I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe at hotmail .com
My Beta reader, Makurayami Ookami fixed THIS chapter.
Please review! Pretty please!
Enjoy
THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES
Chapter 6 – Rats and lies
"Are you leaving, Remus?" Mrs. Weasley asked when she saw the man looking at the mirror.
"Yes, Molly" He replied cheerfully. "Kingsley can use some time to rest."
"Take care of that poor boy!" The woman pleaded. "After what happened to you last time…"
"I'll keep my eyes open."
"Why did you shave off your mustache?" Mrs. Weasley added curiously.
"It was about time to change something. How's Tonks today?"
The witch grinned.
"Oh, she's fine. Zakharias entertained her during breakfast."
Lupin snorted.
"Well. I should go."
"Do you think he will come?" Harry asked his girlfriend sadly after putting a pile of clean plates on the table.
She wrapped each one of them in clothes and put them into a larger basket.
"I don't know, Harry. Let's hope he will!"
She approached him from behind and hugged him. Her hand gently stroked his belly then squeezed him. She leaned her head on the boy's shoulder and enjoyed the moment with closed eyes.
Harry stroked the girl's soft skin, her arms and her face, which turned red. Then Harry turned around, wrapped his hand around the girl's waist and held her tightly. Finally there was no distance between them and their bodies pressed against each other. The girl closed her eyes and raised her head so the boy could kiss her. Harry didn't think much; their lips met. They felt great but their idyllic moment couldn't last long.
One of the children started laughing loudly. There were small tables all around the room so the kids could occupy themselves. They received crayons and pencils to draw. A nurse sat near every table to help them and to prevent them from damage themselves or each other. The weather was too hot to go outside. They installed a few fans too. They didn't want anyone to get sick.
The guests were either sitting and drinking tea near a separate table or played with the children. Mostly rich people were present; the patrons of the institute, but one could see simply dressed, poorer people too.
A vague shape appeared in the blurred foreground. A smiling nurse went to take his invitation.
Snape entered the half-lit and cool room. It was quiet and peaceful although it was full of kindergarten-aged children. He looked around but couldn't see Harry or Marie around. He wanted to look for them on the terrace but a little boy grabbed his leg. He glanced at the little, brown eyed blond boy in surprise who looked at him appealingly.
"Come, draw pirates with me! Maggie had drawn three fairies, but I can't make anything. Please!"
The man looked at the boy then at the little girl who was very proud of herself when she showed the picture to him. Next to the girl sat an elegant woman, probably she helped the girl. He glanced at the boy again then smiled. He sat next to the boy on a pillow and introduced himself to the woman with whom he didn't talk much.
The boy looked at him appealingly. He pushed the paper closer to him and started doodling but watched Snape all the while.
"And what kind of pirate do you want to draw?"
"The kind with a big ship!"
Snape smiled
"With sea and flags?"
"Yes!"
The teacher grabbed a pencil and started talking about the details. The child became more and more enthusiastic and told the man his ideas about how many pirates he wanted, where the ship should look and where the birds should be. However, some bizarre idea made Snape chuckle. There were spaceships, fast cars and palm trees on the picture too but the most interesting the penguin with the ice cream was.
Snape always helped the boy when he couldn't draw something. He held the child's hand and they drew together. After a while Snape let go of his hand so the boy thought he made the picture alone. The man just smiled sadly and watched the boy working.
But he didn't notice that Harry and Marie had came back to get a new basket. The boy watched mesmerized how kindly his strict teacher handled the little boy…
Later, when the children were allowed to go out Snape went to the porch too. He approached the wide railing and sat down on it with his back supported on one of the pillars. The soft breeze moved his black hair.
Marie appeared next to him like a noiseless ghost. Snape smiled at her which seemed to give her courage.
"How are you, professor? Didn't little Jacob make you bored?"
"Not at all. I feel great."
Her face lit up.
"It's… wonderful! It's very hot out here…" She started fanning herself. "I sent Harry to get something to drink. Until then… I'd like to ask you something…"
"Go ahead."
"I… heard that Harry studied in a detention home… at least that's what he said…" The girl started hesitantly. "But… I heard that only criminals and… problem children go there. But Harry… he doesn't look like someone who had committed a crime… Why does he have to go there?"
Snape swallowed. He didn't want to lie to the girl but couldn't just tell her that both of them are wizards…
"Don't worry; he didn't do anything to deserve being sent to Saint Brutus." He answered while trying to smile. "His foster parents sent him there."
"But" The girl gasped. "Why? Just because they don't love him? I'm sure there are more boarding schools in the area!"
The teacher shrugged.
"Maybe they wanted to find a cheap school."
Marie seemed to be deeply shocked about this. She clenched her hands with anger. Fortunately Harry arrived so she had to hide her emotions.
"Saint Brutus?" A ghost snapped in the bushes.
"Shut up, Sirius!" Lupin said in horror.
