Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Through the Veil and Back Again	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 77508 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (though someone could gift me a few of the men in it and I wouldn't complain) and make no money off of this.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Chapter 16

Looking at the door to the kitchen, Sirius said, quietly, “It's the shields. Harry knows Snape is here, he's picking up on his thoughts, but he's not getting the pain.”
“Good, at least we have one issue with this nightmare figured out,” Remus said with a pleased nod, waiting for Severus to come in.
Looking at Lucius, Narcissa asked softly, “It's not like it was before?”
“Nothing like it,” Lucius confirmed. “He says it's no worse than being around the three of you.”
Stepping into the kitchen, Severus was extremely wary. This was the first time in years he was this on edge. He never dropped his shields, ever, he didn't care who was around or what they knew how to do. However, with what could be gained from this, not to mention the help he promised to give, he was going to give it a chance.
When he got the first of Narcissa's messages about what the problem was, he had consulted with the Dark Lord. Then, when they had come across with the theory that it was the shields, he had actually been with the Dark Lord. The two of them discussed it and decided to give it a try. It was risky, no doubt there, but it was worth it.
Looking around, the Potions Master asked, “I assume that Mr. Potter is handling this better.”
“It's the shields, Severus,” Lucius told him softly. “The pain that he was getting is non-existent.”
“I'll let you lot get him up to speed and go get Harry,” Sirius said, making to stand.
“I would let Lucius do that,” Remus told his friend quietly. “With the shape you're in, not to mention how out of it Harry is, you'll both end up falling down those stairs. Lucius can bring him down without a problem.”
Not having thought of that, Sirius nodded then motioned for Lucius to go ahead. Watching the man stand then exit, he looked at Snape and asked, rubbing his face wearily, “Did you bring him something better for pain? He's still in agony, though asleep.”
“I brought something more powerful,” Severus confirmed, taking a seat by the pale Narcissa. “I also brought over some more of what I gave you before. Give me a few days and I'll brew up a potion that I believe will be more effective. Though I do need to caution you to use what I brought sparingly. They are highly addictive.”
“As long as no one touches him again and he doesn't pick up something as bad as that damned goblet, we're going to be good,” Sirius sighed, rubbing his temples. Looking across the table at Snape, he warned, “Do not touch him, ever.”
Though Narcissa hadn't said much in the missive she sent, she did write enough to allow him to catch on to the fact that she had made the whole situation worse by touching him and what Potter did get was something none of them wanted anyone to know. That was more than enough to drive the point home. “Understood,” he said. “I sent over some gloves with a spell on them. From what I was able to find while looking into psychometry, it purports to block the worst effects. Make sure he uses them.”
“Oh, he'll use them,” Sirius chuckled mirthlessly, shaking his head. “None of us involved in this mess can take any more of what happened tonight.”
Resting his elbows on the table, Severus clasped his hands in front of him and looked at Black. “I'm looking for a spell that renders them invisible or something that can be applied to them that may work the same way. It may take me some time, but I'll find something. Then, even if he does have them on with someone around, no one will be the wiser.” Seeing the very out of it Black nod, he looked around, “Fill me in on just what happened so I know what we're dealing with here then, maybe, we can judge what can be done to help more.”
Sighing, looking down, Narcissa began to walk her old friend through the whole mess.

Stepping into Black's bedroom, Lucius spied Harry sitting up on the edge of the man's bed. Very out of it, pale, shaking, and listing to one side, the young man was obviously still in a tremendous amount of pain. Walking over, he crouched down in front of him then said, “I'm going to take you downstairs. Severus was going to bring something over for pain. I don't think it's wise for you to try to walk, Harry, so I'll carry you on my back after putting a lightening charm on you.”
Nodding, wincing when it made his already throbbing head hurt worse, Harry sighed.
Casting the charm on Harry, he helped the young man onto his back, holding him firmly, then began to make his way to the door.
Clutching tightly to Lucius, head resting on his shoulder, eyes shut, Harry did something he had never done before other than when they practiced; he closed the connection to Sirius. Thinking to Lucius, he said, “Draco is very lucky. You love him and don't care who his real father is. He's your real son, so the other part doesn't matter.”
Faltering in his steps slightly, Lucius thought back, “It doesn't matter at all.”
“She loved Regulus with all her heart, you knew that going in and didn't care. She's very lucky to have you. And she knows that. You're her best friend in the world and she adores you,” Harry told him.
Smiling slightly, Lucius replied, “There are some things better in this world than a romantic relationship. The one we share is one of those.”
“Sirius and I were wondering about that part because we didn't want to upset her with what we know is coming.” Harry explained softly.
