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Death Eater Takes a Holiday	By : LeeLeePotter Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 42271 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
Chapter 26 To kill or not to kill�

Chapter 26
To kill or not to kill�

Ron ran past the main hall and up to the gargoyle
that guarded the Headmaster's office. He knew Harry would be up there, but
didn't know if Dumbledore or McGonagall would have gotten there yet. Ron waited
for a few moments, but couldn't stand not knowing. His mind was reeling over
what had just happened. Ron didn�t notice the looks he was getting from
passersby in the hall. If he stood still, he may have collapsed. Ron paced a
few moments longer before making a decision. Truth be told, he had only been
there three minutes, but they seemed like an eternity. Ron had no patience, and took off. Ignoring
the gasps and whispers from students around him, Ron continued on his trek,
thinking about the way the stone worked. He knew that Harry wouldn't be alone,
but that wasn�t enough. Ron needed to be sure he was doing all he could. He
would not let Harry down again.

Severus stood with his feet at shoulder length
apart. One elegant hand held a ladle, stirring the contents of the cauldron
slowly, while the other held his wand, adjusting the flame beneath. His motions
were precise, as the potions bubbled away, taking on a deep yellow color.
Severus placed his wand on the worktable, and very slowly added the next
ingredient, then watched for a reaction as he continued to stir. The knock on
the lab door was ignored as Severus continued to stir, his potion at a delicate
stage. When the pounding could no longer be ignored, Severus adjusted the flame
once more before waving the wand in the direction of the door, without once
taking his eyes off the bubbling substance.

"Who ever you are, leave. I'm busy and I've no
time for petty childishness,� scolded Severus, hoping that would make the
person go away.

"Sir, it's Harry," said Ron breathlessly,
attempting to keep standing. Severus hesitated for a brief second, and the
potion instantly turned from a fluid deep yellow to brown and glutinous. Snape
cursed and scowled, looking up for the first time since Ron entered the lab.

"What happened?" snapped Severus, taking
in Ron's appearance. His robe was not buttoned properly and had been left open
at the top; making it evideon hon had nothing underneath. Sev could see the
bruises and blackened eye along with an occasional smear of blood. He was also
quick to notice the lack of blood on Ron's robes. First and foremost in the
Potion Master's mind should have been, 'What had happened, and was Harry hurt',
but Severus couldn�t help but think for a second, 'Why was Ron undressed in the
middle of the day on a weekend with his Harry'. "What
happened?" he repeated, as Ron caught his breath.

Ron said they that been attacked. Suddenly Snape was
at the lab door; they were already moving quickly down the hallway as Ron
explained that he had sent Harry using the stone to the room by Dumbledore's
office. Ron didn't go into the details, as it was all he could do to keep up
with the long, fast strides of his professor. Ron stumbled a few times, and
Severus realized the boy could hardly stand, much less walk up all the steps
before them. He muttered a few words, and grabbed Ron's elbow supportively,
leading him along. Ron was shocked but grateful for the help. He wondered if
Snape had been complng ong or if he had muttered a spell, since Ron felt as if
the walking suddenly got easier. As students saw them pass in the corridor, Ron
received sorry looks; it appeared Ron was being led away after getting into
trouble.

Severus was pulled by his thoughts as a watch in his
pocket chimed an alarm. He pulled the gold watch from his pocket, to see one of
many hands on the wrong side of the dial. Nott-Mortal Peril, it read on the
single tiny green hand. Ron's eyes widened.

"What's that?" It was unlike any wizarding
watch he had seen.

"Unlike a wizard clock, this tells not the
location, but if a Slytherin student is in mortal danger. Tell no one of the
watch," Snapid, id, in clear warning. Severus continued along,
quickening his pace.

Meanwhile~ ~ ~

Harry could feel the pulse beating under his hand,
as his grip on Nott's throat remained steadfast. He barely registered the words
from his guardian as Albus did his best to talk him down, to convince him to
allow Nott to live. He dared not touch Harry in this state. Harry continued to
fight his internal battle alone, as he considered the possible outcomes of his
given choices. Albus� words continued to be lost on him; he could only feel
Nott's fast pulse though his hands, beating like a big, noisy drum in his head.
He wanted to make it stop. But he needed to stop himself.

