It's My Life
Severus and Lucius were stuck in the dark lord's presence for hours, retelling the tale of court and everything Albus was charged with for his manipulations against Harry. When the clock hit 7:15 pm, Severus was permitted to leave to get back to the school given it was dinner time and Voldemort knew that Severus's standing as a spy needed to stay intact now that Albus was no longer there and could overlook Severus missing. Dolores Umbridge was headmistress and knew nothing of Severus's involvement, so the potions master was grateful that the dark lord understood and allowed Severus to return.
When Severus got back to the school, Harry was thankfully present at dinner, but looked exhausted and didn't eat much of his dinner. Now, everyone knew that Severus was Harry's adoptive father, but that didn't mean Severus could just drop every responsibility as a teacher to ensure Harry was alright. Severus knew that Harry would tell him if something was wrong, and Harry still ate, laughing with his friends.
If there were an emergency, yes, Severus would run to his son. But that was not the case, so Severus would not act until he knew something was wrong that needed him to act as Harry's father, not his teacher. Severus didn't need a reason for Umbridge to try and fire him. The dark lord would not like that at all, and neither would Harry because he'd have to deal with no protections from Dolores if Severus were gone.
The hours ticked away, spilling into the next day of June 15th. Thankfully, a Saturday. Harry had gotten the testing schedule wrong as Hermione informed that OWLs took place over two weeks. So, in fact, Harry took his first week of exams last week and got to leave on Friday after his last exam for that day for the trial. This week was the last week of OWL testing. Harry was taking his potions one on Wednesday, but the rest seemed easy enough.
Harry knew he'd do great in Astronomy, even Care of Magical Creatures. Divination was a maybe; he didn't care for the subject much, but had done well when he took the class. Flying was a no-brainer; he'd been on the Quidditch team his first four years of Hogwarts. Ancient Runes and Arithmancy were if subjects too. Either way, Harry was sure he did good on Charms, Transfiguration, and Herbology. Tuesday wouldn't be fun at all because it was Defense Against the Dark Arts and Harry really didn't want to sit in a room with Umbridge longer than an hour.
However, Harry knew he and anyone in the DA would do good because he showed them what they needed to know with Severus's help, side teaching them what Umbridge would not. Currently, it was about 4 am and Harry was tossing and turning in bed. Harry felt sick and he didn't know why. He felt like his head was splitting in two, like someone was trying to get in and since Albus was so far away in Azkaban; it had to be Voldemort because of their connection.
"Harry?" Draco asked. Harry saw his curtains open and revealed his boyfriend to him. "Hey, what's wrong? Nightmares?"
"I-I don't feel good, Dray…" Harry groaned. "I've been fighting to keep Voldemort out of my head for two hours, and it's giving me a migraine bad enough to make me sick…" He hissed with a hand to his scar, but found it to be wet. "What the hell?" Harry pulled back his fingers.
"Lumos," Draco cast as the light revealed Harry's fingers to be bloody. "Harry…You're bleeding from your scar…"
"I don't…It's never…" Harry couldn't find his words. Another attempt by Voldemort to get in his head as Harry whimpered, holding his head and curling into a fetal position. "G-Get…M-my dad…"
"Where's your cloak?" Draco asked.
"Wa-Wardrobe…" Harry panted.
Draco rushed over and located the object. All his jostling woke Theodore. "Hey, hey, what's all the noise? It's 4 am…"
"The dark lord is trying to get into Harry's head and been at it for hours. It's making his scar bleed. I'm going to get Uncle Severus." Draco remarked before throwing the cloak around him and hurrying to get out of the dorm, then down into the common room.
Draco hurried down the corridor to get to his uncle's personal quarters and muttered the password to get inside. Draco went to his godfather's bedroom and knocked on the door a few times after taking off the cloak. Finally, the door opened revealing Severus in his nightwear, not that it looked any different from his usual, except perhaps the lack of buttons.
"Draco? What are you doing up and out of bed at this hour?" Severus asked.
