Severus arrived in his office and hurried out of the fireplace to get to his room, but found that everyone had followed him back from Grimmauld. Severus understood why his two co-workers and the students were there, but Remus and Sirius didn't make sense.
"No, you two are not coming." Severus remarked firmly.
"He's my godson, Snape." Sirius stated.
"He is no longer your responsibility, Black." Severus reminded. "And might I jog your memory that Harry being this upset is because of you. And Albus, so I don't think either of you should come. It's just going to make it worse."
"We all just want to ensure Harry is alright, Severus." Albus mentioned.
"Maybe you should have cared about Harry's well being fifteen years ago, Headmaster. When it mattered, when all he suffered with those muggles could have been prevented." Severus narrowed his eyes. "Maybe you didn't know how they were treating Harry in the years before he came to Hogwarts…"
"But you knew at the end of first and Harry begged you to place him elsewhere. You ignored a cry for help and he ended up raped over the summer, multiple times. The same again the following year." He informed.
"You had the power to do something. You got Sirius proven innocent at the end of third year, you could have done that any time and Harry wouldn't have been raped. You chose not to help him because you believed those blood wards were keeping him safe. Why did you do something at the end of third year, huh? Was it because you finally saw the depression, how done with living there Harry was? It shouldn't have taken that long for you to act."
Albus closed his eyes, sighing. "Severus, I understand my mistakes. Nothing can be done to alter the past, all we can do is try to right the wrongs by getting Harry the help he needs. Save him from himself."
"You can never right this. You can't take away what happened to him, any of it." Severus told him. "And you, Sirius…You're just as bad. You chose to hand Harry over to Albus when legally, you didn't have to. You could have refused and kept Harry. Raised him while you were still mourning the loss of your friends. You chose revenge, a choice that landed you in Azkaban for twelve years. That screwed you up more, to the point that you couldn't see Harry for himself." The potions master stated. "Now stay out of the way. Harry's already in a bad place and I don't want to see him breakdown again."
"When did he…?" Minerva frowned.
"After everyone left the hospital wing. He cried against me for almost an hour before I got him to take a calming and sleeping draught and he went to bed." Severus said. "So I don't think seeing you two," He motioned to Albus and Sirius. "Is a good idea."
"Sirius…" Remus sighed. "Severus is right. It's not a wise idea for you and Harry to see one another until he's in a better place. Until you, also, are in a better place. I know you understand the things you've done wrong, but Harry told you he didn't want to see you until you were better."
"Albus, you too. Severus made a fair request. I don't think it's best to approach Harry until we gauge how he is…You're directly associated with his pain, and from what I've learned, such things have to be tackled delicately and on the victims' terms." Minerva remarked.
"Very well, but I will remain to assist in finding a way into the chamber. I'm the headmaster, I'm sure there is a way to manipulate the magic to allow you entry." Albus said.
"Fine." Severus agreed. "Sirius, go back to Grimmauld with Remus." He headed for the door to his office.
"Severus!" Sirius forced the man to stop heading for the door. "I know that I hurt Harry and I can't take it back…But he is my godson. I'll never be able to apologize or fix the wrongs if I can't see him. I can get over everything else, even him being married and bonded to you. I can continue doing my sessions with a healer. But I want to be part of his life. I can't fix anything if you don't give me the chance to."
"I hurt him. Yes, I hurt him deeply. And how he is now is because of me, so let me talk to him. Let me apologize and try to fix my mistakes." Sirius stated. "Please? I won't try to override you, or even fight with you anymore. Harry's happiness means everything to me and if he gets that with you…Whatever. I can live with it. But I can't live with him not in my life. I have to fix this. Please?"
"Harry might heal a little if Sirius talks to him, Uncle Severus…" Draco offered. "Harry was angry with everyone else during the tournament, because of the betrayal, but they apologized and had to earn his forgiveness all throughout fifth year." He mentioned. "It might help Harry to hear Sirius apologize. There won't be instant forgiveness, but Harry did say a month ago that Sirius had to earn it back."
"So help me Merlin, Black, if you upset him again…" Severus never finished the threat.
"Understood." Sirius nodded.
"Come along," Severus opened the door to his office and walked out, heading for his personal quarters. Severus waved his wand to unlock the door and got inside.
"Isn't…The entrance to the chamber in the girl's bathroom?" Hermione whispered to Ron.
"That's how Harry and I got into it four years ago." Ron nodded.
"Would you two hush up?" Severus remarked as he went over to a portrait on the wall. "Salazar…" The man stated to the picture.
"Salazar…? As in Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders?" Minerva gasped.
A male moved into the frame. "Hello, Severus." The male spoke. "I see we're not alone."
"I'll explain later. Is Harry down in the chamber?" Severus inquired.