After five more minutes, Albus let out a defeated
sigh and slowly approached the two. He could no longer wait for Harry's
decision. He couldn�t convince himself that Harry would make the wise choice.
Harry stared straight at Nott, looking into his eyes, but not seeing the boy.
Albus moved in such a way it seemed as if he glided across the room without
taking a step. Before Harry could register what was happening, Albus touched
the tip of his wand to the Slytherin's temple, causing him to fall unconscious.
Harry hadn't heard the spell, nor felt the robe being placed over him. By now
Severus had arrived, but could only watch through a portal window at the door
until Albus opened it, or Minerva arrived. Sev had been shocked by the sight of
Nott frozen in fear beneath the glaring Gryffindor. Severus had never seen
Harry in this state of mind, and briefly saw what it was that Albus had seen
all along. This was the boy that would someday defeat Voldemort, and set Sev
free in the process. Ron sat in a chair
in front of the Headmaster�s desk watching Snape, watching his anger rise by
the minute as Severus continued to watch the scene unfold. Harry had been
beaten and hexed. There were marks deepening in color even as he looked on.
Severus clenched his fists, gouging his nails into the palms of his hands, as
he spotted the finger marks in blood around Harry's throat. There hadn't been
that much blood, so the smeared fingerprints trailed off without any indication
of where they had lead. 'What had sent Harry into such a state of mind?'

Harry's eyes had glazed over when he realized the
decision at hand was no longer his to make. Albus had saved him from himself.
He allowed his guardian to coax him up from his position straddling the
unconscious Nott. Harry didn't remember getting up, but he did register the
cool sensation on the palm of his hand when he was no longer squeezing off
Nott's air supply. Albus held his arm supportively, helping Harry remain
standing. Minerva had finally arrived, opening the door, with Severus right
behind her. Minerva gasped at the sight of her beaten student, and blushed
fervently as she noted that the robe, which was only draped over his shoulders,
had left him fully exposed to her.

"Oh, my! Albus, what has happened?" she
asked, averting her eyes. Severus scowled, brushed past his rival head of
house, and pulled Harry's robes closed. When Harry's eyes started to refocus
and his thoughts were on the here and now, he found himself sitting next to Ron
in front of Albus' desk, accepting a cup of tea. Taking a sip of the hot
beverage, Harry wondered if Albus had spiked it with a calming potion, as he
noticed he was much more lucid than before. 'Yeah, it was spiked.' Harry
told himself.

Harry sat silently while Ron told them what had
happened in the Gryffindor locker rooms.

Severus was impressed with how he and Harry had
handled themselves. Considering it had been three armed against two unarmed
wizards, it was remarkable. But this was Potter, after all, and Harry hadn't
ceased to amaze Sev. He wondered where
they had learned to fight so well without the use of magic. Although, having
five older brothers, it wasn�t that surprising Ron could hold his own, but
still�

Severus watched Harry listening to his friend's
recollection of the story. He could see
the telltale signs of a calming tea at work, as Harry relaxed further into the
chair. His robes were still wrapped around his waist tightly, but had fallen
open at his chest, revealing his lithe form. Severus mentally berated himself
for looking at Harry that way while he was in such a state. It
infuriated Sev to no end, seeing him this way. He just wanted to take him into
a bath and wash away the filth and pain from his Harry.

When Ron had told his story as far as he could up
until he had been stupefied, Harry was questioned from there. His answers were
vague, and it was obvious he wasn't telling them something. He had been far too
troubled for his reaction to have been caused by a schoolyard fight, even if
they were dressed as Death Eaters. Hadn't Ron said that Harry had known they
weren't real Death Eaters from the start?