“She's aware that there is probably something sexual involved with this and it doesn't matter,” Lucius told him. “It won't affect anything between us and, as we have Draco, it won't make a difference.”
“We won't say a word, Lucius. He's your son and that's all anyone needs to know,” Harry told him softly, lifting the block to Sirius.
Giving the young man's leg a gentle squeeze where he was holding him as they made their way down the stairs, he replied, “You're right, it is. The circumstances of his conception mean nothing. He's my son.”
“And he's very lucky. He has two parents that love him no matter what and would do anything for him,” Harry said with a smile.
Not sure what to say to that, smiling a little more, Lucius nodded, sure Harry would feel it. Quietly, he imparted, “Narcissa is sorry for causing you the pain she did.”
“She didn't mean to and was trying to help. It doesn't matter,” Harry told him as they made their way past the painting and towards the kitchen. “Just do me a favor when we sit down.”
“What's that?” Lucius inquired as he pushed the door open, walking over to take a seat by Black.
“Both of you touch my bare skin somewhere. The back or something like that. It'll help. My head really hurts right now and that should help with it,” Harry explained with a sigh.
“We can easily do that, Harry,” Sirius told him. Having been curious about the cut connection, though catching part of it when it opened back up, he figured out what his godson was talking to the man about and wasn't going to say anything. Standing slightly, he helped Harry off Lucius' back and had him sit down, draping one of the young man's legs over his and sliding a hand under the tail of his shirt to touch his bare back.
Sliding into the seat by the young man, Lucius did the same as Black, giving Harry's bare back a pat before resting it there.
Looking at the pale, shaking young man, Severus told him, quietly, “I brought you something for pain that should work. You do need to eat before you take it, though.”
Rubbing his eyes and nodding, wincing as he did, Harry sighed. His stomach—he wasn't sure if it could take food right now, but he was going to try. Anything to get something better for the pain.
“Just something bland or easy on the stomach,” Sirius told him softly.
Trying to think, Harry sighed then asked, “Weren't there going to be some mashed with gravy with supper?” Hearing the confirmation of that, he said, “Maybe that. I'll try at least.”
Nodding, Narcissa sent an elf off to bring the young man a small bowl along with a glass of milk. Looking across the table at him, she said, quietly, “I'm sorry. I forgot not to touch when you started bleeding so badly.”
“Nothing to worry about,” Harry told her with a small shake of his head. “You were just trying to help. I understand that.” Taking the bowl of potatoes, Harry began to take small bites, grimacing as his touchy stomach revolted slightly, but it didn't seem that it was going to reject the food.
Handing the pain draught off to Black as the young man was eating, he said, “Let him finish as much as he can then have him take it. The more the better here with the food.” Stopping, he looked around then said, “I've got a copy of the other prophecy. It's a transcription of it I was able to do with the help of a Pensieve, as I have no way to get my hands on the original, but it should help.” Pulling it out, he made copies and passed it around.

Reading through what was there, Sirius stiffened up slightly then shot Remus a covert look before showing it to Harry. Looking around the table, he didn't know what to say. It shored up some of what they did know and seemed to confirm other parts Lily said that they hadn't figured out yet.
Looking at Black, then glancing towards Lupin, both of whom had their poker faces firmly in place, Severus asked, quietly, “How much does that align with what you know?”
Not sure what to say, Sirius shrugged.
Seeing that her cousin didn't look like he was going to answer, Narcissa asked, gently, keeping a soft tone, “How much knowledge did you come back with after going through the Veil, Sirius?”
Head coming up, Sirius glanced at Remus, who looked startled then to Narcissa, not sure if he should answer that.
Quietly, Lucius added, “You're not the only one what's ever come back from the Veil, Sirius. There have been a couple other documented instances. They are extremely rare, that's for certain, but it has happened. The ones that have come back are in possession of knowledge about things they have no other way of knowing.”
Rubbing his eyes, Sirius didn't know what to say as he looked at the wording of the prophecy he had in his hand. This—he didn't know what to do. Prodding Harry gently, hoping his godson got the hint and cut the connection to Lucius, he glanced at Remus, hoping to get across for his friend to ask some kind of questions while he consulted with Harry.
Giving a bare nod at the look Sirius shot him, Remus asked, looking at the wording of what was there, “What is this Serpentine Seer? Do you know?” Stopping, he looked around.
