The Leader

Chapter 12

Blowing Severus Snape's Mind

Severus sat watching the pensive agitated, he wasn't sure why. The thought of Harry seeing him so weak and subjugating himself to another made him extremely uneasy. Why would it? It made no sense to him, he hadn't felt like this when Dumbledore saw the memory, and the dozen others after it. To begin with, Dumbledore hadn't trusted a word he said; only his memory had been sufficient. It was only after the war escalated that he began asking for only verbal statements. There was just no time to sleep, never mind view memories that he could just hear about within five minutes ― if that.

How would the vampire react? Would he find out about the mark and remove it from his arm? No, he couldn't allow himself to get carried away by hope. The probability of him dying was extremely high; depressing as it may seem, he'd had no delusions of outliving the war. The life of a spy: sleep with one eye open, cherish the days as they come, and never take anything for granted. He had been able to do all but one of those things―cherish he had not. What was in his life for him to cherish? A cold bed, a lonely solitude, albeit of his own making; he couldn't trust anyone. A necessary sacrifice, he could never have lived with himself should he have involved someone in his game of cat and mouse with the Dark Lord. It wasn't just the Dark Lord, though, was it? They would have had to put up with Dumbledore as well.

Just as suddenly as Harry vanished, he reappeared, steady on his feet as he stared at the pensive with a strange look on his face. He had seen a lot during his life, but that look he couldn't decipher. Was it the first time Harry…no damn it, Potter, he didn't want to be familiar with the boy. Who was he kidding? He already was, he couldn't help it; he wasn't reminded of the boy's father, and that helped him see Harry as his own man. "What's wrong?" asked Severus, his voice cautious and suspicious at the same time.

"I've never heard of it. I have five Parselmagic books, but nothing like that," replied Harry impassive now, revealing nothing on his thoughts or feelings.

"Parselmagic?" enquired Severus, his black eyes flashing with surprise. "There are books written in the language?" He has thought it was a spoken language only.

"Not many, considering it was only tied to one specific family," revealed Harry. "The Slytherin line used to be quite expansive, until they began to marry within their own family. Their cousins; it began with squibs, then it spread out into the Slytherin madness, or rather the Gaunt madness, as they were known at the time. Voldemort probably inherited it as well, but with the infusion of Muggle blood, it made him a bigger threat than the rest of his family line combined. His fear of death led him down a path that created more insanity, if you'd believe it."

"More insane? You mean the rituals he did to stop himself dying?" asked Severus inquisitively. The Dark Lord went on about it often enough, but he hadn't thought much of it.

"It was more than just rituals," Harry told him grimly, removing Severus' memory from his pensive and placing it in a vial. It was extremely odd and disconcerting replacing a memory; he knew the wizard would probably prefer to do it alone. He handed it over without a comment.

"How do you know that?" demanded Severus, unable to help himself. He shouldn't be demanding anything from this vampire ― he'd already proven himself a formidable opponent. He hadn't seen him in action yet; to be frank he didn't want to either. Biting his tongue, he wondered if he would even get an answer now.

"Follow me," said Harry grimly, moving towards the door, and opening it. Once he saw Severus was moving, he began walking down the hall and back towards the library again.

Nothing short of death could have prevented Severus from following, that was how much he wanted to know what Harry did.

The library door was open; both of them entered it. Severus stood and watched Harry stalk towards the large ornate desk in the corner. It was extremely old fashioned, an antique, with probably a dozen secret compartments within it. Severus looked it over with shrewd eyes, and came to the realization it was a Muggle one. The wizarding world didn't make them that way, not even back then. It became apparent it had been modified, since Harry's hands went further than would be possible in such a small normal space.

"Tell me what this is," stated Harry, placing it on the desk watching Severus closely.

Stepping forward until he was in front of it, he frowned; he could sense the dark magic on it. Flicking his wand out he began to cast a series of detection charms. Each one failed to tell him what it was, which deeply perturbed him; why wouldn't it reveal what it was? Severus cast a few others he knew, not as dark in nature. He wasn't surprised when they turned up blank as well. If he couldn't work out what on earth it was... why could Harry? Not giving in he continued to try, not liking the thought of being outdone.

"Alright, I give. What the hell is it?" asked Severus finally, completely exasperated. "Other than a mangled excuse for a dark detector." The irony of course wasn't lost on him.

"Ever heard of Horcruxes?" asked Harry seriously, showing how sombre he was about the entire situation.

"Excuse me?" rasped Severus, praying he had heard wrong, surely he hadn't said what he thought he had.

