The Nothing I've Become (Areas of Expertise II) | By : SickPuppy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 18635 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
First of all, this is dedicated to Mixed_Up. Thanks for all the reviews!
Secondly, you guys have no idea how much I was cheered up by being called evil by a LOT of you after last chapter! I did a little boogie after reading the reviews.
Hope you like... SP
Chapter Eighteen - All This Time, I Can't Believe I Couldn't See
As Harry spoke, his eyes travelled slowly up the black clothing. Rage was growing in him: this was the man who had murdered Dumbledore; this was the man who had ensured Sirius had felt useless making him make that stupid venture out into the Ministry; this was the man who had hurt Harry beyond all telling-
'-dav-'
Their eyes met.
Severus, lying on his side, soft morning light making his skin glow, his slender digits softly stroking Harry's lightly curved belly-
Severus asleep, Harry watching him breathe in and out, until a small smile plays across his lips-
Harry, in Severus' arms, feeling safe and protected for the first time ever-
Harry, waking slowly, feeling warm and comfortable. Severus enters, carrying a tray-
Harry, in Potions, a smile tugging at his lips, watching Severus teach-
Severus, looking down at him, and expression of love and irritation on his face-
Harry smiling tentatively at Severus, and receiving a small smile and a nod in response.
'Brat,'
'Git,'
With a clatter, Harry's wand fell from his numb hands. His face had frozen into an expression of horrified disbelief. His green eyes were still locked on Snape's black ones, but were unseeing of what was around him, instead he saw his memories flood through him: conflicting emotions racing through him until he was sure he'd pass out.
Hermione gasped and scurried to his side, shedding the cloak along the way. 'Harry? It's not safe to be here. Harry, we've got to go!' she sobbed as she tugged desperately on his petrified form. Terrified, she kept glancing at Snape, wondering why he hadn't turned them both over to Voldemort yet.
The teacher stood still, black, forbidding, expressionless.
Then: 'Harry?' Snape's voice was soft, loving, awed almost. He took a smooth step towards the Gryffindor. 'Harry?' This time there was concern in his tone as well.
'Harry?' Hermione sounded desperate. 'Oh, God, Harry, say something!'
The boy's lips opened. His tongue ran over them. His brows drew together as if he was trying to remember something. Finally he lifted agonised eyes to Snape and whispered, 'Sapphire?'
Snape's lip quivered. He moved closer still to the lad, not quite daring to hold him, although he longed to. 'She ... she died, Harry. Don't you remember what happened the night Albus ... died?'
'He doesn't remember anything of last year, thanks to you!' Hermione snapped. 'The plan, the Room, the kidnap, Sapphire... all of it's gone, because of how much you hurt him!'
Snape lifted a brow. 'He seems to remember our daughter.'
Harry gave a choked sob that drew their attention. 'I ... I felt her die. I was chasing you. I don't understand why you killed Dumbledore...' he lifted tortured eyes to Snape, 'I hurt, my stomach hurt from moving too quickly. Sapphire was annoyed with me and had used magic to try and make me stop. But then something hit me in the back. I felt it sink into my skin, into my body, into Sapphire, and suddenly,' he paused, tears streaming down his face, 'she wasn't there any more. She was gone.' He asked his next question of the teacher, his voice raw from anguish. 'Where did she go? How could she be there one minute and gone the next?'
Snape's hands opened and closed convulsively. He kept clenching his jaw muscles, trying to control himself. Finally he spoke, his voice cracked and hoarse, 'I ... I don't know. I don't understand how she could die like that.' He paused, then drew the other into his arms. 'I'm sorry, Harry. Sapphire didn't deserve to die. She was young; hadn't even begun her life and it was over.' A single tear slid down his worn face.
The two were lost in a world of pain all their own. All Hermione could do was watch them suffer and cry with them. Standing there, her wand in her hand, Hermione felt useless and unsure of what to do. How could she help these two men who had both suffered so much? And, she realised, that Snape had suffered. Had she been wrong about him?
Harry was still crying, but he managed to get one word out. 'Dumbledore?'
Snape heard the question and, sighing, explained what he had wanted to explain to his partner the previous year.
Stunned, Hermione listened. Her quick mind put together all that the teacher hadn't said and understood the full situation. She gasped in outrage at how completely Snape and Harry had been used by the older wizard.
Snape tightened his grip on Harry for a moment before saying: 'He needs to go back to the Room of Requirement. It isn't safe for him here. If one of the Death Eaters sees him, he'll be killed.'
Hermione nodded, chewing her lower lip as she considered the problem. Harry was weeping uncontrollably. He didn't seem to be hugging Snape, more clutching at him for support.
'Pro-Professor, I don't think I can get him there alone.'
'No.' Snape agreed. 'I'll help.'
***
It took them until they reached the third floor before Hermione finally plucked up courage to say what she'd wanted to say.
'I'm ... I'm sorry about all the pranks.' She said quietly, not looking at the teacher.
Snape sighed. 'I assume there was some reason behind them? Rather than just annoy the hell out of me?'
Hermione nodded and explained their plan.
The Headteacher looked impressed. 'It worked. The Dark Lord has already informed that he intends to visit the school tomorrow to 'rout out the fool who dares try and make him look silly'. So we must ensure Harry is kept in the Room tomorrow. The Dark Lord must not find him at Hogwarts.'
'He won't.' Hermione sounded determined. 'I'll Bind Harry to me if I have to, but he will not leave the Room tomorrow.'
Snape nodded his thanks.
Between them, Harry had slumped into unconsciousness.
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