"Why are you worried?" James Potter frowned beside him. "Only you can see and hear us, because your werewolf senses are more sophisticated. They can't see us. Right, Lily?"
But the redhead was watching his little boy with amusement, the way she always did in the past 15 years. However, Sirius joined them when he died. They watched over Harry together now. And only Remus could see them. That was a good evening… when Remus arrived home after a long patrol and found his believed-to-be-dead friends sitting on his bed. He immediately went to Dumbledore but he didn't say anything. So Remus spends his time with his beloveds ever since then. He didn't want to tell Harry just yet: no one in the Order saw them, so probably the boy wouldn't either. And he didn't want to tell them that his dead relatives are always with him, he just can't see them.
Remus brought his friends here too, but Sirius seemed nervous when he saw Snape coming out of the building. He wanted to poke his 'beloved' Snivellius with a branch but Remus stopped him.
"Khm" James cleared his throat.
"Oh, James, isn't she a sweet little girl?" The proud mother said with bright eyes.
"Don't start that again, Lily!" Sirius grimaced. "Of course she is sweet and pretty. The kind Harry deserves!" He blinked at James.
Remus shook his head and focused on his task. It's not nice to eavesdrop but he couldn't do anything else while watching after Harry.
Harry came back with three bottles of beer. He gave one to the girl and one to Snape. However he realized he didn't open them.
"Forget it" The teacher sighed tiredly. He took the bottles and opened them.
They drank the cool refreshment and enjoyed its effect in the heat. One of the nurses asked Marie to watch two little boys, so Snape and Harry were left alone. The boy sat on the railing facing his teacher and leaned on a pillar too. He was watching Marie for a long time. Snape noticed this and asked:
"How did you find her?"
Harry smiled at the pleasant memories.
"I met her when I started to work. I was in this street when I found them. They just arrived from London and couldn't find this building. I helped them find it… and… after that all went by itself… I came here every morning so she remembered my face and I couldn't forget hers, so we started dating…"
In the bushes Remus turned pale when he realized how easily Harry spoke about this to Snape. Much easier than to him. Harry didn't even want to tell him anything.
"What were you talking about while I was inside?"
"A few things…" Snape said lazily, indicating that he wouldn't say anything even if Harry begged him on his knees.
"Understood…" Harry grinned. "So I have to work hard on Occlumency tonight."
Snape snorted smiling.
"Do not even hope! Don't expect anything good after that O.W.L."
"But why? Aren't you happy that I got an 'E' in Potions?"
The teacher took a deep breath and cleared his throat showing how unpleasant the subject was.
"I'm thrilled." He said curtly.
The boy nodded grinning. A ball flew away between them.
Harry stood up and went to the ball. He started playing with it.
"Don't you want to try it?"
"Me?" Snape asked with indignation.
"Come on! Everyone loves soccer!"
"I'm not sporty." The man turned away.
"Every good kid can play. It's in their blood here, in England."
"You forget that wizards don't play football. They play Quidditch."
"I've never seen you play Quidditch, professor."
"Luckily." Snape muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, you never will." He replied quickly. "I'm a teacher; I won't act like a fool on a broomstick."
"Then how do you travel if you need to go somewhere? With the Knight Bus?"
Someone in the bushes giggled softly. Lupin said irritated:
"Shut up, Sirius! They'll hear you!"
Snape rubbed his temples.
"I apparate, if possible…"
"I thought it works only in short distances…"
"You'll know how it works if the time is right…"
"I was just curious… I'm sure you're not using the Millennium Falcon…
"Enough of this!" Snape snapped then his face softened. "What did you say?"
"F-falcon?"
"You know that story? Even I was a kid when it was made…"
"The 'Star Wars'? Are you KIDDING? Everyone knows it! Muggle children love it! But… do you… like it too?"
"Like Hell! Our Muggle Studies teacher was a little too enthusiastic and made the class watch the movie…"
"And how did the young wizards like the whole Jedi thing?" Harry asked with a chuckle.
"They loved it." The teacher resignedly shrugged.
"And?"
"It ended tragically." Snape said with a half-smile. "When a night-fighter made of a discarded broomstick and paper hit Mr. Flich, the school board decided to find a new teacher. Professor Sephia has been there ever since then."
Harry started laughing and Snape took a sip of his drink with a smile on his face.
"Those were the good times!" James Potter whispered while Lily, Sirius and Remus put their hands over their mouth to stop laughing. Eventually Lupin was the one to silence them.
Harry gave the ball back to the kids. His girlfriend passed by him like an angel humming 'don't cry tonight, baby, I still love you…' and winked at her boyfriend. Harry felt guilty sitting while she was running around. But he enjoyed watching her. Once, Harry could see her tights because of the wind. He smiled greedily.
"Strange…" He said. "This is the first time I don't want the summer to end… I don't even want to think about what will happen when she goes back to France in August… If Voldemort has a little brain… he will attack me then…" He said ironically.