"It's the remains of a Horcrux," Harry repeated sombrely.

"Where…how…when?" Severus said utterly flummoxed. Something that had never happened to him before, at least not to this extent. The ability to keep his senses around him had helped keep his position as spy from being found out. Right now he couldn't summon any of his usual masks.

"That one was inside me," revealed Harry, not sure about sharing such personal information.

"Inside? You?" Severus blindly sought a seat to sit in, and sat down or more like slumped into it, shocked to the core. "How? And how the hell did you find out?"

"My Sire found it, I was half way through the process of becoming a vampire," stated Harry blankly, showing none of his heartache―he missed Kai every day. He was the only father figure he remembered, and the only one that mattered to him. "He found two individual magical signatures inside me; he knew one wasn't mine. He realized what it was and removed it, placing it in this and destroying it." He gestured to the mangled dark detector that Kai had bought him a few days into staying at his manor.

"Half way through?" queried Severus, as his mind tried to process the rest of it. A human Horcrux, he'd never heard the likes of it before. Why would the Dark Lord make Harry Potter into a Horcrux when he was planning on killing him? It made absolutely no sense. Standing up he began to pace restlessly, while his mind ran a mile a minute. The only reason he could deduce from the entire situation was that Harry had to be an accidental one.

"I see you are beginning to understand," said Harry smoothly, his green eyes twinkling in the light gleaming through the windows. Watching the wizard pace, he found himself drawn to certain parts of his body: his long nimble fingers, his thin lips... he certainly wouldn't mind nibbling on them. Oh Merlin, he so had to go out and get himself laid. This possessiveness with Severus had to stop before he did something he shouldn't.

"He has more than one," croaked Severus. The war seemed endless now; just how the hell did they go around collecting pieces of the Dark Lord's soul? How did they even begin to fathom how many he had? He was insane enough to have a trail of them lying strewn around the globe.

"Probably created more since," said Harry, "I doubt anyone knows, so he kills alone without backup, then creates the Horcrux."

"Not always," replied Severus immediately, "He was alone when he went after your family, and had no intentions of creating any then."

"Touché," Harry replied dipping his head sideways in respect of his statement.

"Does Dumbledore know?" mused Severus speaking to himself.

"There was a rumour that Dumbledore killed Voldemort, I think one year after I left Hogwarts…is there any credence to it?" Harry asked sitting down.

"Yes, it's true, although nobody is supposed to know about it," admitted Severus. He knew because one of the portraits guarding his private quarters liked to inform him of everything that went on at Hogwarts.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about what happened during that time?" enquired Harry.

"Nothing," said Severus, "Well, other than Ginny Weasley's death."

"Ah, Ronald's sister," said Harry. "Horcruxes thrive on slowly ensnaring one's soul, until they draw in the affected person's soul in as their own. Once they have enough strength they basically snuff the other's soul until the person becomes comatose. Is it possible that she managed to get her hands on one of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes?"

"I don't see how, but it's the only thing that makes sense," Severus stated grimly. "Especially considering the portrait told me the Dark Lord looked barely seventeen." He had stupidly thought the portrait was exaggerating and the Dark Lord had simply managed to regain his former body, perhaps a little younger.

"Too bad it can't figure out where she could have picked it up," said Harry, "It would certainly make things easier on me."

"You've been looking for them?" asked Severus staring inquisitively at Harry, seeing him in a new light.

"I do what I can, when I can," Harry replied coolly. Which wasn't much admittedly, especially with trying to organize the underworld. It wasn't as if he could go off on Horcrux hunts every few days. He had to show his face in his territory, otherwise the others might try and rebel. He demanded total obedience from his people, they knew the consequences should they try anything.

"If anyone knows about his…Horcruxes, it will be Peter Pettigrew," said Severus. "He was with him constantly for an entire year before the Dark Lord would let him out of his sight."

"I'll question him about it," said Harry, replacing the broken remains in his secret hidey hole, which wasn't so secret anymore.

"Dobby has Master Severus' belongings, Master Harry," said Dobby looking smug.

"What did you do, Dobby?" asked Harry eyeing his mischievous House-Elf.

"Nasty wizard Dumbledore tried to stop Dobby. Master told Dobby to return, so Dobby did." said the House-Elf.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?" requested Harry enunciating each word.

"Dobby banished the bad wizard into the Lake without clothes, Master Harry," confessed Dobby, his green eyes beginning to shine apprehensively. He'd never been made to punish himself; in fact his Master had forced him to stop. Would his Master punish him for doing this? He seemed really angry.

