and charming. He talked to Draco like an equal. Something that Draco had only really experienced a few times in his life. Crabbe and Goyle had never been able to carry an intelligent conversation. Pansy had only ever been an irritant while Blaise was a bit too immature to have a serious conversation with. The only people who had treated him like a true person were Severus and Potter.
Charlie was chatting animatedly about being trapped in a pen with a young Chinese Fireball when Ron noticed the couple sitting there. "What the bloody hell is Charlie doing?" he blurted loudly.
Severus, who had been snatching food off Potter's plate every now and then; Potter having talked the waitress into letting the cat stay, turned to see his godson sitting with the second eldest Weasley child. He became aware of everyone else at the table looking at the unlikely duo as well. As they watched Draco let out a small laugh, smiling at Charlie.
"It looks like they're on a date." Harry commented, feeling a sense of dread at the look on Ron's face.
"Why is Charlie on a date with that git?" Ron asked, not expecting an answer, and making a move as if to stand.
"Don't bother them, Ron. Let's just finish dinner." Harry tried to coax the red-head back into his seat.
Ron looked at Harry and then back at the table where Charlie and Draco sat. "Don't cause any trouble." Severus meowed. Ron sneered at him and stomped over to the couple's table furiously.
"Charlie, what are you doing?" Ron asked with a tone of righteous anger.
Charlie looked up at his younger brother, the smiles that had been on Draco and his faces slid off. "Good to see you too, Ron. I'm on a date with Draco so please clear out."
"Why are you on a date with Malfoy?" Ron snapped.
"Because he said yes when I asked him out. Go away Ronald. You're sounding like a prat." Charlie glared at his brother.
Draco was frowning and starring at the table. He should have known he wouldn't be able to have a nice normal date with a guy. Trust Ron Weasley to ruin one of the best days that he had enjoyed in quite a while.
"You can't date a Malfoy, Charlie! Dad would flip!" Ron glared angrily at his older brother, his ears going red.
"I don't care what dad would do!" Charlie bit out loudly, making to stand up.
"Charlie, its fine. Clearly Weasley has more of a problem with me then he's let on recently. I should probably just…go." Draco held his ace impassive.
"No! Draco you don't have to leave just because my brother is an arse." Charlie glared furiously at his little brother.
"I'm not being an arse! You're the one who's on a date with Malfoy of all people!"
"Ron, come one. Let's leave Charlie and Draco alone." Harry begged, having left Prince in the booth in order to calm his friend.
"No way! Why are you out with Malfoy? You still haven't given a good damn answer!" Ron's ears were scarlet and his hands were clenched into fists.
"None of your damn business, Ronald!" Charlie bit out, taking a step towards his little brother.
"Ron, you're making a scene." Remus put a hand on Ron's shoulder to try and pull him away. Everyone in the restaurant was watching them with rapt attention.
"Sirs? Is there a problem?" A young waitress asked nervously.
"We're fine. We were just leaving." Sirius smiled comfortingly at the young woman. "Come along Ron."
Ron grit his teeth and, with one last scathing glare at Charlie and Draco, stormed out of the restaurant without waiting for Harry, Sirius or Remus.
Harry sighed and turned back towards Charlie and Draco. Meanwhile Severus, taking advantage of the lack of attention, took off after the youngest Weasley son. "I'm sorry Charlie and Draco. He's under a lot of stress." Harry apologized slightly lamely.
"That's no excuse." Charlie snarled under his breath.
"Thanks for the date, Weasley. I'm going to go." Draco said, walking quickly out of the restaurant before Charlie could stop him.
Charlie cursed and plopped down at the table he and Draco had previously been enjoying a meal at. "If that idiot ruined my chances…" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Don't worry, Charlie. I'm sure it's not you that Draco is angry with and Ron will calm down." Remus assured him.
"Yeah. Let's hope you're right. I've never been very big with relationships but I like Draco." Charlie sighed. "I have to go after him." He stood, dropped a few galleons on the table, and rushed out after Draco.