Quickly, Severus walked them through what they had been told by the Dark Lord and what he had learned since. Producing a book out of his pocket that had a small blurb in it on that aspect, he opened it then cautioned, “Don't touch it, Mr. Potter. Its centuries old. I don't know what it might do.” Seeing the young man nod after downing the potion when he shoved the empty bowl away, he looked around, “I've not been able to find much about this particular topic. Nor was I willing to go to Albus to get some help.” That last part was a tactical move on his end. He assumed that, from some of what Lucius said, the three were leery of the headmaster so he hoped that this would help. When Lupin took the book and began to read, Severus said, quietly, looking at Harry, “Even with some of it being murky, I can apply it to Mr. Potter here. Defying death twice is something easy. The same with some of the other parts.” Lifting his eyes, he glanced between Black and Lucius. “Whatever this bond is seems to fit as well with the part of two joining him. The rest—I'm not sure about.”
Taking the book and reading through it, Remus rubbed his head, shaking it. Putting it back down and shoving it to Sirius, he clasped his hands and looked at the table. What Lily had told his friend was making more sense at this point than it had previously. He now just had to wait to see what Sirius said.
Reading through the chunk in the book, showing it to the now very out of it Harry, he was wondering what to say. Oh yeah, this was clearing up some things. Rubbing his eyes as he scanned the part about speaking Parseltongue and others translating it for him, he glanced at Lucius, who was looking at them then nudged Harry again.
Cutting the connection to Lucius, something that was harder than normal to do as whatever it was Snape had given him made him feel wonky as hell, Harry asked, “Yes?”
“What do you think we should tell them? They have some of it and it fits dead on perfect.” Sirius asked. “You getting anything off here or that we shouldn't say anything?”
“You can,” Harry told him with a sigh. “I'm not picking up anything that's telling me that they're doing this for something bad.”
Taking that for what it was, Sirius rubbed Harry's back. Even the telepathic 'voice' of his godson was slightly slurred right now, telling him Harry was probably fairly spaced out from what Snape had given him. Quietly, he said, “I came back with some. Let's say it fits some of what is here. On other parts, it's not something mentioned.”
Breaking in, Harry asked, looking at the book on the table, keeping his hands firmly in his lap, “This bit about speaking Parseltongue—I don't get that. Dumbledore told me that had to do with my scar.”
Though it was obvious the young man was very out of it, Severus was pleased with that question. Quietly, he said, “I think Albus got that part wrong.” Looking up and glancing around, he added, “And if he got that part wrong, he might be wrong about other things.” Again, that was a tactical maneuver on his end to get them to open up slightly. The more information they got from Black, the better they were going to be able to work with this.
Not sure what to make of that, as Snape seemed firmly in line with Dumbledore and very much under his thumb, Sirius didn't know what to think. Then there was the fact that there were doubts about just where the man's loyalties lay in this mess. Now he didn't know what to do as he knew the old man was wrong on it. Shooting a covert glance at Remus, he was unsure what to say.
“Sirius, we aren't here to betray you nor will we run to Dumbledore or use what you say against you,” Lucius told him quietly. “I'm one of the two that it talks about. That's obvious to all of us by now. Hurting you both would just be hurting myself.”
Sitting there, Harry looked across the table at Snape, who was watching Sirius. Though not picking up much at this point, he already knew plenty about the man because of what he had gotten from him before. As the agreement with Sirius and Remus was to tell them if he learned something that would put them in danger, and he hadn't picked that up from Snape, though what he did know were things they would be interested in, he hadn't said anything. Looking down, knowing that they needed help with some of this, he wasn't sure what to do. His judgment was off, he knew that, as he was feeling very out of it. After a couple moments, he asked, softly, “You're trying to help, aren't you?”
Looking at the young man seated across from him, knowing the question was addressed to him, Severus nodded, “I am. In several ways.” He wasn't sure what else to say as it could give away a great deal more that he wasn't sure if he should say at this point.
“If we talk, how much can be used to help with this mess?” Harry asked, still looking at the man. He would know if he was lying so he wanted to hear it.
“I don't think there is anything that can be done to stop it, but it might give us somewhere to look to help figure out how to help cope or prepare for what might be coming,” Snape told him, wondering what was going on.
Looking at the man intently, Harry told Sirius quietly, aloud, “Tell them what mum told you.”
Eyes widening, Snape looked at the young man who was still looking intently at him then to a stunned Narcissa and Lucius. Glancing back at Harry then over to Black, he said, “What does your mother have to do with this?”
Looking at Harry, puzzled, then to Snape when he was addressed, Sirius said, “Because that's who told me. Her and James.”
Mouth opening and closing, Severus didn't know what to say to that. A glance to Narcissa and Lucius was enough to tell him that those two were blindsided as well. “How?” He finally asked, quietly.