"What are you talking about?"Snape asked quietly, his voice full of compassion. He watched the boy with sad eyes as he pondered over his own bitter future. He leaned forward and hugged his legs. "Nobody is going to let Voldemort hurt you… and I suggest you to learn Occlemency by the end of the summer!" He said menacingly but his voice was revealing. "Anyway, why didn't you tell Remus about me teaching you?"
"I wanted to surprise him…"
"Surprise… of course." Snape sighed, annoyed.
"He doesn't tell me anything…" Lupin felt like he was stabbed. "… I wanted to surprise him that I learned Occlemency and he can tell me anything… No one dares to tell anything to me… No one asks me if I'm okay… I can't talk to anyone… if it weren't for Marie, this summer would be just as horrible as the previous one… The wizarding world watched me all my life, but never took care of me. They didn't do anything even though they knew that the Dursley's hurt me and I spent half of my life in a cupboard… But they have expectations, of course! Ever since I learned about the prophecy I can't think of anything else… After all, if I don't want to die then I have to… kill." He was shaking. "That's why everyone protects me. They don't want to screw up their only chance to defeat Voldemort. They take care of the little golden goose. This is… so disgusting. Sometimes, I wonder whether it's worth to go back to school… all would be so much easier if I lived like a simple Muggle. I have so many questions… now that I'm growing up… and have a girlfriend… I don't know what to do…"
Snape's face softened and smiled almost kindly. A quite friendly light flickered in his dark eyes and he slid closer to the boy on the railing.
"Stop whining, Harry!" He started and looked Harry in the eye. The big green eyes stared at him puzzled.
Harry nodded hesitantly.
"No one asks you to kill Voldemort… It's a task that anyone would like to take from you. I want to do this the most." He said bitterly. "But this job was given to you, so we can't do anything else then give you all the help we can.
The boy listened silently. He wondered which one of them sounded more painful, then nodded obediently.
"Good." Snape praised him. This was the second time that day.
The four figures were stunned in the bushes. Lupin's eyes reflected anxious pain but his heart was filled with jealousy – jealousy that the malicious Snape, who hates Harry, apparently has a much more intimate relationship with the boy than he or Sirius had ever had.
Harry wanted to say something – anything – but after the great monologue the words didn't come. Finally:
"Why… do you treat me differently than in school?"
"I don't know." The man said mischievously and drank the rest of his beer. "We're sucking each other's blood…"
"About sucking blood…" Harry said. "… at school… a few people say that… so that you're… a vampire…I saw this in the pensive too…"
Snape sighed and rolled his eyes. He pulled his sleeve up and put his hand in the sunlight; rolled it, wriggled his fingers and looked at Harry curiously.
"But" Harry continued. "This can't be true because you would… turn into ash in the sunlight… of course." Harry smiled. "Why didn't I think about this? But you still can be half-blood vampire… or quadroon."
"I can still be that, yes." Snape said with a mysterious smile. Harry felt uneasy. "But at least you know I don't practice it…"
The color returned to the boy's face which made him satisfied.
"I thought DADA was your favorite subject. You should pay more attention…"
"But if you were the DADA teacher then I would know this. That's what you wanted to say, right?"
"Probably."
"Why do you want to teach that subject so bad?"
"What makes you think that?" Snape asked in surprise.
"Come on! Everyone in Hogwarts knows that you want to teach DADA. This is why you behave so repulsively with the teachers."
Snape started laughing which made the blood freeze in Harry's veins. Did he just say such nonsense?
"I didn't behave the way I did because I wanted to be the DADA teacher. It just annoyed me how incompetent they were. I was a Death Eater. I know what kind of danger they are. However, none of the teachers prepared you for this. And potion-making is much more exciting, I would never give it up."
Harry blinked in confusion.
"But… well, I understand Lockhart, he was a punk." The boy started. "Quirrell wasn't any better. He ran screaming from a troll…"
"From a troll? Are you kidding?" Snape leaned forward. "Many adults are afraid of them. Not everyone is so hot-headed like you!"
Harry didn't think this was a serious scolding so he continued.
"The whole school hated Umbridge collectively. But Remus?"
"Oh yes, Remus. He was quite good but his record was not clean." Snape replied with growing cheerfulness.
"And Moody? Okay, in the end he was not the real one, but he would have been pretty much the same. Why was he inappropriate?"
"I have bad memories concerning Moody…" Snape admitted and looked like a ruffled haired cat. "And those stupid superstitions… But at least you could see what to expect if you're not prepared…"
Harry nodded. It made sense.
"And this year? Don't you want to take DADA over?"
"I couldn't even if I wanted." The teacher shook his head. "The job has been filled." He added with a smile.
Harry leaned forward.
"You know who will teach it? Who?"
"You don't know this person."