Harry's eyebrows disappeared as he stared at Dobby, his lips pursed as he tried to stifle his amusement. He'd thrown Dumbledore naked into the lake? Oh, that was just classic, without his wand he would have to actually get out and return to Hogwarts in the state he was in. Harry chortled in laughter before getting control of himself; he noticed to his secret delight that Severus too was finding it difficult to hold in his own mirth.

"Where will Dobby put everything, Master Harry?" enquired Dobby positively beaming, his grin almost tearing his face in two. He had made his Master happier than he'd ever seen him, actually made him laugh; he was over the moon.

"Give it to me," demanded Severus immediately; it was his property after all.

Harry nodded curtly to Dobby, without words telling him to do as he was told, even though he wasn't the slightest bit happy with the way he was talking to his House-Elf.

Dobby clicked his fingers and seven large cardboard boxes appeared in front of Severus. All that could be seen over the boxes was his head; he wasn't amused if the droll look on his face was anything to go by. It was his own fault after all, he had demanded them, and his Master had nodded his head.

"Is there any more?" asked Severus sarcastically.

"You did demand them," Harry replied snorting in enjoyment. "Follow me."

"Why?" asked Severus, what else was he going to learn? His mind was blown as it was, trying to digest everything he'd learned.

"Why does everything have to be a fight with you?" hissed Harry, his eyes flashing, showing his anger.

"Does Master Harry want his dinner now?" asked Dobby, knowing his Master got really irritated when he was hungry. Some days he needed more blood than others, just like humans sometimes ate more food one day to the next.

"I'll take it in my office in five minutes," Harry said, quirking his lips at Dobby, letting him know he'd done a good job. "Come, it's only two doors down."

"Very well," said Severus cautiously, making his way around Harry, and giving him a wide berth. He didn't want to end up the vampire's dinner, thank you very much. This was the first time he'd seen Harry lose his composure, either dredging all this up had been emotionally exhausting (which he didn't believe) or he would soon go into blood lust. Blood lust, if the books were right, was just being extremely hungry and ill-tempered. You would be like that for a few days, and if you still hadn't fed, then you would go into a blood rage. Which would cause the vampire to kill the first living thing (whether it was an animal or human) that crossed his or her path. He did ponder briefly what Harry chose to drink from ― human or animal.

Harry walked towards the bedroom, not apologizing, the urge was there oddly enough. But he hadn't apologized in years and refused to do so now. It was a sign of weakness to apologize, and he couldn't be seen as weak, not that he was. Although if the circumstances permitted it, he would say sorry if he had to. He opened the door and gestured for Severus to go in, rolling his eyes when he edged in watching him suspiciously.

Stalking in he watched Severus closely, he was surprised, and he liked the room if his admiration was anything to go on. Harry moved towards the other door and opened it, showing the luxurious black tiled en-suite with the large shower, which could easily fit up to five people inside.

"That door is a cupboard, but down here," continued Harry, opening the door just three feet from the bedroom door they'd just come through. "Is a personalised Potions lab; you will find many potion ingredients in here that you wouldn't want to bring into Hogwarts. It's still a bit dusty since it has just finished being created for you, by a few of my people." When he finished his statement he climbed down the ladder and into the lab.

Severus followed, feeling a deep thrum in his heart that he didn't really understand. It took everything in him not to drop his jaw when the lab was revealed to him. It was large; the stone was painted cream to give it a light and airy appearance despite it being underground. There were seven individual silver and marble counters in different places, two large sinks at the back with large spikes sticking out for the cauldrons to be placed on them to dry off. The cooling trays he'd seen in the other lab were present here as well; they weren't on the market, so the coven had made them especially for him. Small cupboards stretched in all directions close to the wall, with labels clearly stating what was in them. Vials, stirrers, cauldrons, knives, scales, corks, racks, mortars and pestles, dragon hide gloves, aprons and mats... the list was frankly endless. Specialised cupboards with distinctive needs. Plants and herbs that needed cold or hot environments. Then the main ones for all the potions he created right next to him. This…this was a dream lab for any novice or serious potion brewer.

"What do you…?" Severus stopped in mid-sentence, knowing better than to ask that question.

"Nothing, just trying to keep your ass alive." stated Harry wryly, and what an ass it was; he wouldn't mind getting a piece of it. Cursing inwardly, he jumped back up through the hole, not bothering with the ladders and Apparated away. This was getting ridiculous. Why the hell was he obsessing over Severus? Why did he want him? Sure, he'd had his share of partners, but never had he felt such a pull before in his life.

Edited by Jordre thank you!