Harry gave another sigh. "Well…thanks for bringing me out." He gave a slightly ironic grin to the older couple.
Sirius chuckled. "Even when you defeat the most evil man anyone has ever seen, you still don't get a break, huh kiddo?" he slung an arm around Harry's shoulders as Remus paid their tab.
Harry gave a small laugh. "Hopefully everything will settle down soon."
XoxoxoxoxoX
Severus was soon able to catch up with the Weasley brat. Ron was walking quickly, muttering angrily, up to the castle. Severus walked beside him, keeping stride easily. "Quite a scene you caused back there."
"Shut up!" Ron snarled at the cat.
"I won't be talked to like that, you foolish brat. Especially not by a simpleton who flings his emotions at others like a child." Severus hissed.
"What do you want Snape?" Ron bit out as they reached the castle.
"I assumed, now that you are free of your obligation to accompany your friends, we were able to go to my rooms." Severus meowed.
"Oh…yeah. You're right." Ron grumbled. Severus took the lead as they once again headed to the dungeons.
XoxoxoxoxoX
Draco, after he had fled the restaurant, had gone to a quiet place by the lake that he had frequented often throughout his school career when he needed a place to think. It was secluded, surrounded by weeping willows, and there were thousands of flat stones that were perfect for skipping. Today he wasn't here simply to enjoy the solitude, however. He was quite too busy throwing rocks into the lake like a child while imagining that every one was a small Ron Weasley.
He had been having a perfectly fine day. He was on a date with an attractive guy who was attracted to him, he was at nice restaurant and his date was actually interesting and funny. Then Ron fucking Weasley had to show up and ruin the day for everyone. And then, of course, Draco just had to get it in his head to run from Charlie.
'He's probably given me up for a bad job.' Draco thought with a surge of regret. He should have stayed with Charlie. The older Weasley hadn't done anything wrong and Draco had still run out on him. He chucked another rock furiously.
"What did the lake do to you?" A voice from behind Draco asked.
Draco turned to see Charlie leaning against one of the willows wearing a small smirk. Draco turned to him fully, staring at the ground. "I shouldn't have left." He mumbled.
"I get why you did." Charlie smiled. "My brother was being a jackass to you for no reason."
"You don't think he might have a point?" Draco asked softly.
"What do you mean?" The smile faded from Charlie's face.
"People are going to give you hell if you date a Death Eater. Why in Merlin's name would you want to deal with their stupidity for me?" Draco finally looked up at Charlie.
Charlie gave a small sigh. "I've thought of that already. I know what you were and I know what you are now. Would you have even thought about going on a date with me just two years ago?"
Draco looked back at the ground. "Almost definitely not." He murmured softly.
"Exactly. You've changed. Everyone has changed. You're beautiful and witty and charming. Let me try to make you happy. Because you're not happy right now, Draco. I can see that." Charlie stepped closer to Draco and took his small hands into his own larger ones. "I don't care what anyone thinks. I don't care about Ron or my dad or my mum or anyone else. Let me be with you."
Draco could feel his eyes stinging at Charlie's words and had to grit his teeth in an effort not to cry. He had never had anyone who was willing to do so much to be near him. He had never had someone who cared this much besides his own mother. "I-if you going to be so insistent I guess I have no choice."
Charlie grinned and pulled Draco into his arms. Draco felt a blush heat up his cheeks as Charlie hooked a finger under his chin and angled his face upwards. There was a kiss that followed. It was good and sweet and chaste and simple. It lit something in Draco that made him feel wonderfully warm. It tasted like a promise.
XoxoxoxoxoX
Severus gave a relieved sigh as they finally reached his rooms. The portrait that hid the doorway was of an old man in a potions lab, brewing away at what looked like a complicated potion. The man in the portrait looked up at Ron with slight curiosity. "Well? What do you want, boy?" the man, who Albus had first introduced to Severus as Bartimus Bateman, barked out.