Not sure what to do, with as out of it as Harry was, he asked, quietly, “Are you sure, Harry?”
Still looking at Snape, he said, “Yes. He's only doing what he is to protect me. He promised mum that. Right now, he's trying to protect me from Dumbledore. It's Dumbledore that's the one we need to worry about for some reason.”
All color draining out of his face, Snape just stared at the young man, trying not to tremble. If the young man knew that, he didn't even want to take a guess at what else he knew about. That—oh, that was bad!
Moving his hand up Harry's back, Sirius rubbed it, pulling his godson closer to him. Yeah, Harry was out of it because he wouldn't come across with anything like that aloud if he was with it. “I think whatever you just took removed a filter somewhere in there, Harry.” Lowering his voice, he asked, “How long have you known.”
“Since Draco's birthday,” Harry told him, lowering his eyes and rubbing them in a tired way. Shaking his head, he sighed, “I promised to tell if it was something that put us in danger. What I know doesn't. Just tell him. All of it.”
Looking at Remus, who was staring at Harry with a stunned expression on his face, then lifted his head to glance his direction, he saw the man finally nod. Sighing, Sirius looked down at the table and said, “A large chunk of this makes no sense, we know that, but this is what I was told.” He then walked them through what Lily had told him while he was on the other side of the Veil.
Taking that in, glancing between Black and the very out of it Potter, who was now leaning heavily against his godfather with his eyes shut, Severus nodded slowly, trying to process the information. When the man finished, he asked, “With Lucius—did he know right off?”
“The second he was touched,” Sirius confirmed, looking at Lucius.
Sighing, Lucius added, “I did as well. It connected, no two ways about it.”
Looking around, Sirius asked, “How much information did you get on this seer bit? And the bond here? We're not finding a damned thing and Remus has run out of resources of where to look to get an idea what to expect. We have one hint, maybe, confirmed from earlier tonight. I'm not sure about that though and it's probably best to wait until tomorrow to go over it more with Harry.”
“We don't know much,” Severus told him with a shake of his head. “You have all the information I do on the topic. And though it mentions a bond, it doesn’t say which one.” Looking down at Lupin, he asked, “You've found nothing?” Lupin, as he well knew, was good at research. If the man couldn't find anything in the normal channels, he was going to have to look in not normal ones and get help.
“Nothing,” Remus confirmed with a shake of his head. “The only thing we have is the order the 'gifts' are coming in because that matches something else. I've been through everything the library here has on bonds. I even went to Diagon Alley and grabbed every book I could find. There is nothing that matches what they are showing. We even have something very big and odd that would help point to it. Even that clue matches nothing.”
Pleased that they had some kind of clues, Severus decided to work with those to get some hints. Looking at Black, he said, “What do you have that you need clarified? Is it something recent?”
Knowing what Sirius was talking about, Lucius said, “It happened right before the mess with the goblet. Harry had what we thought was a mini-day dream. It's not sounding like it though. We don't know exactly what it was as of now. However, what he did tell us, as we both 'saw' it as well, was that the voice in it sounded like the way snakes talk, something like a hissy speech pattern. When he's better able to focus tomorrow, we'll go over it again with him to see what we can determine.”
“Do that,” Severus told them firmly. “That may relate to what the information says about others translating.” Stopping, he looked at Black and Lupin then asked, “What is the other clue?”
Quietly, after thinking it over, Remus told Sirius, “Show them your 'tattoo'. I bet Lucius is going to get it as well, so it's not going to be a secret for long. It might give him something, somewhere to judge what he finds.”
Looking at his old friend, Sirius nodded. Sighing, he gently moved Harry to where he was leaning against Lucius then rolled up his sleeve and removed the glamour. After showing them his, he gently lifted Harry's arm and removed the glamour on his. Looking around, he said, “They showed up after we sealed the bond. I'm sure as hell not taking Harry out to get us matching tattoos! And we have no idea what the thing is. None of us have seen anything like it before. Though it's clearer now than it was, it's not clear enough for us to tell just what it is.”
Taking Black's forearm in his hand and looking closer at it, Severus rubbed his mouth as he looked. After letting go of the man's arm, he shook his head. “I've never seen anything like it before.” Looking at Lucius, he asked, “Have you? Or is it showing up on your arm?”
“No, I have nothing,” Lucius said, pushing his sleeve up to show his bare forearm. “However, if they've sealed the bond they have, it probably won't show on me until I do something like that as well.” Stopping, he sighed, “Let me send some elves over to the manor tomorrow so I can start looking at the partial activation with runes. Maybe that will help some, though I doubt it.”