"So it's not Remus…"
"Oh no, it's not Remus, that's for sure." The teacher said cheerfully.
"But you know him?"
"Yes, quite well."
"Come on, I will die because of curiosity. I have to wait one and a half months till term starts!"
"At least you will have reason to come back to Hogwarts."
Harry smiled involuntarily. He had a few quite pleasant conversations with his professor. They've never talked this much before.
His eyes started wandering. Marie's clothes waved in the wind…
Snape saw that the boy's head fluctuated strangely as if the breeze was moving it. He turned and realized why the boy was like that. He rolled his eyes with a tired grimace.
"Why?" Harry looked at him innocently. "Anyway" He leaned back. "I noticed that wizard children are more inhibited then Muggle teenagers."
The teacher raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"They're so different from the Muggle kids! I've never seen one do things that Muggle lovers do in public… They fill the parks this time of year. I feel weird sometimes… Of course the Slytherins are cheekier. "He added with triumph.
Snape's eyes sparkled when he talked about his snakes.
"Every good Slytherin acts this way."
"What?" His student grinned. "So mischief is a vital element of a Slytherin, but if I walk around the corridors at night it's a deathly crime?"
"Of course. You wonder the corridors at night?" Snape asked in an innocent tone with an evil smile as if this was the first time he heard about it.
"You know what I mean. Why do you favor the Slytherin's?"
"Because they deserve it. If everyone hates them I can at least give them this little joy."
Harry thought about this for a while.
"Put aside the rivalry between the houses for a moment! Until Weasley whispered into your ear…- I know he did, I've seen it in your memories. - …that most of the darks wizards came from Slytherin, did you have any prejudice about this house? Would you have asked the hat to put you in a different house? And what would have happened if Draco sat in your cabin on the train and not Weasley? Don't forget that he offered you his friendship before you entered the Great Hall but you refused it.
"I don't think he suffered a great trauma because of that." Harry muttered.
"It was fate that put you in Gryffindor. And as long as 'devilry' – as other students say– is the characteristic of the Slytherin's, every Gryffindor will hate them. After all, how would a friendship between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor look like?"
"It would be bizarre." Harry said.
"Really?" Snape asked quietly.
They looked at each other in silence for a while. Harry paled.
"I didn't mean it like that!" He began apologizing.
However Snape turned away with a sigh. The boy bit his lip. He knew that Snape didn't care about these little insults but he didn't want to mess things up.
"Among other things, this was what made it hard to get along with your father."
Harry always paid attention when Snape talked about his father. So far he only heard insults from the man but this sentence surprised him. He didn't know what to reply but he felt that he should say something. One of the nurses came to his rescue when she asked Snape to help her; he had to take something from a high shelf. The man gladly helped and went into the building.
Marie went to the brooding Harry. She stroked the boy's chin with mischief in her eyes. She sat on the table next to them and grabbing his pants with her fingers pulled Harry closer. He placed himself between her legs, put his hands on her face and kissed her. Their lips danced but separated to rest from time to time.
On one occasion they noticed a strange squeaky voice. They looked around curiously to find the source of the noise. Suddenly Marie screamed in terror, stood up and ran down the porch toward the bedrooms.
At first Harry didn't understand her reaction. Then looked to the right and found the reason… He saw an ugly gray rat standing on the edge of the table. It was standing on its back legs and looked like it was waving to him with its front legs. His brain clouded immediately and jumped on the rat.
"Pettigrew!" He shouted.
He kicked the chair next to him while struggling with the rodent. But the animal used its only advantage: he bit the boy's hand. Harry cried out in pain. He dropped the rat and shook his tingling hand. Hatred flashed in his eyes and he jumped after the creature immediately. He fell over the table but didn't feel fear or pain. He just wanted to catch the animal. He was ready to jump over the railing when two strong hands stopped him. He looked back desperately and saw Snape's pale face.
"Let me go! We can't let him escape! It's Pettigrew!" He cried hysterically. He struggled with all his strength but Snape was stronger and pulled the boy down to the ground.
They hit themselves pretty hard and Harry lost consciousness for a moment. When he wanted to stand up the teacher grabbed his hand.
"Harry! You're not going anywhere!"
"He is the reason my parents are dead! I can't let him get away!"
"How do you know it was Pettigrew? It could have been an ordinary rat!"
"It was waving, I saw it! And it had only four fingers!"
"Like Hell!" Snape shouted. "You just imagined that!"
"He is responsible for my parents' death! And I lost Sirius because of him too!" Harry began desperately. He acted like on the first Occlemency lesson.
The man took the boy's wand immediately before he could do something stupid again. But Harry had no intention to curse anyone, he started sinking into depression. He whispered quietly about Sirius and Voldemort then put his arms around himself like he was cold. He turned pale. Snape was afraid that the Dark Lord might sense the boy's vulnerability. He glanced around cautiously and saw that the chairs and tables hid them pretty well. He pulled out his own wand and used the same spell that helped the boy after Voldemort's previous attack. With his left hand he touched the boy's temples; he closed his eyes and started chanting the spell.