"Would I come all the way here for nothing, Uncle Sev?" Draco remarked. "Harry needs you, he said get my dad."
Severus didn't waste time, he grabbed his potions kit off the shelf of the cabinet and exited the room with Draco, who went back under the cloak until they reached Slytherin common room. Draco guided Severus up the stairs to the fifth year dorms and right to Harry's bed, then everyone stepped out of the way. The rest of the dorm was up, except for Gregory and Vincent, who seemed to sleep through everything unless forcibly awakened. Blaise and Theodore were up and wands lit to give Severus light to oversee Harry.
"Harry?" Severus lightly touched Harry's shoulder. "I'm here now, tell me what's wrong, son…" Harry just whimpered and cringed.
"Dad…Make it stop…P-Please…" Harry pleaded, holding his head.
"Harry, I will do everything in my power to help you…But you have to tell me what's bothering you. Remember, I can't help if I don't know…" Severus told him.
"H-He won't…Stop…T-Trying to…G-Get in…" Harry managed. "T-Tired and don't…Feel g-good…"
"Alright…Ssh now." Severus soothed. "Draco? Explain?" Severus asked.
"Harry said that the dark lord had been trying to get in his head for the last two hours, hurting his head enough in the fight to make him feel sick. His scar is bleeding and Harry said it's never done that before…" Draco explained.
"Never?" Severus faced his godson. Severus moved Harry's hair a bit to see the scar bleeding slightly. "Easy does it, son…If you want to push him out, you must remain calm and relaxed." He informed Harry. "I know it hurts, I will do all I can to help." Severus opened his potions bag and got out a clean rag, beginning to dab up the blood that had spilled from the wound then he got some ointment to place on the scar, lightly massaging it in.
"Maybe a sleeping draft, Uncle Sev? If he's been suffering for two hours, then this started at 2 am, and Harry went to bed around midnight. He stayed up to study for exams on Monday, and finish some work." Draco suggested.
"If I give him a draught now, he will sleep most of the morning." Severus said.
"Then let him, Uncle Severus…It's Saturday and Harry needs to be at his best for exams. We've got Umbridge's on Tuesday, and yours on Wednesday. Harry doesn't need to be lacking sleep because of this." Draco informed. "Unless you're going to go to the dark lord yourself and request he please stop torturing your son?"
"I think not." Severus drawled. "That takes care of the scar, hopefully…It's curious and concerning that it would bleed when it never has before." He mentioned as he started pulling potions for his son. "Draco, help hold him up, please?" Draco sat on the edge of Harry's bed, and helped him sit upwards. "Come on, son…These will help. Pain potion, stomach soother, and something to help you sleep."
Severus pulled the stoppers and gave Harry one at a time, helping him to drink them down. "There you go," He comforted as Harry finally stopped wincing and moaning in pain. "Breathe, calm yourself. Relax. The sleeping draught is going to take effect fast, so use the moments you have to relax. Clear your mind of everything, put everything in the protected chest we practiced. Lock it down, let your magic protect you," Severus coached.
Harry took a few breaths, obviously still feeling weak and tired, but thankfully, the pain had stopped and the nausea settled. "Thanks, Dad…" Harry managed to say.
"No thanks needed. I am your father, it's my job to take care of you and do all I can to ensure you're safe." Severus gave the fifteen-year-old a small smile. "Rest now. I'll come check on you in the morning. Do you still have the two-way mirror?" Harry nodded. "Let me know when you wake again."
"Yes, Father…" Harry began to fall asleep against Draco.
"Lay him down, Draco, gently…" Severus adjusted to help his godson with laying Harry down, then Severus covered his son up. "Rest, my boy…I won't be far." He stated before bending over to place a light kiss on Harry's scar. "I love you, son,"
"I…Love you…Too, Dad…" It was a moment later when Harry had fallen asleep.
"Is he going to be okay, Professor?" Theodore asked.
"I wish I could say for certain that he will, but as it's been established…Harry's never going to have an easy life until the dark lord is gone, unfortunately." Severus admitted.
"This battle needs to end…" Blaise sighed.