Ron looked down to Severus. "What's your password?"
"Ex umbra in solem." Severus answered with a meow.
Bartimus narrowed his eyes at the odd boy. "Who are you speaking to? Mad, are you? Talking to cats! I ask you! First I lose the only person to ever come down this far and now some boy comes down to blabber on to a cat!"
Severus sighed. Bartimus had been a good portrait guard except for when he went on his little rants. His favorite hobby had been to see how long he could continue ranting to Severus before he would let him into his rooms. "Tell him the password before he builds up steam." He hissed to the Weasley boy.
Ron repeated the password and Bartimus stopped his rant in favor of glaring at Ron suspiciously. "Why have you come? Think you can come and root through Severus' things just because he's dead? I'll be informing the Headmistress! I was charged with protecting these rooms!" Bartimus exclaimed proudly.
"Hey! I'm not stealing anything!" Ron protested angrily.
"Oh? Just wanted to take a walk in a dead professor's room with your cat, did you?"
"Yes!" Ron shouted, exasperatedly. "How do I get him to open up?" he looked back to Severus.
"Give him a moment. He's being entertained so he'll keep it up as long as he can." Severus contained the urge to roll his eyes.
After another few minutes, in which Bartimus and Ron continued to argue, Bartimus allowed the portrait to swing forward with a snort of disgust. As Severus shot in to his rooms they could hear him grumbling about youth these days.
Ron, who had been expecting a room that looked like some kind of medieval torture chamber, was surprised. The room was tasteful and done in shades of light gray. Bookshelves lined the rear wall and were kept neatly. There was a light gray sofa in front of a large fireplace. End tables sat on each end of the sofa with a lamp on each. The tables were both stacked with books, some of which were propped open as if Severus planned to return and finish them. The living room was connected to the small kitchen which held little more than a two person table. There were two doors in the living room which Ron guessed lead to a bathroom and a bedroom.
"Why, might I ask, are you gaping like a fool?" Severus asked.
"I guess I just expected your rooms to look different." Ron mumbled, forcing down the urge to look around more closely.
"Indeed. I'm sure you expected some sort of horrible dungeon, whips and shackles lining the walls along with the skeleton of some first year that displeased me." Severus drawled sarcastically. "Believe it or not, Mr. Weasley, but I do happen to enjoy the same comforts as most people."
"So where is this plant?" Ron asked, looking around the room.
"It will be in my lab. Through this door." Severus scratched at one of the doors.
Ron opened the door to find a room lined with jars containing numerous different potion ingredients much like Severus' old office. In the middle of the room was a long table holding a large cauldron, knives crafted from many different materials, dried plants, and cutting boards. Ron looked nervously at what looked like a human heart in a jar filled with crimson liquid.
Severus jumped up onto the long table in order to better locate the flower. He looked to Ron to tell him what to look for when he noticed that the boy was staring at a jar with repulsion. He smirked slightly and, in a voice he had perfected for terrifying students, asked "What exactly do you think you are doing Mr. Weasley?"
Ron, having a sudden flashback of all the times he had snuck out after hours and fearing being caught by Snape, jumped nearly a foot in the air. He turned quickly to glare at the professor-turned-cat. "Don't do that!" he hissed through his teeth. "You may be used to creepy places like this but I'm not!"
"Oh? I assumed that you might be used to it seeing as you found your way to numerous interesting places while you, Potter, and Granger were out breaking rules." Severus continued searching the walls. "Surely the Forbidden Forest is more threatening than my lab."
Ron refused to admit that Snape may have a point and instead looked at the wall, annoyed. "What's this flower look like anyways?"
"It is sapphire blue. The potion in the jar will be swirling in a counter clockwise direction." He answered.