Harry shivered slightly then the rigidity of his body disappeared, his muscles relaxed. His hands hung meekly. He let the spell work but didn't fall asleep this time. His eyes opened slowly and began shining with a green light.
"…corpus liberte rationis…" Snape continued though he was surprised when he saw the boy's eyes.
"Silem libertatum" Harry whispered and a thin green beam of light flashed across his scar. His eyes closed, his features softened, and his body relayed.
Snape stopped the spell and sighed in relief. He took the weak boy and put him on a chair then started moving his arms as they usually do with unconscious people.
"Harry!" He said quietly. "Harry! Wake up!"
The boy just looked dazed.
Snape saw that his hand was bloody and found the bite mark on the boy's finger. He watched the injury and took out a handkerchief to pong the spilled blood. He then took the injury between two of his fingers and pressed it firmly. Harry hissed in pain and became more alert immediately. Large drops of blood came out of the wound, which he looked at with shaky eyes.
"What are you doing?"He asked sopping.
"I'm cleaning your wound." Snape wiped the boy's hand again. "Why did you even think about touching that damn rat? These animals carry the most dangerous diseases. If you're lucky, you caught one! Look!" He showed a pink line - that looked like a visible capillaries - began to take shape.
Harry visibly paled.
"I just… I thought it was Pettigrew…"
"Of course, you did! You always do!" The teacher continued scolding him.
"I wanted to catch him."
"If you had used your mind, you would have used a charm to freeze or levitate it." He nervously wrapped the boy's hand. "But you never think! You always act so hot-headed!"
"And what if it really was Pettigrew?"
"No, it couldn't have been Pettigrew; he's not in the country!" Snape said angrily. "Topic closed!" Snape stood up. "Come on!" he said quietly. "Get up; I need to take you to a doctor…"
Harry nodded slowly and stood up obediently. He saw one of the nurses bringing the frightened Marie who couldn't say what made her so scared. The boy walked up to her and hugged her.
"It's okay, don't cry!" He tried to comfort her. He gently stroked the girl's hair. "We have to… go now."
Marie looked at them questioningly.
"Harry was bitten by that rat." Snape told the fact.
The nurse gasped.
"We're going to a doctor. But… I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
The girl nodded sadly and they left.
They got in to the doctor soon. The assistant cleaned the wound properly and gave the boy a large dose of injection. His whole body began tingling, his butt was numb and he could barely stand on his feet. Snape as a makeshift uncle got his medicine from the pharmacy but he didn't like that role.
They walked slowly under the afternoon sun and Harry gasped loudly several times. Snape got bored of it after a while.
"Look, you don't have to play the big and strong Harry Potter to me. I know the injection hurt. Don't you want to call a taxi? Because if you collapse here I won't carry you home. You're too heavy."
Harry smiled.
"I'm not going to collapse. I just need to relax a bit. Let me sit down for a few minutes!"
"Do as you wish…" The man shrugged.
The kid sat down on the bench like he was a hundred-year old man who could barely move. He extended his legs and weary satisfaction appeared on his face.
"I don't want to go home…"
"It won't be better here either…" Snape said frowning.
"I mean" Harry grinned. "The Dursley's will be mad. If they haven't treated me like I had the plague… they won't even let me into the house."
"You'd deserve that."
"How come Pettigrew isn't in the country?" Harry asked suddenly.
Snape made a tired grimace.
"He tries to recruit followers abroad. But you know I can't talk to you about this."
Harry nodded.
"Let's go!"
It was late afternoon when they arrived home. Aunt Petunia screamed and hugged her son to prevent Harry from giving him some nasty disease. Snape quietly added that although it was completely Harry's fault, the wound had been taken care of and he got medicine too, so nothing could happen. That seemed to make them less afraid but they looked at the boy with disgust.
Harry spent the next day in bed because he could barely move thanks to the injection and the drugs. So Aunt Petunia had to take the food to his room and she wasn't pleased at all. She did this because Snape asked if Harry had lunch. When he realized that the boy hadn't even eaten breakfast dismay was seen on his face. That may have made her feel a little responsible and she played the role of the caring aunt. She even let Marie visit the boy though she didn't like the girl.
For Marie's sake Harry was willing to strain himself; climbed out of bed and went out to the garden. They rested under the sun and it made it easier to endure the pain.
A few days later they decided to go to the cinema. It was a cheap Hollywood love story and they regretted going to watch it.
But when they left the building they heard thunder.
"Run!" Harry looked up when they felt rain drops on their head. They were running through the streets but were soaking wet when they arrived at Marie's place. Harry was shivering and was glad when they entered the warm building. They went up to Marie's room.