"Harry, how did you know they weren't Death
Eaters?" asked Severus curiously. Harry smiled at the use of his first
name. The smile was soon torn from his face, the moment he heard Minerva ask
also.

"Yes, I was wondering that myself. How did you
know?" said McGonagall. Harry spun his head around, seeing her for the
first time.

"Eep!" he squeaked at the realization of
his Head of House's presence there. Harry pulled his robes tightly around him
in an attempt to cover up, spilling the tea in his haste. Reaching for his wand
to cool off his legs from the tea, Harry looked around fervently for his wand.
'When had Albus taken it?' he wondered, then realized the wand he had had was
Nott's. "My wand," Harry said, frustrated. He was feeling extremely
vulnerable once again, without clothing or his wand. He wasn't really without clothing; he was wearing� whatever this
was. 'It looks an awful lot like a table cloth I've seen in here during a
few private diners with Albus.' Harry said to himself. Ron placed Harry's
wand in his hand. All at once, the whole scene seemed ridiculous to Harry. He
had his wand now, which made him feel a wave of relief; he was naked except for
being covered in a tablecloth, or a transfigured robe from a tablecloth. His
Head of House was looking as red as Ron's hair, sharing in his embarrassment.
Harry did the only thing he could. He laughed. It was either that or sob.

Ron looked on nervously at his best friend, who
seemed to be losing his mind. Albus stood up, as did Severus.

"I think we can resume this conversation after
Madam Pomfrey gets a look at you two." Albus said, leading them out of the
office.

"You mean there hasn't been enough people
having a look at me tonight?"
Harry said laughingly on his way down the steps, his voice getting more
distant. "How about you Professor Snape?" he offered.

"Sir?" said Ron, scared for Harry,
watching him make his way down the spiral stairs being led by Severus. Albus gave
him a reassuring smile.

"Harry will be alright, Ronald. He is just
finally crashing from the adrenalin rush that has kept him going this
long."

Ron felt somewhat better, but not much. Minerva led
him down to the infirmary, explaining that Harry is experiencing an emotional
release, and that it's perfectly normal after a particularly taxing event. Ron
understood what she had said, but he himself wasn't going through what Harry
seemed to be experiencing.

The Headmaster tended to the unconscious Slytherin
on his floor, with a list of questions collecting in his head, as Harry left to
be tended to by Poppy.

When Harry and Severus entered Poppy's domain she
looked deflated to see Harry again so soon.

"I knew you would miss me, so I've
returned," he said, with a lopsided smile due to his fat lip. Severus felt
Harry stiffen beside him as he noticed two Hufflepuff students in adjacent
beds. Sev gave Poppy a questioning glance. She explained that Professor Sprout
had found the two behind Greenhouse 3. Poppy eyed the two skeptically.

"They claim to have gotten in a fight with each
other," Poppy said contemptuously. One boy was much larger than the other,
yet was the much worse off of the two. Severus snorted.

"Mr. Weasley is on his way down. I think he may
have a word or two in opposition to their claim. Perhaps screens would be
best," suggested Severus. Poppy put up the privacy partitions without a
question. She had seen enough battles in her wing, and wasn�t having any of it
today.

Bumps, bruises, and black eyes were easily healed.
Poppy made them all stay calm for an hour or so before letting the two
Hufflepuffs and Ron go. Harry was a different story. He had obviously been in a
bit of shock, and given his recent concussion, she wasn't letting him out just
yet. She would have liked to give him some Dreamless Sleep potion to give him a
chance to rest and calm down, but it was too soon after his concussion to give
Dreamless Sleep. So, Harry laid in bed with a calminoughought to sooth his
nerves. Professor Dumbledore returned to talk to Harry more about what
happened, now that he was the only patient in the ward. Albus and Severus had
spent the last hour talking to Alex Nott before Severus brought him to be
cleaned up by Madam Pomfrey. With Nott safely out the door with a promise of
"We'll speak later" from his Head of House, Severus came over to
where Albus was approaching Harry. Harry was now tucked in snug in a bed with a
pair of pajamas buttoned up to his neck, and the covers nearly up as high. Was
it his attempt to cocoon himself from harm, or Poppy's doing in an effort of
comforting the boy?