“Do that,” Severus said, firmly. “I'll take these clues here and see what I can find.” Stopping, he shook his head and looked at Potter, who now appeared to be dozing. “I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be here. I would suggest, though, that Lupin go through the library here and see if he can find anything on the Serpentine Seer aspect. You may have something I haven’t been able to find as old as some of those books are.”
“I will,” Remus said with a firm nod.
“I'll help as well,” Narcissa told him.
Still looking at Potter, he asked, “Has he shown any sign of clairvoyance? I know he takes Divination, but that doesn't mean anything. Any hint at all that it's there or is it one waiting to manifest as well? I'm assuming, if that prophecy is accurate, there is something, somewhere about an artifact that is needed to trigger it. I wouldn't think it was the goblet as that was straight up psychometry.”
“Harry will be the first to tell you he has shown no hint of being a seer. He even made it clear to the both of us that what he does for the class is to make things up to skive off. I believe he even told us he's sure he failed his OWL in it.” Remus told him.
“Most of what he's said to me has to do with the telepathy and what he's picked up there,” Lucius told his old friend. “He's made no mention, nor have I seen any sign of clairvoyance.”
Sighing, Severus nodded. “I assumed as much. Though, with the way Trelawney is and how she teaches, even someone with that gift wouldn't know it. I imagine that's coming next, if the pattern holds true to form. Let—we'll look and see what we can find on the seer and hope it gives us a clue as to what to look for or signs of it manifesting. I'm not hopeful here, though. I think, if what has already happened with what he's gotten holds to the pattern, he's going to get blindsided once more.” Stopping, he shook his head. “There is not much help I can give here other than looking up to see what I can find from sources that I may be able to get to. Information might at least give you some kind of preparation. That and pain management is all I can do. For now anyway. Later on—we'll see what happens.”
“Any little bit helps, Severus,” Remus told him quietly, looking at the man.
“And what you've told me won't make it into the hands of anyone that would do you harm,” Severus told them, looking around. “I give you my word.” Sighing, he said, “I'll leave some more pain draughts for him. Give it a couple days and I'll have something better for you.” Standing, seeing them all nod, he imparted, “If you need anything else, don't hesitate to get in touch.” With that, he swept out.

Flopping down into his chair after watching the memory, the Dark Lord looked at Severus, hand over his mouth, shaking his head.
Shrugging, Severus sighed, “I don't know what to say here. This is a mess. What Potter knows in regards to what is going on with me I'm clueless about.”
“What he said to you was good though, Severus,” Tom told him quietly. “That can only help everything.”
“I know, though it doesn’t make me any less leery about what he might have knowledge of.” The Potions Master said softly, looking at him.
“He told them to trust you. That's what we need. Focus on that. Be cautious, of course, but press on just how you said. Let Lucius and Narcissa work from their end. For now, do just what you said. I'll help to see what I can find on the seer part. What Black gave you will only aid us in finding something. It sure as hell firms up what we already know.”
Rubbing his eyes in a tired way, Severus shook his head. “This is a mess, a very big one.”
“That it is,” Tom chuckled softly, stroking Nagini's head as she lay draped over his shoulders. “I have a feeling we're just going to have to wait to see what comes, Severus. They've allowed you to help and have given up information. This is good and a very big step the right direction. Now we have to wait to see what happens then I'll work on my end.”
“If you don't mind--” Severus trailed off, looking at the man.
“I won't spook him or Black, I assure you. When I start, I'll give you something to let Lucius know what's coming. That connection is there for a reason. That's what I plan to use. Just not right now. Let him work through what he's dealing with then I'll press on my end to see what I can do. You, Lucius and Narcissa can all confirm everything easily. You can also all assure him that my intentions are not to cause harm. I also believe you can point to that prophecy as a way to confirm it. Lucius, by that point, will be very capable of pointing out that he would do nothing to cause them harm. It'll just be a delicate dance is all, nothing more.”
Understanding, Severus nodded, rubbing his face in a tired way.
“Go home and get some sleep,” Tom told him softly. “Tomorrow, sometime after noon, come over and we'll start looking for what we can locate. Then you can pass on what we find to them. You've done all you can, Severus. Let it play out from here.”
“I'll do that,” Severus sighed. “This is a mess, one I don't know how to handle.”

“Nor do I, but we will. We're just going to have to keep one step ahead of Albus is all, nothing more.”
“And that will be easier said than done,” Severus told him, standing. Giving a bow, he then swept out.
Watching the man in black leave, Tom stroked Nagini's head, thinking. This was going to be tricky, that's for sure, but he would manage. He just didn't know how yet was all.
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Through the Veil and Back Again