"It will, when it's time…" Theodore stated.
"Has…Harry remembered what Albus told him?" Blaise looked at Draco or Severus.
"No, I'm afraid." Draco shook his head. "I think Harry will get better over the summer…Not perfect, but better."
"What makes you so sure about that?" Severus inquired to his godson.
"Look at this year, Uncle Sev." Draco reminded him. "I think he just needs a long break away from the madness. No school, no teachers. No abusive relatives or controlling Dumbledore. No corrupt minister of magic. He just gets to get away, have fun…See his friends.
Family, being Remus and Sirius. He gets to be a kid, something he's been robbed of for years. You saw him during the new year's eve party; aside from the little bit of seriousness, Harry had fun. I've never seen him that happy. In all the years I've known him. As much good as there has been, there's bad too. And this is also a stressful year with OWLs."
"It's possible, but there is also just as much chance it gets worse. The dark lord is plotting something, I just don't know what. I know it'll be against Harry…" Severus packed up his things. "According to Harry, something big happens every year. Something big, something dangerous where he faces death. Something…Painful. I truthfully do not know if Harry can handle one more bad thing happening."
"His mental status has taken a serious beating over the years, and this is the one he chose to admit that he's considered ending his own life to make it stop. No matter how good things are…That depression is still there, and Harry's too close to the edge." The man sighed.
"Uncle Sev…Harry isn't alone. No matter what he goes through, we'll face it with him. We won't let him go over," Draco promised. "None of us want to lose him. We won't lose him. Harry's not going anywhere, he's not going to die. You have to keep that faith. We have to believe that, so Harry will. We have to be his strength. His faith…Whatever he needs or can't find. It's up to us."
"You're right, Draco. It's just hard…I've never had to worry about these things before. I can't stand to see him so hurt." Severus mentioned.
Draco put a hand on Severus's shoulder. "The answer to why you worry so much is right in front of you, godfather…" He paused with a smile. "You're a father now, rather, you always have been to Harry. Maybe from a distance before the adoption, but you've always looked out for him. Protected him. Harry's always put his faith in you because you're always been there. It's supposed to be hard, worrying about your child. It's because you love him and would do anything for him, risk your own life or sacrifice it for his safety. You've been doing that all these years."
"I can't deny any of it." Severus stood up. "Now, all of you to bed."
"Yes, sir." Blaise, Draco, and Theo replied.
The boys got into bed and doused the lights on their wands to sleep as Severus left the room and returned to his own. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any more issues in the next few hours, but it was pretty clear that Harry would be sleeping for a while. Severus set his things down and climbed back into bed, thinking about what Draco said. It was true, Severus never truly hated Harry. Yes, Harry was similar to both Lily and James, but if you look past that; Severus had always seen Harry like the son who had to be a rebel and needed saving no matter what because he loved him. Severus found a smile and soon fell right to sleep.
. . .
Three days had gone by, and by the end of the 15th, Harry was feeling better. Today was the 18th, and Harry just wanted to get through his OWL exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Everyone was fed up with Umbridge running the show. She was against everything they did and Harry had been promised by Fred and George that they'd shake things up. Naturally, Harry was curious, but afraid. The twins shaking it up usually mean pranks of the highest caliber, or explosions. It was currently about 11:45 am as Harry was finishing up his written portion. He had three questions left and was moving right along.
Harry made it a point to study all this through the DA, because as he'd suspected, everything Dolores refused to teach them was present. Harry dipped his quill once more and finished filling in the last question, then put his quill down and sat back. It was perfect timing that he'd completed his because there was a boom outside the great hall, where the fifth years were taking their exams. The disturbances got Umbridge to head for the doors and inspect around; it was then that Fred and George flew in, setting off fireworks all around and mixing up everyone's papers. Thankfully, while Umbridge was distracted, Harry had taken his and set it in his robes for safe keeping.
"Ready, Georgie?" Fred grinned.
"Ready when you are, Freddie," George nodded.