"I want him expelled, Albus," Severus
demanded.

"Now, now Severus, I think the punishments will
be decided after we've heard more about what happened." said Albus. Then
he turned to address Harry, "Would you say Harry, that Mr. Weasley was
accurate in his explanation of the events this afternoon?" Harry nodded.

"Pretty much. I think Ron made it sound a
little more one sided than it actually was. There were a few times I wasn't too
sure we would be able to take them," admitted Harry. Albus smiled, and
nodded for him to go on. "I don�t think they had it planned out much.
Knowing that we would be easy targets, alone and unarmed, appeared about the
only thing they seemed to have thought through. Nott said it was for his
father." Harry rubbed his stomach, thinking about the punches to his gut.
Severus watched his every move, not missing a thing. "You're not going to
expel them, are you?"

Severus narrowed his eyes.
Albus looked on curiously, asking, "They
attacked you and Ronald under the pretence of being Death Eaters. They've
broken many rules today. Tell me Harry, why wouldn't you want them
expelled?"

Harry looked a little nervous about the question. He
knew that if there were an expulsion, the Ministry and Board of Governors would
have to become involved to see if legal action was needed. That would mean more
publicity. The inevitable two days of gossip around school would grow to be
much longer if it involved an investigation. Harry didn't think Nott would tell
anyone. He had waited for his friends to leave before touching Harry, but an
investigation could change that.

"Why wasn't Sirius expelled for what he did to
Professor Snape?" asked Harry, a plan set, he once again spoke more
confidently. Severus� mask fell for only a second before he covered up his look
of surprise and anger.

"The circumstances involved with that
particular incident were very complicated. Don't borrow worry Harry; I haven't
made my decision whether or not to expel them."

�Were they as complicated as the time Draco and his
goons showed up on the quidditch pitch dressed as dementors? I believe that was
a foolish prank that almost got me killed. Much like Sirius' prank." Harry
pleaded. "It was just a fight between students. I don�t see why it should
be treated any differently."

"When a student poses as a Death Eater, that
changes everything," snarled Severus. Harry snorted. Severus raised an
eyebrow. "Care to tell us why that is funny? While we�re at it, how was it
that you were so sure they weren't the �real thing�?"

"One of them snorted when we talked about
winning the next game. That's how we knew they were there, and then they gave
me plenty of time to get over to Ron. They walked into the showers silently and
very sl, as, as if trying hard to terrify us with their very presence,"
Harry listed, almost sarcastically. "As if the �real thing� has to even
try to be terrifying. And the big one was wearing trainers." Harry laughed. "The only thing scary
about them was three against two. That, and us being starkers and
unarmed," he finished quietly, pulling his covers up higher.

Harry looked at Dumbledore pleadingly. "Please
sir, if your punishment involves parents or the Ministry, then I get punished
too. I want to let this go. Besides, kicking Nott out only gets the mark on his
arm faster."

Albus sighed and gave a small smile, placing a hand
on Harry's arm. "I understand, Harry. I will take these things into
consideration when I make my decision."

"Thank you sir." Albus gave his arm a
squeeze before leaving.

Severus didn't get up. Harry looked at him oddly,
wondering why he wasn�t leaving with Albus.

The silence between them was not a comfortable one.
Harry could never hold out as long as Severus could. "Why are you
here?" Harry asked, with no malice in he voice. Severus raised a
questioning brow. "I mean, why are you still here?

"Would you rather I weren�t here?"

Harry thought about it. He wanted him there, but not
while he still didn't know if Sev was going to drop the bomb on him and tell
him he hated him too much to want to consider a relationship. He settled for a
shrug.

"I don't think anyone would question my being
here. You did, after all, have a fight with one of my students. , an, and I
want to talk to you about a few things while you�re still drugged up on calming
droughts." Harry looked startled. He hadn't thought about that. "I
dare say, between Madam Pomfrey's drought, and Albus' tea, you're likely to
answer my questions." Severus smirked at the startled expression on the
younger man�s face.