"Indeed he is. Has been since early this morning; I've been quite worried for him." Salazar informed. "I've already heard what happened from Ivy, she's with him right now. I believe he's sleeping. It's been a rough night of nightmares. Screaming, shaking, crying. I had Ivy steal one of your sleeping draughts. Do forgive me…"
"Which one?" Severus questioned.
"Dreamless and he put up a fight about taking it. Ivy held him down and forced him to drink it and he knocked out soon after. I believe he needs you, and too stubborn." Salazar said.
"That's Harry for you…" Severus sighed. "I'm glad he's resting now and no worries about taking the draught. But I need to get down there and you know Harry is the only Parselmouth next to Riddle and I'm certainly not calling him here to open the chamber so I can console my husband. Can you open it?"
"I'm nothing more than a picture, my boy. I don't possess that kind of power…Harry's the only one with the power to open the passage from here to the chamber." Salazar stated. "You can attempt the opening in the original entrance, but I cannot guarantee force would work."
"I'll try that then. Go back and watch over Harry…If he wakes, try to convince him to come back up." Severus said.
Salazar nodded and disappeared from the photo as Severus left his room and the others followed. "Severus…Perhaps you'd like to explain why you have a magical photograph of Salazar Slytherin in your quarters?" Albus hoped.
"Is now really the time to be worrying about it?" Severus glared.
"We have time while you're working to open the passage way down…" Albus mentioned.
"Back in January, Harry and I went down there together. It was a birthday gift, showing me the chamber and letting me harvest the Basilisk for parts. We explored and found a photograph of Salazar, but it wasn't moving. Harry figured out it was frozen and managed to break the spell using Finite Incantatem in Parseltongue." He began to explain.
"Sal let us take his extra frame and put it in my room, then taught Harry how to open a direct passage from the picture into the chamber. But Harry's the only one who can open it and Salazar has named Harry his heir. Which was won over, rights by conquest. Harry defeated the former heir too many times, and Sal said his heir had to be powerful. Also, apparently, Harry is actually connected to Salazar's family." Severus continued. while they were walking to the second floor.
"Is he really?" Blaise blinked.
"They're related through the Peverell brothers. Slytherin line crossed into the Gaunt's, which is Voldemort's mother's line. And the Gaunt's were formed down from Cadmus Peverell. Harry descends down from Ignotus, a marriage between Ignotus's granddaughter and one of the Potters."
"Harry and Voldemort are actually distant cousins and given the familial tie and defeats, Sal named Harry his heir and current lord. He wears the lordship ring too, that's why he's the only one with the power to open the passageway between my room and the chamber. He uses the ring and speaks in Parseltongue." Severus remarked.
"That's astounding." Remus said.
"So Harry is…Lord Slytherin?" Sirius asked.
"Yes." Severus entered the second floor girl's loo, so did the rest of them. "I know Harry used Parseltongue on this, but I can't remember what he said…I was too excited to be able to see the chamber…" He looked over the sinks.
"May I, Professor Snape?" Ron questioned as Severus nodded and stepped aside. Ron found the sink with a snake on the side of the tap before he backed up. "Hehshhaasssaa…" Ron sounded.
There was a rumbling sound as the top of the sinks floated upwards towards the ceiling, then the group of sinks came apart as the others backed away to watch with amazement. The sink Ron had touched slipped down into the floor and the grate slid over it.
"Damn, Weasley? You a Parseltongue too…?" Pansy asked.
"Um…No? But…Harry used to speak Parseltongue in his sleep when we shared a dorm. I guess I picked some of it up. Plus, I was with him four years ago when we came here with Lockhart." Ron explained.
"Mr. Weasley…" Severus looked at him. "Excellent job. Fifteen points to Gryffindor for…Being a good listener and friend to Harry."
Severus wasted no time walking to the edge and jumping down. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they jumped next. Draco was after them, then the rest of his friends. Sirius and Remus jumped together. "Minerva, go with them. I'll stay here and see to the others not coming in and ensuring everyone is prepared to leave for holiday." Albus said.
"Of course, Headmaster." Minerva turned herself and leapt into the hole. Albus watched as the chamber entrance began to close up, then he left the bathroom.
Inside the chamber, the adults had lit their wands to get through the darkened path. Everyone was taking it in, Ron remembered some and had started to tell Hermione the tale of when they found the skin of the Basilisk and how Lockhart tried to obliviate them. How the ceiling caved in. Finally, they went to the snake door.
"Mr. Weasley, what are the chances you can open this one?" Severus asked.
"I don't know, Professor. I wasn't with Harry when he got to this door…" Ron admitted. "I can try, though." He approached the door and sounded out the same phrase as before, thankfully, the door accepted it. The snakes began to adjust as one went around the rim and then the door opened fully. Severus was first through and climbing down the small ladder, then he stayed to help the rest down.
"This is the chamber of secrets…" Draco looked around.
"There's the Basilisk!" Hermione pointed.