Harry stepped to the window. The sky was completely dark. Lightning flickered on the horizon followed by loud thunder. He put his wet fingers on the heater. What was he expecting? It was summer. He looked at his girlfriend who took a blanket from the wardrobe. He took his wet shirt off and put it on the chair. He found Marie behind him with the blanket. The girl looked embarrassed when she saw the boy's naked upper body.
The boy felt an unfamiliar tingling coming over him when he realized why the girl was hesitating. At the same time… he looked at the girl's wet T-shirt… it was showing every line of her body. Harry's face became hot and he tried to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat. What should he do? What should he do in a situation like this? Why not…
He shuddered. He took the blanket, pulled the girl's hands and wrapped them around himself. Their lips met in a long kiss. When they parted to breathe the boy didn't want to let her go. They were so close their foreheads were touching. With shining eyes he looked at the girl's shy eyes. She trembled when realization hit her and paled slightly. The boy knew that if he didn't sooth her he could ruin everything. He kissed her forehead and hugged her a little tighter.
'Here is the chance to do something you want to do and no one is forcing you…'
Their lips met again. Harry sat down on the bed and gently pulled the girl with him. She was trembling first then melted into his arms…
The flashing of a lightning woke Harry up. He shut his eyes for a moment then looked up. Everything was fine… He lay back to sleep relieved.
Harry slid his hand under the pillow slowly. The girl was lying on her side cuddling tightly to his chest so he could feel her every breath. Her pink lips were slightly open causing her to be more beautiful. Her dream seemed to be peaceful and sweet so Harry wouldn't have disturbed her even if the world was ending. She looked like a beautiful antique statue; like a goddess who laid down between miracles.
'What have we done… Marie? Whatever… we did… it was fantastic…'
He gently stroked her bare waist and hair… he covered her with the blanket they were lying under.
Marie smiled. She cuddled closer to him and kissed his neck even though she was asleep. He felt blessed. If he should die this moment he would be happy: there was someone who loved him and he loved her too… he would do anything for her…
The clock on the bedside table showed half past two. Harry smiled and closed his eyes for a second then looked up. He turned pale and sat up. He was terrified that he told no one about where he was. Nobody knows where he is. They might think that he was kidnapped or worse: killed by Voldemort's minions! Lupin is probably mourning in the moonlight already. And Moody must have mobilized all aurors to attack the dark wizards. And he missed Snape's lesson too. But there was something that made him scared: the wrath of the Dursley's! He had to arrive home before Dudley did! If he was late he couldn't have dinner and was scolded. He was lucky that Dudley went home late usually. What is the time? Ten? Half past ten? He reached for his watch.
"Half past two? I'm going to die!" He buried his head in his hands.
"Mmm… Harry?" Marie sat up in bed drowsily. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, honey, I didn't mean to wake you… I just… I forgot about time while I was with you."
"They don't know where you are, right?"
Harry, seeing the girl's sweet face couldn't be angry with himself. He shook his head.
"They'll be very angry, right?"
"They're going to kill me." He shrugged.
Marie smiled.
"If they'll kill you anyway, then you should stay a little more!"
The boy laughed.
"I can't stay, baby, I have to go. But I'll see you tomorrow! Well today… since it's already past midnight. That is if they don't strangle me." He added with a smile.
"Well, okay." The girl agreed finally. Harry found her incredibly desirable.
Now, however, he had to leave. He put on his clothes as fast as he could and kissed her a thousand times.
"Wait, wait, you forgot this!" She pulled a sock from under the bed.
They chuckled and stared at each other. Marie snuggled close to him and kissed the boy.
"I can't wait to see you again…" She said quietly.
Harry leaned to her ears and whispered something that made the girl blush. He stole one last kiss and left.
Harry quietly left the building and stood under the girl's window in the rain. The beauty was watching and waving. Harry wanted to turn around and go back but he knew he had to go home.
When he was out of the girl's sight he used a charm to keep his clothes dry. He turned his hair brown and made it longer, hid his scar and turned his eyes blue. When he was ready he was sure no one would recognize him. He was wondering about this. Isn't it a little too much? Maybe Moody had a bad influence on him. He hurried home. He knew he was in for a big scolding.
He was running through the streets. He made a short cut through the park and tried to keep himself clean. He didn't want Aunt Petunia to be angrier than she already was. He arrived home and looked at the house. The lights were on. Harry swallowed. They are still awake. There is no escape.
He approached the door and opened it with shaking hands but changed his appearance before he did so.
He tried to open the door quietly. He wasn't quiet enough. The door of the living room opened.
"Harry Potter!" Uncle Vernon shouted. "How dare you coming home in the middle of the night, you brat?"
Aunt Petunia looked at him with disgust.
"It's time to learn the order of the house!" He yelled and raised his hand to slap the boy.
Harry closed his eyes and waited. They haven't beaten him since he started school.
He could hear someone coming down the stairs.
'No, just not Dudley's gloating face!'