"You willed yourself out of a binding spell?
That's quite a feat," Severus was looking mildly impressed.

"Two binding spells" said Harry haughtily.
Severus eyed him shrewdly. "Not really a feat, tho�. Two reasons: 1, Nott
isn't a very powerful wizard. It's surprising he's in Slytherin at all, which
would explain his choice in friends. 2, the Hufflepuff, what ever his name is,
is a weak-minded fool. Even if he were a powerful wizard, he lacks the
conviction to make a spell strong enough to be effective. He's not in
Hufflepuff for nothing. Why do you think the �Puffers are so loyal? They've
barely anything else to offer. All of Fred and George�s employees are
Hufflepuff."

Severus almost laughed. Harry had been prattling on,
and didn't realize he also spoke the truth. Severus smiled. This combination
was better than truth serum.

"Now I'd like you to tell me what you didn't
tell Albus."

Harry's eyes widened. "What do you mean? I didn't
lie to him."

"Lie no, maybe �omit� is the correct word. You
were in such a state that Weasley felt a strong enough need to use the stone.
You've been in situations before; times when I was shocked you two didn't use
the stone." Severus looked for a reaction from Harry. He wanted him to
admit Nott had done more, so that Harry could get it out of his system and
begin to heal. It also was irritating to Severus that he didn't know the extent
of what had happened. The look on Harry's face had upset Severus. He remembered
what Harry looked like when he took him from the Dursley's that fated day
Sirius died. Harry had looked crestfallen, depressed and ready to fall apart,
but this was different. Today, Harry looked distraught. "What gets you
into such a state, Harry? What was the trigger?"

Harry looked at Severus apprehensively, as he was
trying to determine what he could say, what he was willing to say.

"Just between us?" Severus nodded.
"You won�t tell Albus?"

"You know you can trust me, Harry. What was it
you think you couldn't tell Albus?" Severus spoke evenly and
encouragingly.

"He would be disappointed in me. I know he
would." Harry looked up for a long moment, into dark obsidian eyes,
looking for comfort. "I, um, I think you would understand, and maybe not
think less of me, too much," stuttered Harry, angry with himself for
seeming so weak.

Severus gave him a slow, reassuring nod to continue.

"Nott, he um, he..." Harry's breathing
became quickened, and erratic. Severus gave him a glass of water from the
bedside table, for which Harry was grateful. Severus looked deeply into green
eyes, taking a long steady breath. Harry imitated him, calming down again.

"Only a coward attacks a person under a binding
spell," Harry said firmly. "If he was smart, he should have hexed me
with something painful in addition to the binding, so I couldn't concentrate on
breaking the spell," Harry added in hindsight. Severus didn't hide his
surprise. He smiled at Harry. It was a very Slytherin way of thinking. He had
heard years ago about the Sorting Hat debacle and didn't see how anyone could
consider Harry anything but a Gryffindor; but he was beginning to see more and
more. Harry took another sip of water.

"When Nott was um, when he�" Harry
clenched his teeth. "When I got so enraged, I broke the spell. I wanted to
squeeze the life out of him." Harry's eyes flashed with fury. "I
wanted him to pay."

"He attacked you and your friend. It is a
perfectly normal reaction to want to hurt him back."

"No," Harry said shaking his head. "I
didn't want to hurt him. I wanted to take his life. I could feel his heartbeat
under my hand, and I wanted to grip harder until I couldn't feel it any
more." Harry covered his face in his hands. "I am not evil like Him.
I refuse to have one more thing in common with that bastard." It occurred
to Severus that Harry wasn't speaking about Alex Nott. "This past year,
when Albus took me in and became my guardian, I was so thrilled to get to stay
here where it was safe. Then one day I realized, it was just one more thing
that I had in common with Voldemort. I swore to myself that that would be the
last thing," Harry spoke with conviction, but is trembling body gave him
away. Severus handed Harry the glass of water again.

