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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Tasks	By : QueenB Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 5179 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in anyway, shape or form. The rights of such belong solely to J.K Rowling. I do not make any money or accrue any monetary benefit on this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
He heard the bolts being slid back first. Harry barely managed to rouse himself before the door swung open in an eerie silence, quite different from the resounding bang of earlier. A shaft of weak sunlight came in and fell on the three-headed mutt. The dog twitched an ear and let out a liquid snort. Otherwise, it didn’t stir or awaken.
The sorcerer stood in the doorway as his keen black eyes swept around the space. Looking for bloodstains and bits of bone, no doubt, Harry thought bitterly.
He’d fallen asleep with his glasses on and they had dug into his face. Rubbing his nose to lessen the ache, Harry staggered to his feet and looked defiantly at the other man, daring him to find fault.
Coal black eyes widened and then Snape’s fell into a bland passivity. “So. James Potter’s little boy is not a complete incompetent.”
“No, I’m not…sir,” Harry replied curtly. He opened his hand and the flute drifted through the air to land in its accustomed place.
Snape watched this and then his gaze snapped back to Harry. “You can perform wandless magic?”
“Sure.” He decided to needle the man a little. “Don’t they teach that in Durmstrang? Sir?”
“Of course they do, you brat!” he snapped. “I’m just surprised James Potter’s son shows such talent. Merlin knows your father was no good at it.”
Harry decided discretion was the better part of valor. Besides, he was too hungry for a stupid argument now. “What time is it?” he murmured, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and stifling a yawn.
“Almost six a.m.”
He’d slept through the afternoon and the night? Well, he had been very tired. “Can I have some breakfast…sir? I rather missed dinner yesterday and I’m very hungry,” he said with a meaningful glance at the black-clad sorcerer.
“You may. But it will have to be a quick breakfast,” Snape added. “There’s work to be done around the grounds and I could use an extra pair of hands.”
Harry wanted to ask where Draco was but decided not to draw attention to his interest in the prince. One could hardly expect a prince to work, anyway. Still Snape had had no problem with sentencing the prince to watch a cauldron. Would Harry be working at Draco’s side today, getting to know the young man better? He hoped so.
But Draco was nowhere to be found. Snape growled at this, muttering the spoiled brat was probably hiding somewhere, but he didn’t spare time looking for him. He sat down with Harry to eat at the kitchen table as before.
Heaped on china plates delicately tinted in dark blue were rashers of bacon, biscuits, sausages, muffins, six different kinds of jams and marmalades in jars and ten separate tins containing ten different teas. Some of the tins had Chinese characters on them so Harry had no clue what they contained. He had never seen such a variety of food laid out so elegantly without the use of house-elves.
He settled down at the table with the sorcerer and watched the man prepare the tea. As he did so, Harry found himself mesmerized by Snape’s movements. His long, thin fingers scooped and poured with an economy and grace of movement Harry envied. He felt himself to be clumsy by comparison and forced himself to stillness.
The teacup was set before him with ceremonial poise. “Oolong tea. A gift from the Orient,” Snape said in measured tones.
“Thank you…sir.” Harry took a sip and his eyes watered. “Oh! It’s…” He choked a little. “It’s a bit strong.”
“Hmm, perhaps something milder.” As Snape served him, Harry wondered why he was being so decent. Was there an ulterior motive? Searching for something to say, he remembered what the goblin had told him. “Sir?”
“Yes, Potter?”
“I was hoping…”
“What were you hoping?” Those dark eyes were fixed on his face. Really, the way Snape stared was unnerving. He’d never met anyone who paid him this kind of unwavering attention.
“I’d like my payment for my first task.”
Something flickered in the watching eyes. It looked like…disappointment. But why should Snape be upset simply because Harry asked for his payment?
“Very well. What would you like? Gold? Silver? An enchanted napkin that will wipe your mouth whenever you forget?” The sneer was back.
“A comb. Sir.”
Snape blinked. He’d actually managed to startle the man again. That made twice in one morning. Score two victories for the Potter team.