His cousin enjoyed when Harry was humiliated. He wouldn't miss a minute of it. To his greatest surprise the one who stood on the stairs was not Dudley. Snape was there. His face was pale and he frowned. There was a towel on his shoulder and water was dripping from his hair. His face reflected genuine concern. But when he saw what Vernon was about to do he looked at them with so much hatred that Aunt Petunia screamed and Uncle Vernon dropped his hand.
"Get to your room, boy!" His uncle commanded.
Harry was terribly ashamed of himself. It was an embarrassing moment. The Dursley's made a run for the living room so he was left alone with his teacher. Snape straightened himself, pursed his lips together, turned around and went back to his room. Harry felt that he must follow. When he reached the door it was closed and he knocked.
"Come in, Harry."
The boy opened the white door and stepped in. He smelt herbs; a pleasant-smelling herbal tea was streaming in a kettle on the table. Snape was sitting on his bed and sipping a cup of tea.
Harry took off his coat and placed it on the chair next to the door then looked at his teacher. But what he saw made his heart stop for a moment. He backed against the wall and grabbed the door for support.
Snape wasn't facing him so he could see that his ebony hair was longer. It reached the middle of his back.
"What…" Harry asked trembling. "What happened to you… professor?"
The teacher sighed melancholically and sipped his tea.
"A nice gift from your father." He said in a horse, husky voice. Harry realized he caught a cold. "It's an irreversible spell from his repertoire…"
"But…how?"
"Every time my hair gets wet it grows this long. The effect goes away by itself within half an hour."
Harry groaned.
"It's terrible." He said regretfully. "Does it have a counter curse?"
"No."
Snape moved so he could see the boy but didn't say anything.
"You… went to search for me, right?" Harry began with a painful face. "I'm so sorry! I didn't… want to just disappear or something… I just… forgot about time… I wish I could… I didn't want to miss Occlumency! If you want… I mean if you're not tired… so we can do it now…"
Snape stared at him. He was about to reply when the two-ways mirror flushed on the bed. He put down his coup and invited the boy closer. Harry sat down on the other side of the bed. Snape picked up the mirror said his name and Dumbledore's troubled face appeared in it. The boy was trying to hide like a few days ago when Snape was talking to Kingsley.
"Headmaster." Snape nodded dutifully.
"Ah, Severus. Still no word from Harry?"
"He just came home, sir."
Dumbledore sighed tiredly.
"Is he okay? Is he harmed?"
"It seems he's fine."
"May I see him, Severus?"
Snape turned the mirror so the headmaster could see Harry. When he did so the old professor sighed in relief but his face remained grim.
"Harry Potter! What you did tonight was very irresponsible! You didn't tell anyone where you went! The members of the Order were looking everywhere for you! Mrs. Weasley gave up ever seeing you again and Lupin is deeply shaken: he thought he lost you."
"I'm so sorry." Harry said with shaking eyes. He was touched that they were so worried about him. Even Snape. He didn't even think about making excuses. But before he could say anything Snape spoke.
"Typical Muggles!" He exclaimed. "They allow minors into these clubs! Instead of sending you home!" He looked at Harry angrily. "If you ever set foot in a place like that again you won't see me anymore and you can learn Occlumency from your uncle!"
Harry stared at his teacher stupidly. Is he mental? What club is he talking about?
Dumbledore didn't seem puzzled; he acknowledged Snape's words with a nod and turned to Harry.
"Professor Snape is right, Harry. Take his instruction seriously, do not stray at night and most importantly: avoid these dangerous places!"
The boy nodded fiercely and was surprised to get away only with this. The headmaster nodded as a goodbye and disappeared from the mirror. Snape put the fine object on the bed and glanced at Harry.
"Why… why did you say that…" Harry started but couldn't say anything due to shock.
"Do you want the whole Order talking about…"
"No!" Harry replied and blushed.
"See?"
"How did you know?"
Snape grinned mischievously.
"I don't need the ability to see into your head to know where you were tonight."
"You lied… you lied to Dumbledore to cover up for me?"
The teacher said nothing but there was a playful glint in his eyes. He made a little grin then sipped his tea again. He looked away but almost dropped the cup when Harry suddenly hugged him from behind.
"You saved me again tonight… You started looking for me in this weather then saved me from a humiliating scolding and now this… I… thank you…" He said quietly.
Snape didn't move for a moment. He glanced over his shoulder to see the boy clinging to his back gratefully. He was terribly embarrassed.
"Hey…" He muttered. "Hey, stop hugging me!" He said a little more resolutely.
He stared at the boy inquiringly. Harry just smiled which made him more doubtful.
"So we won't have Occlumency tonight?" The boy asked hopefully.
"I don't really want to know what's on your mind right now, Harry. Go and let me sleep."
"But… what if… Vol… You-Know-Who…"
Snape growled and rolled his eyes.