"When I held his wand over him, with my hand
grasping his throat, I could feel power, power over him, and power rising in
me. I wanted to feel it more. I wanted him dead. He was no longer a threat to
Ron or me. Even when I was in Albus' office where I knew I had help, I still
wanted it, to feel it. Albus must be so disappointed in me. He stopped it; he
didn't think I could."

"Could you? Could you have stopped it?"
asked Sev. Harry nodded.

"Yes, I could have. In fact I had already
decided that I wasn't going to kill him."

"Then since you were in control enough to do
the right thing, why, really, are you this upset?"

"I didn't stop because I was good, I stopped
because I didn�t think the consequences were worth it. But I still wanted to
feel him�feel the power of stopping him." Harry held his arms over his
head, hiding his face.

"Harry, do you honestly think that we are all
good or all evil? You're too smart, and too mature to really believe that. Yes,
there are evil wizards such as Voldemort, and the opposite could be said for people
like Albus, but most of us fall somewhere in between. Life is about making
decisions and living with the choices we make. We don't always make the right
choices, but that doesn't make us evil. If you made a bad choice, and didn't
make it right, or learn from it, then Albus would be disappointed. Do you
understand?"

Harry nodded, but he didn't seem convinced. Madam
Pomfrey interrupted the silence, checking on her patient.

"You seem a bit upset Harry, would you like a
little more calming drought?" she said, holding up the glass on the
bedside table. Harry's eyes were wide. He'd been sipping on it for a while now.
"Oh, I see you've already had some," she said with a smile, looking
at the �-full glass. Harry guessed, since she wasn't upset, it wouldn't hurt
him to have that much. He wondered if Severus knew what he was giving Harry to
drink. Funny thing is that he was so calm, he didn't care in the least.

When Poppy ushered Severus out, he thought, just
as well. He had a certain Slytherin to talk to. Severus recognized, �The
st
still something Nott did, that Harry�s not saying.� He would come back later to check on Harry.

Poppy fussed some more over Harry, but it didn�t
bother him today. She explained that she would be checking on him for
concussion again, although she was pretty sure he was fine. She apologized in
advance for having to wake him several times later in the evening. Ron and
Hermione were down soon after Severus left. Ron volunteered to wake Harry every
two hours. Poppy agreed, as long as he had an alarm. He was to ask silly
questions like what is your name, or what year is it, so as to ensure Harry was
ok. She couldn�t use a spell as she had before, since they were still in the
two-week time frame of looking for symptoms of mental instability. It was
basically formality at this point, since none of the others watching Harry had
anything to report. His state of shock and anxiety wasn't out of the normal for
the circumstances. Poppy confconfidant she would give Harry a clean bill of
heath come morning.

Severus was in a better mood; he had an interesting
conversation with Nott, and a promise of more talks soon. When Severus
returned, he found Harry reading a book Hermione had dropped off, and Ron
asleep on the next bed.

"If he misses you that much when you're gone
for one night, whatever will he do when you finish school?" deadpanned
Severus. Harry slowly looked up from his book.

"At least I know how he feels," said
Harry, surprised he had said the words. The calming potion left him feeling
free to express himself. "If you have another question about the fight,
ask. Otherwise, leave. You show up here as if you care. It's cruel for you to
screw with my head while I'm in here," he said with a gesture to the
infirmary.

" I abhor public displays. I would have thought
my actions during my first visit to you in here made my feelings clear."

"How could I have mistaken you
actions," Harry said sarcastically. "I should have known that when
you banished a few Howlers, yelled at my stupidity for not getting my potion,
then left with Malfoy while I was vomiting, was a clear way of saying 'I don�t
hate you'."

Severus heart dropped. Harry didn't know. All this
time he didn�t know that Sev didn't hate him.