"That shouldn't be too hard to find." Ron remarked. He soon found out how wrong he was. Snape had a ton of blue flowers, many of which made the potions move in one way or another. Finally, after being told off twice for pointing out flowers where the potion wasn't moving the right way, Ron said "Up there! Second from the top, fifth one over!" The jar he was pointing at contained a single sapphire flower. The potion that was swirling lazily around it was clear except for every few moments when it would flash a lovely silver color.
"Good. Get it carefully. I am only in possession of one and I doubt you have the time to go to Brazil to get another one." Severus ordered.
Ron grabbed a step stool and retrieved the flower with ease. He set it carefully on the table. "You're sure this is what Hermione needs? She'll wake up?"
"Of course I'm sure, you moronic boy. However this flower is just the main ingredient of a potion that will need to be administered to Miss Granger." Severus informed.
He continued to order Ron around the room. Ron being forced to fetch everything the potion would need. "Who do you think is gonna brew this potion? I'm guessing it's complicated and I'm not the best in potions. And you definitely can't do it with your cat problem." Ron grunted as he lifted a heavy box from a shelf.
Severus didn't want to admit that the boy had a point. He contemplated who they could ask for help as he ordered Ron to get some ingredients out of a cupboard. Ron opened the door of the cupboard door and something caught his eye.
On the inside of the door was a sheet of paper taped in place. On the paper was a childish drawing done in crayon. The picture showed two people standing in what Ron guessed was a potions lab judging from the cauldron in the picture. The taller person in the picture had long black hair and black robes. The smaller person had yellow hair and green robes. They both had smiles drawn on their faces. Under the drawing it said, Me and Unkl Sevus. Under that, written in slender handwriting was, By Draco Malfoy; Age 7.
"What exactly is taking so very long?" Came the drawling voice from behind Ron. Ron smirked.
"Just looking at the picture in here professor. It's pretty cute." Ron said innocently.
Severus immediately remembered the drawing that Draco had given him when he was a child. He had been babysitting for Lucius and Narcissa and had brought Draco into his lab with crayons so that he could color while Severus worked. Severus felt his face grow hot. He found it interesting that he could still blush as a cat. But that was when an idea struck him.
"Draco can brew the potion." He blurted, not even thinking about Weasley's current feelings for his godson.
Ron stuck his head out of the cupboard. "I hope you're bloody joking."
"Why? Did I sound amusing to you?" Severus quipped sarcastically.
"Why can't we find someone else to do it? We can ask Professor Chambers if she'll-" Ron was cut off by a loud hiss.
"Are you really that stupid, boy? Do you not remember how Potter was covered in boiling potion? Who exactly do you think was responsible for that? That is not mentioning the fact that she found it an acceptable idea to waste numerous pints of unicorn blood on students who didn't know how complicated the potion was in the first place! Do you have the slightest idea how difficult it is to get willingly given unicorn blood? She would without a doubt ruin the potion that we need and waste the only flower that I have. Draco has a much higher chance of actually being able to brew the potion. I'm assuming that you actually want Miss Granger restored to health?" Severus was happy to see that the Weasley brat was looking guilty for suggesting Chambers in the first place. "I taught Miss Chambers in school. She is rash and overly confident while brewing potions that are far too difficult for her."
"Alright. I see your point." Ron grumbled. While he still wanted to cling to his belief that Malfoy was responsible for the potion accident with Harry, he knew it wasn't true. Chamber's was the problem. "I'll…ask Draco for his help."
"Good. Now collect three unicorn hairs from the green jar in the cupboard and we'll be ready to leave." Severus jumped off the table smoothly.
Ron gathered all the ingredients, taking special care with the flower, and followed Severus out of the lab. He looked around Severus' room once more before they left. The room was a great improvement on what Ron had first imagined Snape's rooms would be like. But they still lacked a certain homey feel. Maybe it was because of the empty mantle. The mantle at The Burrow was over crowded with pictures and cards and post cards and numerous other things at every given moment. Snape's was completely bare. It was almost a sad sight. Ron pushed it to the back of his mind.