“You wish…a comb?” Black eyes swept over his head. “Yes, I can see how that would come in handy. Your hair looks like you’ve crawled backwards through a bramble patch.”
Harry smoothed it down self-consciously. “Yeah, that’s what my mum always says. She’s always tried to get it to lay flat and can’t manage it. Even spells don’t work for too long.”
“This will work.” Severus reached into his sleeve and pulled out a comb. It was made of the blackest polished wood and shone faintly in the morning light from the windows. Harry’s first thought was that it was made out of Snape’s hair. But that was daft, of course.
As he reached out for the comb, their fingers brushed. There was a jolt of electricity between them and Harry nearly jumped out of his seat. What was that? The tingle caused his flesh to warm; Harry hoped he wasn’t blushing. A quick glance at Snape’s face revealed he’d been affected as well.
The next moment, the sorcerer pulled away and said in a brisk tone that sounded strangely winded, “The…mulberries in my orchard need collecting. After that, you’ll pick a bushel of angelica leaves from my garden. I need them for my potions. And you must use no magic.”
“Why not?”
The thin lips curled. “I want to see if James Potter’s son is capable of good, hard, sustained work. Unless you’re afraid of soiling your pretty little hands?”
Harry thought this was rather unfair. No one looking at his hands, calloused from Quidditch with broken, chipped nails, could have mistaken them as belonging to someone unused to hard labor. But he could tell it would do no good to argue that with Snape. “Is this my second task?”
“Not a task. Merely a chore. Now get moving.”
__________
Harry toiled in orchard, thinking hard all the while. He didn’t see Draco. Was the prince in hiding again or had Snape picked this as a way of separating him from Harry? Maybe he’d found Draco and was forcing him to slave over another hot cauldron.
Harry couldn’t complain about working out of doors. It was a relief after that stuffy, chilly building. The mulberry picking proved easy, too, compared to keeping company with the monster mutt. He simply climbed into the tree and bounced on the branches until the ripened berries fell in a shower.
Curious as to how they would taste, Harry scooped a few into his mouth. The berries burst, flooding his mouth with the juice and he hummed in contentment. The flavor was rich and sweet, better than any jam, and he would have taken more if a shadow hadn’t fallen over him.
“What are you doing, Harry?”
He looked up guiltily, aware that this could be considered stealing. He was very relieved to see Draco standing over him. Harry gulped and wiped his mouth, hoping the prince wouldn’t notice the stains on his teeth. “Picking mulberries. Did Snape send you to help?”
Draco sniffed in disdain. “Hardly. He’s always trying to force me to work. I don’t know why he doesn’t hire servants. He’s got pots of money.”
“Does he?” Come to think of it, the sorcerer’s place did seem very posh for a mere teacher. “How does he get it?”
The prince shrugged. “Who cares? And you would think with the kind of wand he carries he wouldn’t need to force other people to do menial labor.” His mouth twisted in an unhappy pout.
“What’s so special about Snape’s wand?”
The silver eyes widened. “You didn’t notice? He carries the elder wand.”
“Elder wand? I was always told at Hogwarts that wands made out of elder were unlucky. That’s why Ollivander never uses it in his wand-making.”
“Not this one.” He leaned close to Harry and shot a look around as though fearful of discovery. “It’s the Elder Wand,” he said in hushed tones.
He was missing something. Draco’s look at impatience at his lack of understanding was becoming clear. “So?”
“Don’t you know anything, Potter?” Draco snapped. “I can’t believe James Potter’s son could be so thick!”
Harry scowled. “I’m not thick. Why don’t you just explain instead of going on with all this stupid cloak-and-dagger stuff?”
“Very well. It’s said the Elder Wand is the mightiest one in existence. Whoever gets hold of it becomes the most powerful wizard in the world.”
“Really?” Merlin, that’s what he was up against? Harry’s worry must have shown on his face because Draco hastened to reassure him.