"Stop with the 'You-Know-Who' thing! Say his name! I won't die!"
Harry nodded.
"So… what if Voldemort tries to penetrate my brain again?"
"Your mind." Snape corrected. "He won't be able to."
"Why not?"
"Try to relax and clear your mind. I know you won't be able to do it now." He said a little annoyed when he saw Harry's reaction. "But this is why Voldemort won't be able to hurt you."
Harry was thinking about this for a moment.
"So if there are positive thoughts swirling in my head then Voldemort can't hurt me?"
"It's not that simple, but it's obvious that the Dark Lord can't endure when you use this to protect yourself."
"So I just have to think about nice things and everything will be fine."
"You won't be high though…" Snape murmured.
Harry grinned widely. The teacher's morbid sense of humor used to annoy him: he didn't realize how good it can be.
"Now get out!"
"Good night." The boy said and left the room.
After the door was closed Snape was staring at the table with a very different, sad expression.
The teacher couldn't sleep that night. He was ill; he was sneezing and coughing, his throat was sore and he had a fever. It was early morning when he finally fell asleep. He was lying on his stomach. He buried his head in the pillow and didn't have the strength to move. He just wanted to rest.
A shadow entered the room. A dark shape was eyeing him as he slept. The figure then raised his hand to his eye, tapped it and snorted. He began poking it then pulled it out. It made a disgusting sliding noise, fell out of its place and landed next to Snape's head on the bed. The Potions teacher frowned and opened his eyes. When he saw what was next to him, he became pale and with a terrible scream jumped out of the bed. He was faster than a grasshopper. He backed until he reached the drawer. His chest was moving briskly; he gasped for breath, all the while watching Moody who was standing next to the bed.
"For Merlin's sake! What the hell are you doing in my room?"
"I'm just keeping an eye on you, son. Good to see that you're reflexes are as good as ever."
Snape made a sour face that one would have believed he was about to vomit.
"Disgusting freak!" He exclaimed.
"Hey!" The old Auror raised his index finger. "A little more respect, son!"
"I'm not your son!" Snape hissed.
Moody looked around the room.
"Nice house. The last time I was here I didn't see this room. I'm sure you like it, Snape." He said with a wicked smile.
Snape took a deep breath and cleared his throat. He didn't want to lose his temper because of this old fool.
"I'm here because…" Moody continued. "…I'm not satisfied with the way you keep the boy safe."
"My job is not to watch after him. I'm here to teach him."
"Everyone has to watch after him. I highly recommend you to take seriously your task!"
"H-how dare you? Don't you dare lecture me! Mind your own business!"
"I do! It's truly a pleasure to catch dark wizards." He made an evil grin. "Pleasant memories, right Snape? There are things one can never forget! Taking you in was one of my most memorable moments in life!"
Snape shivered, the hair on his arms stood up when he saw Moody's sardonic grin.
"Go to hell! Stop harassing me! Go away!"
There was a knock on the door. They both looked that way.
"Professor… is everything okay? I thought I heard voices…"
"Come in, Harry." Snape wanted to say but Moody was faster. The Potions teacher looked at him with anger.
The boy ran into the room so fast that it was suspicious.
"Professor Moody! What… How did you get in?" He whispered in horror.
"Through the door." The Auror waved.
Harry paled.
"But no one saw you, right?"
"No! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He yelled so loud that both Snape and Harry jumped in surprise.
"See? Harry's fine! You can go now!" Severus said angrily.
"Hey! Harry, son! Tell me is this Poisons Master treating you well?"
"Poisons Master?" Snape gasped. He felt that he was dishonored as a wizard.
"Isn't it right? Ex-cu-se-me…" He said sarcastically.
Snape almost exploded. He reached for one of the objects on the table, stepped closer dangerously and growled.
"You're lucky that Harry is here. I would make sure that you get another one of those disgusting eyes! Now get out!"
"D-don't worry, Professor Moody, everything's fine." Harry said cheerfully. "We're doing fine!" He looked at Snape with the same reassuring smile he used the previous night. The man's heart began beating unusually violently with excitement and he paled.
The boy didn't understand his reaction, because he didn't intend to do this. He bowed his head sadly and looked away. Snape relaxed and with a sigh he lowered the object in his hand. Moody grinned, nodded toward Harry and disapperated.
"You and Professor Moody… Why don't you like each other?" The boy asked hesitantly.
"Mad-Eye was the one who arrested me." Snape said quietly. The horrible memories of that night began haunting him again.
I'm done at last. The longest chapter so far. I wanted to upload it yesterday but while I was translating my computer crashed… twice. And each time I lost a few paragraphs. I was a 'little' angry so I dropped it and started watching a movie.
One part of the chapter reminds me of the Mamma Mia movie: the girls read the diary and when they reach the juicy parts they only say dot dot dot. It happened in this chapter too. Funny.
Bye: Hermina