"Yes, quite dead." Severus nodded.
They were all walking through towards the statue of Salazar. "Okay, so where is Harry?" Sirius asked.
"Inside the statue…" Severus remarked. "It's another part of the chamber, and can only be opened by a Parselmouth. Want to give it a go, Mr. Weasley. I know what Harry said for this one, but I can't repeat it in the tone."
"What did he say?" Ron inquired.
"Speak to my Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four." Severus informed.
Ron faced the statue. "Ssspeak to me Sslytherin, Greatesst of the Hogwartsss Four." Ron attempted to hiss out. By the grace of God, the mouth began to open. Severus reformed the bridge and hurried across to get inside.
"Salazar. I'm here, I'm in…Please open the entry to your chambers?" Severus called. Salazar came to the portrait.
"I'm impressed." Salazar chuckled.
"It wasn't me, it was Harry's friend who somehow picked up sounding Harry's parseltongue. It worked and let us in." Severus stated. "Can you let me into the room?"
"Of course, Severus." The portrait swung open. "He's in my room, Ivy is with him."
Severus went over to the door and opened it up, finding Harry fast asleep with Ivy, definitely bigger, and wrapped around him protectively. Ivy lifted her head and hissed out menacingly. "Ivy…It's me, Severus…Harry's mate." Severus assured.
"Ivy, it's alright. They just want to check on Harry." Salazar hissed to his friend. Ivy calmed and bowed her head to Severus before loosening her grip and moving away from Harry so Severus could get closer.
"Harry…" Severus went right to his husband's side to check over him.
"That's a big snake…" The students backed away.
"Ivy is no threat to you, she's just protective of her master." Salazar informed. "Ivy, you can return to your smaller form now. Severus is here to maintain Harry,"
Ivy nodded and shrunk herself to the size of a common house pet snake, but she stayed right near Harry. "How is he, Severus?" Minerva asked.
Severus didn't answer right away, he was checking over Harry's body and found what he'd hoped hadn't been the case when Draco first reported to Severus that Harry was worse than in fourth year. There were cutting marks on Harry's arms, old and fresh. Severus saw Harry's bag on the floor and he peeked through it to find small shots of alcohol. Vials from potions to stay awake, the nutrient potions. How had all this happened right under his nose?
"Severus? Is…Harry alright? You've not spoken." Remus tried.
"He's alive, but no…He is not alright." Severus never faced them. "And I do not believe he will be for quite some time."
"You're…Scared, Severus." Minerva stated.
"How can I not be?" Severus tossed Harry's bag to them, letting it spill over so they could see the contents inside. It wasn't books or assignments. It was jars of potions and alcohol. "This…Is far worse than two years ago." Severus stated before he carefully picked Harry up in his arms. "Everyone return to the tunnel we entered after jumping down. It's time to leave. I'm taking Harry right home to my house, Minerva."
"I'll bring his trunk on the train, Uncle Sev and deliver it to your house tonight." Draco said.
"Thank you, godson." Severus adjusted Harry in his arms so that Harry's head was on his shoulder and the boy's hands were in his own lap. "And thank you to all of you for the group effort to find Harry." He added.
"Severus, take Harry's work with him." Salazar said. "On the desk there. He was working on it when he came down here, not sure what, but he seemed pretty invested."
Severus waved his wand over the work and shrunk it down to keep in his pocket. After that, Ivy got into Harry's lap and Severus walked to the exit, using a simple levitating charm to bypass the ladder out and then continue walking to get to the tunnel upwards. Ron was able to get it opened again and the adults used levitation charms to get everyone up and out onto the floor of the bathroom.
Minerva led the students away as Severus walked with Remus and Sirius to his office. Severus set Harry down on the couch long enough to ensure everything was set, then Remus and Sirius went back to Grimmauld. Severus told Sirius and Remus they could visit when Harry was feeling better, but it wouldn't be today. Severus then made sure everything was locked down for his room and office before getting into the fireplace to take himself and Harry to Spinner's End.
Once in the home, Severus took Harry up to the master bedroom, and laid the boy down, then covered him up carefully. Severus asked Ivy to watch over him while he handled some things. Ivy nodded, staying close to Harry's slumbering figure as Severus left to unpack and then go through the vials to determine what everything was that Harry had been using for whatever reason.
The hours passed slowly, Harry remained fast asleep upstairs. Lucius had come by with Narcissa and Draco to drop off Harry's school trunk, and the map. Sirius had stopped over there to have them hand it back to Harry. There was some small talk, mainly of worry for Harry, but Severus promised that he would talk to Harry when he woke and this would get tackled.
It had to be worked out, Harry needed to talk or cry. Something, but he couldn't keep holding it in and putting on a brave face. This time, it nearly killed him. Severus would do whatever he had to do, but he wouldn't lose his husband. He couldn't. Wouldn't. Because he loved him.