“Of course, it’s just a rumor. After all, if Snape were that strong, he wouldn’t need us to do his dirty work or hide behind these wards or settle for a tiny plot of land like this.” He gestured disdainfully at the grounds.
Draco thought this was tiny? Just how wealthy were the Malfoys, anyway? Well, Draco was a prince…
Draco glanced at Harry and his scorn changed to that sly look Harry distrusted. “So what did you do after Snape took you away yesterday?”
“I was working. Snape had me playing nursemaid to this huge three-headed dog he’s got.”
“Three-headed dog?” Draco’s silver eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
“You haven’t seen it?”
“No!” Fear caused him to turn even paler. Then Draco struggled to regain his calm. “Well, that was very brave of you, Harry, if true. But why are you working out here?” waving his hand at the mulberries.
“I’m hoping to be able to free you and working for Snape is part of my plan.”
Draco frowned. “Then why aren’t you using your magic? It would be so much quicker and easier if you did.”
“He’s forbidden me to use magic. Says he wants to see if James Potter’s son is capable of hard work.” Harry continued picking up the berries, frowning. His happy mood was rapidly souring. “He acts like he hates my dad. I wish I knew why.”
Draco shrugged, an elegant gesture like all his others. “Who knows? Some childish grudge, no doubt. My father said Snape didn’t get along with other children, especially Gryffindors. It’s too bad he’s taking it out on you. I’d never do anything like that.” He stroked Harry’s hair.
Harry eased away as casually as he could. “Your dad knew mine and Snape?”
“I wouldn’t say my father knew them. Snape is a lowly Mudblood so he didn’t quite run in my father’s circle and Potter was a Gryffindor.” Draco’s dismissal of that particular house was clear. “However, Snape was brilliant with potions. Father was quite impressed. He said the only other one who matched Snape in that area was your mother, Lily Evans. But let’s talk about other things, Harry.” Draco dropped gracefully to Harry’s side, primly arranging his robes so his knees didn’t touch the ground.
“Other things? Like what?” Harry’s heart thumped harder at having Draco so near. This close, the prince’s milk-white beauty was undeniable. But there was an edge to it. Draco struck him as looking like a charming pet ferret – all cute and cuddly until it sank its teeth into your hand.
“I wanted you to know how…grateful I am that you’re doing all this for me,” Draco said, his voice dropping to a whisper. He was still much too close. “I’ve been trapped here since the beginning of the summer, forced to slave for that awful man. He even confiscated my wand so I haven’t been able to escape. I’ve tried and tried but I can’t get through the wards without it.” Draco’s head bent and he let out something like a sob.
Harry embraced him uncomfortably, letting the slender boy rest against his shoulder. “It’s like I told you, Draco. I’ll save you.”
“Do you promise?” Draco eyed him as his tone became insistent.
Harry was immediately wary. When a witch or wizard made a promise, it carried far more weight than idle words from mere Muggles. But the prince was pulling away, frowning, so he said, “Yes. I-I promise.”
“Thank you,” Draco sighed. He tilted his head so his silky hair brushed Harry’s face. Was Draco about to kiss him? Harry’s heart thudded with panic. He was attracted; there was no denying that. But there was something behind Draco’s attentions that made him too nervous to enjoy the idea of a kiss from him.
“This is quite the touching picture. I set you to work and this is how you waste your time, Potter?”
Draco stiffened and then scrambled from Harry’s arms. Harry staggered up from his crouched position.
The sorcerer stood over the two of them, his face twisted into another sneer. “So this is where I find you, Draco. Very clever, hiding with Potter. This is the last place I should have thought to look for you since you knew I wanted you to work with him.”
“Listen, I…” Draco began.
“Enough!” The whiplike crack of the word nearly made Harry jump. But he clenched his fists and stood tall, determined not to be afraid.
“Since you are here, Draco, you may help with Potter’s chore. You will finish filling the basket with berries. I have cast a spell on you so that you may not leave the area until you are done. Potter, pick up the other basket and follow me.”

TBC
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Tasks