Harry was sure he was ruining his chance with Snape,
but the man did nothing but scowl at him all week. What chance did he have
anyway? "I don't know why I bothered making a fool of myself all week
trying to pretend I'm more mature than I am, fat lot of good that did me. What
did it get me? I'll tell you what it got me, every time I chanced a look in
your direction you looked murderous, as if you hated me now more than you did
before the holiday." Harry looked up, startled; he suddenly realized he
was rambling, he�d never intended to say all that.

"Damn calming potion, I'm making a bigger fool
of myself. I think you should leave now," he said, disgusted with himself,
and grabbed a sip of water. He could hear the man make a noise, almost like
stifled laughter. Harry looked up to see Severus smirking, and realized he had
inadvertently drunk more calming potion. "Oh shit," he said with
defeated laughter. Severus pulled up a chair beside Harry's bed.

"Harry, I looked angrily at you many times this
week because of what I thought I was seeing." Severus raised a hand to
stop the younger wizard from protesting. "I was very angry that you had
been hurt so badly, angry that I have occasionally been the cause of your
feeling the pain of my receiving the Cruciatus, and angry that I had been too
self-absorbed in my own problems to recognize your pain over the years. This
past week, I've been watching you for symptoms of prolonged exposure to the
curse. I've seen you in class, ignoring Malfoy's baiting you. I saw you pass on
seconds of your favorite pudding. It seemed that every time I looked at you,
you were acting out of the ordinary and I was angry that you were showing signs
of mental instability." Severus almost laughed. "I'd like for us to
get to know each other better, not for you to pretend you're someone you're
not," he paused. "How do I know if you were acting or not? You could
still be showing signs."

"Ron was with me all the time. He knew what I
was doing. Hermione wasn't too happy, but she knew too. Both of them, and the
other Professors assigned to watch me, had nothing to report."

Severus smiled, but was making sure. "What
about two days ago, when you didn't eat breakfast."

"Ron and I pigged out the night before and I
couldn't eat," said Harry with a smile, thinking he had taken care of
Sev's concern for his mental status. He suddenly frowned. "Is that why you
didn't tell me if you hated me or not, because you wanted to see if I was going
to be insane in a few years?" Harry couldn't help but look away. He felt
the depression of his mattress as Severus sat down on the bed, taking hind. nd.

"Of course not. With the chances I must take, I
couldn't even guarantee you my own sanity in a few years. The day you received
the howlers from the moronic sector of the wizarding world, was not the first
time I came to see you. I was here while you were in pain. I gave you the
potion, the one I should have replaced a long time ago. I'm sorry Harry."

"Were you in the infirmary that
night?" asked Harry, thinking about the dream, Sev holding him, comforting
him.

"Yes, I was there for you, I thought you
knew," his tone was remorseful.

"I thought you were a dream," Harry said
with a weak smile. "I dream a lot about you, and I wasn't really sure if
it happened or not." He sighed. "You don't hate me?" He said, almost
as a statement, but he needed to hear the answer.

"No, I don't hate you." Sev was so
relieved that Harry was ok. His heart was still pounding. They sat in
comfortable silence for some time. But when the silence was broken Severus
wondered if he would regret the calming potion. Harry was certainly speaking
his mind.

"So, you've been watching me, have you?"
Harry said coyly.

"Only to watch for symptoms, I assure
you." Sev said defensively.

"That would explain why you know my favorite
pudding?" He smiled.

"Brat."

Harry smile grew bigger. "Speaking of pudding,
I'm hungry. How about you?"

"No, thank you. You'll find the bottomless pit
of a stomach you have is a teenage affliction that I no longer have."

"God, I love your voice," Harry said with
a hungry look in his eyes. Before Sev
could respond, he was interrupted by Dobby's sudden appearance.

"Harry Potterwantwanting Dobby for
something?" the elf asked cheerfully. He was standing on the bed. Severus
did not look startled; he was too disciplined for that, but he did pull his
hand from Harry's. He hadn't even realized he was still holding it.

"I'd love something to eat," Harry said to
the elf. "What to have�" he pondered. He suddenly had an evil look on
his face that Severus didn't trust.