On the way out Bartimus yelled, "Don't think you can get away with whatever you did in there! And don't ever some back, you hooligan!"
Ron and Severus returned to the room to find Harry sitting up waiting for Ron. "Where have you been?" he asked quietly.
"I…was just clearing my head." Ron grumbled, he was already feeling guilty for exploding over Charlie and Draco.
Harry gave a sigh. "I know you're going through a lot right now. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you with Hermione being hurt like she is. But I think you should give Draco and Charlie's relationship a chance."
Ron plopped down on the arm chair next to Harry. "I…guess I overreacted. It's really not my business who Charlie wants to date. Even if he had lousy taste." He grumbled.
"Draco really isn't that bad. I think being with Charlie could be good for him." Harry lifted Prince up from where he was sitting on the floor and settled him onto his lap. Severus gave a glare but didn't try to leap down.
"Yeah, well I'm still not so sure but I guess I don't have the right to yell at Charlie because of it." Ron sighed. "I'm going to get some homework done before going to bed. 'Night Harry." He got up and headed toward his bedroom.
"Night Ron." Harry waved him off. "I should probably get working on that essay for Potions." He said to himself, leaning over to fish his essay out of his bag.
He got his essay, a quill and some ink and went over to one of the many desks. He carried Severus with one arm and his essay supplies with the other. He once again settled Severus down on his lap and spread his essay out. After a few minutes of him writing, in which Severus had nearly fallen asleep, he gave a small huff. "I wish I still had Snape's book." He mumbled as he scratched behind Prince's ears. He looked down at the cat with a small smile. "I never thought I'd say this but I just wish Snape was still here."
Severus looked up at the boy curiously. Did the boy really regret that he was dead? It was something that Severus never would have expected. "I'm not nearly as far away as you might think, brat." He meowed quietly.
Harry smirked down at the cat. "He really wasn't too bad even though he hid it well. Maybe he just wasn't meant to be a teacher. But no one could say he didn't know Potions. He was way better than Chambers. But who knows how I'd feel if he survived. He never really liked me…to put it lightly. I still think he deserved to live." Harry mused as he pet Severus.
Severus was still listening intently. It seemed the memories he had left behind had served even more of a purpose than he had intended. He had left them so that Potter would know what had to be done. He had only added his memories of Lily so that Potter would trust him. So that Potter would know why he did what he did. But his memories, which he still didn't enjoy thinking about Potter seeing, had made Potter forgive him. Or so it seemed.
Severus wasn't sure how to feel about that. He hadn't ever really been forgiven for his faults in his entire life. Even Albus had sometimes thrown his idiotic past in his face. Everyone he had associated with knew he had been a Death Eater and that knowledge came with certain levels of mistrust. No one could deny that he had done horrible things. For most of the things he had done even he had never forgiven himself. Why in Merlin's name would Potter forgive him? Even if he had seen his memories. All they proved was that Severus had been responsible for killing the one person he loved. There was only one conclusion that Severus could come to.
"You are a fool, Mr. Potter."
Harry looked down at the meow. "You're right, Prince. It's time for bed." He stood, cradling the cat in his arms before lightly setting him on the floor. "Are you gonna sleep in my bed or the arm chair?"
Severus went over to the arm chair and jumped up onto it. He heard Harry snort in amusement before he went into his bedroom. Severus watched him go. He didn't even try anymore to deny that Harry was nothing like his father. The idiot boy was too forgiving. Not that such a trait was really a bad thing, Severus supposed as he drifted off to sleep.
XoEnd ChapterXo
A/n: Well there's the sixth chapter! I didn't take nearly as long to update this time as I did last time! Shower me with praise! On another note, I've been thinking about getting a beta reader. Are any of you interested? I just need someone to correct any grammar or spelling mistakes that I miss. If you're interested please tell me in a review or a PM. Please review and tell me the stuff you liked (or didn't like so much)! Thank you so much for reading! Hopefully I'll be able to update soon.