They lit a large firework and set it off, it burst and appeared as a large dragon. "The hell is going on?" Severus demanded as he came rushing with the teachers and other students that had been in classes. The dragon turned on Dolores. The fifth years were all laughing as Dolores tried to run for it and the dragon chased her down until she was outside the door and then it chomped down and burst to destroy all her educational decrees. Students stampeded out to the square, watching the Weasley brothers fly around and send up their signature W. Everyone was cheering, teachers were secretly high-fiving and snickering at the display.
However, as much fun as Harry was having; the visions started. Harry stilled as he cycled through everything, this was just like when Arthur Weasley had been attacked. Voldemort was doing something to someone. Harry tried to focus and figure out where the visions were taking him.
"Harry?" Ron asked. "You alright, mate?"
Harry stayed quiet as he was lost in the vision, following where it led him until he saw Voldemort and…Sirius! Harry's eyes widened as he saw Voldemort using the cruciatus curse on his godfather. "Si-Sirius…" Harry whispered.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione wondered.
"Sirius. He has Sirius…At the ministry…" Harry said.
"Come on, we'll tell Snape and pass a message to the rest of the Order…" Hermione tried to lead Harry to where Severus was.
"Not so fast, Potter!" Dolores demanded. "What did you have to do with this!?"
"Nothing." Harry stated.
"Of course you did. It's always you causing a ruckus!" Dolores glared.
"I didn't do anything, and you have no proof." Harry remarked calmly.
Without warning, Dolores smacked Harry across the mouth and the area went dead silent. "Tell me what you had to do with this."
"I won't admit to something I didn't do, and you're done. You were well warned a month ago…" Harry said.
"You know…I really hate children," Dolores admitted.
"Tell me something I don't already know." Harry sassed.
"You will tell me your hand in this." Dolores ordered.
"No." Harry refused. "And you can't make me."
"The cruciatus curse should loosen your tongue." Dolores said, raising her wand.
"That's illegal!" Draco glared as he tried to get to Harry, but Dolores put a barrier up to keep everyone away.
"Is there a problem, Dolores?" Severus asked, Draco beside him and then the rest of his friends in the group. Hermione and Ron went to get him.
"No problem at all." Dolores informed. "Just getting answers."
"Uncle Sev, she's threatening to crucio him!" Draco told his godfather.
"Umbridge, don't you dare. He's not just another student, he is my son." Severus told her.
"It's worth it." Dolores smirked.
"Harry, get out of there!" Ron said.
"Where the hell would you like me to go, Ron?!" Harry had nowhere to hide in this barrier. All he could do was try to dodge it.
"I've waited to do this all year…" Dolores pointed her wand at Harry. "Crucio!"
Harry got hit by the curse and he instantly crumbled to his knees, gritting his teeth. Dolores cast it over and over again, but Harry never screamed out or admitted to something he didn't do, which is what Dolores would ask each time she ended the curse.
When Dolores cast it for the fourth time, Harry was more annoyed than in pain. Harry didn't make a sound as he was laying on the ground after the last one. On the fifth, Harry forced himself to move through the pain as he struggled to get to his knees, then further more on his feet again.
"W-What?" Dolores gasped, retracting the spell. "T-That's not possible! No one can resist this curse. Crucio!"
This time, Harry didn't make a face or a sound; he just folded his arms over one another and faced her with an even look. Eventually, Dolores gave up and glared. "I don't think we've properly met, Dolores…You see, I'm Harry Potter-Snape…And the one thing you need to know about me is that everything about me isn't possible." Harry's wand dropped down from his sleeve into his hand. "I survived the killing curse as a baby. I can resist the imperius curse, I know Dumbledore tried it once or twice. And this?"
Harry made a tch sound. "Your torture curse? It's nothing compared to when I got it from the dark lord in fourth year. So either you don't want it bad enough, or you're just weak." Harry informed. "Nothing about me is possible, but here I stand…Alive and well. Because people like the dark lord, Dumbledore, and you…People like you keep trying to get rid of me and you fail. You just keep making me rise above. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
"We'll see about that!"