"He'll have soup," Severus answered for
Harry. The grin never left Harry's face, he nodded to the elf, and Dobby
'popped' out. "I don't trust your choices Mr. Potter."

"So, you thought soup was a safe choice?"
Harry knew he picked that because Sev thought he couldn't possibly eat soup
seductively.

"Indeed."

When the soup came, Harry thanked Dobby, and tucked
in. Severus watched him eat; waiting for Harry to show what the evil grin was
for, but Harry did nothing of the sort. He ate his soup with all the manners
one would have lunching with the Queen. Not one seductive lick of the spoon.
Severus decided it best to get on to a new topic. He didn't like the
inappropriate direction his mind had been going.

"What's Weasley doing here?" safe topic,
he assumed.

"He's here to wake me every two hours."
Harry looked at his watch. It was later than he thought. "Apparently it's
to check for the concussion I don't have," he said with a roll of his
eyes. Severus looked at the timer over Ron's head. There were numbers lit in
the air just above him. The numbers were counting down backwards from two
hours. The clock was currently reading one hour, twenty minutes, and going
down. Harry waved his wand and the numbers restarted at two again. Severus
snorted. "I don't see any point in the alarm going off since I'm awake. By
the way, how long does this stuff last? The one we brewed in class lasted for
an hour or so," Harry said indifferently.

"Professional strength, it will last till
morning."
"Oh. I noticed several of her potions have
different qualities than the ones we brew in class."

"Very perceptive, I would imagine the amount of
time you've spent in here over the past seven years, you would be an expert in
potion characteristics. Not that your grades reflect such ability," Sev
said with a smirk. Harry just smiled at the backhanded compliment.

"Ok, while we're on the subject, and you are
a master, why is it so hard to buy pain potions as a student, but
anyone can come down here with a headache and get the potion without so much as
a bat of an eye?"

"The potions you buy in the store are cheaper
to brew, and have side effects much like muggle pain relievers. Poppy gets her
potions from me. I use better ingredients, and the addictive side effects are
offset when armadillo bile is used. It takes twice as long to brew, and has a
shorter shelf life, but well worth the effort in my opinion."

"I should learn to brew that for when I finish
school. I'll have to keep a supply on hand, that and the muscle relaxant, but I
already know that oquotquot;

"In my opinion, your ability to brew the
relaxant is somewhat lacking. I say that not to criticize, but to make you
aware that it's not sufficient for your needs."

"Actually, Hermione fully agrees with you,
that's why I sat in on your Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff class to watch it being brewed
again. I got a chance to watch that blond girl who sits in front. She really
knows what she�s doing. I brewed it again the next day, compared it to the one
I have in my drawer, and it came out good." Harry waited for Sev's
reaction to his confession of sneaking in on his class.

"Using your father's cloak for good instead of
evil, I see," teased Sev. Harry's face tinged pink; he wasieveieved by
Sev's reaction to his latest of what seemed to be many confessions.

"It was fun to see what you're like in a
non-Slytherin class," Harry said, and took his last sip of soup.

Harry reached for the glass again, but stopped.
"Not this time," he muttered, and the elf showed up again.

"Dobby, could you get me some pumpkin juice
that hasn't been drugged? Would you like anything?" he asked
Severus. Sev held upismiismissive hand and shook his head.

"I is so sorry Harry, I was forgetting to bring
the bread," said Dobby apologetically. Severus wondered how Harry managed
to call the elf, when he clearly hadn't summoned him. Debating on whether or
not he wanted to ask, Sev looked at the basket of bread to see long pieces of
soft bread, perfect for dipping into the soup. Harry smiled, almost licking his
lips. Severus could see the look in his eyes, remembering Harry's words from
earlier. So, you thought soup was a safe choice? The words rang in Sev's
ears as if Harry had just said them, as he remembered the evil grin
accompanying that comment. The grin was back. Harry thanked the elf for the
bread, but sent him away with it since he had finished. Severus wasn't sure if
he was relieved or disappointed.
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Death Eater Takes a Holiday