Death Eater Takes a Holiday

Disclaimer: like anyone would think they were mine






Chapter 10 All Out War! Will they all live till
Monday? Will Albus?

 

Harry and Sev laughed as they
pushed through a bush to get into a nearby garden.

"The last thing I want right
now is McGonagall flirting with me," said Harry, getting past the last few
branches, disrupting a few fairies in the process. Harry stopped suddenly and
Sev walked right into him while still half-stuck in the bushes. Harry looked up
to find the sun blocked by a huge body; he couldn't miss the large, beefy hand
holding a whip.

"Hi Harry, Ron," said
Hagrid cheerfully. "Oh, Severus, I didn't expect you there. Where's
Ron?" Severus nodded hello, keeping his eye on the large whip in the
half-giant’s hand. Harry explained to Hagrid that they had left Ron and Filius
fending off Minerva McGonagall. Hagrid had attempted not to laugh, but failed
miserably, coughing. At this point, Hagrid had moved out of the way to show
them a large Palomino that had gotten himself into the garden.

"Whoa, that’s the biggest
horse I've ever seen," said Sev, walking right up to him, offering one
hand for the horse to smell as the other gently stroked his soft face and nose.
Hagrid was impressed with Sev's comfortable handling of the creature. Harry
watched in awe.

"He's a might restless, this
one. He wants to be in the air. Hates being stuck in the paddock for so long;
that's why he escaped and trampled into the garden here. I recon Professor
Sprout won’t be none too happy when she returns to find one of the gardens a
mess.”

"Where did you get him from,
Hagrid?" asked Harry, moving a tentative hand to pet the horse.

"S'ok Harry, you can touch
him. He likes the attention. I'm taking care of him for a few weeks for Madam
Maxime." It occurred to Harry that was why the horse was so large; it was
one of the flying Palominos from Beauxbatons. He wasn’t as large as the ones
Harry had seen, which could be compared to elephants. "He's young yet; he
has a lot of growing to do," Hagrid said proudly.

"Do you ride him? Do you use
the whip on him, Hagrid?" asked Harry, looking at the now gentle creature.
Hagrid explained that the young Palominos need a strong hand while they’re
still learning, to become manageable. He didn't care for the whip himself, but
the horse was trained with the sound of the whip cracking in the air.

"He's probably solid enough to
carry me, but I uh… I don't care much for heights," Hagrid admitted.

"Can we ride him?" Sev
asked excitedly

"We?" Harry squeaked.
"I've never ridden a horse."

"And ya’ won’t today,"
said Hagrid. Sev's face fell, dejected. "You should ride on the ground a
few times before flying one. He's not like riding a hippogriff, Harry."
Hagrid picked up Harry effortlessly and sat him on the horse’s back, then
walked him back to the paddock with Sev.

 

Hagrid insisted they come in and
wash up before leaving for the Great Hall for lunch. He set out glasses of
pumpkin juice for them. "Severus, if you're still interested," said
Hagrid, holding Sev's biceps; his fingers went all the way around the teen's
upper arm. "Come back next week with yer real muscles and you can
take him for a ride. You would be doin' me a big favor." Severus wasn't
sure if he'd been insulted or paid a compliment. Harry winked at him, making
him smile. Sev agreed to come back next week.

 

At lunch Harry teased Sev about the muscles he would have
next week. Ron made it a point to talk about Hermione in front of Minerva to
discourage her. Albus Dumbledore smiled at a young girl sitting beside him. She
was one of the girls Harry had seen at the lake with the others.

 

"Professor, did you know that Severus saved Harry's
life?"

"Excuse me, Miss Archer?" said the Headmaster with
interest. Severus felt the hand on his thigh tighten in an odd dé jàvu. Harry
stared at his food, hoping to avoid eye contact with Madam Pomfrey.

"Filius said that he saved him just this morning,"
said the perky second year. "Harry was choking, and Severus saved
him." She finished with a smile at the young Potions Master.

"Is that right, Severus?" asked Albus with a
smile. "Why didn't you tell us of your heroic act?” Harry and Severus were
both blushing. Severus tried to play it down, but was surprisingly interrupted
by Ron, who said that Severus had acted where Filius could not and Ron himself
didn't know what to do. Harry's eyes
grew wide at his friend's comment.

 

"It was quick thinking and action, you should be proud
of yourself, Severus," commended Albus, raising a glass. The rest of the
table followed suit and raised their glasses. Harry gave Sev’s leg a squeeze
and thanked him quietly.

"You seem to hold the record, Sev," whispered
Harry. Severus wondered, how many times had Harry's life needed saving?
although he was proud of being the one to do it.

 

Forty minutes later Harry, Sev and Ron were on their way to
the infirmary.

"I knew she'd make me come down here," ranted
Harry. "It was hours ago, she could see I'm breathing now. What's she
going to check? I'm fine!" Ron knew from experience not to say much. He
nodded and led his friend to a nearby bed. Madam Pomfrey sighed when they came
in.

"Your usual bed, shirt off, Mr. Potter," she said
amiably. Harry complied, giving himself a quick onver,ver, looking for signs of
his night with Sev. When she arrived at his bedside, pulling the curtains
around, she commented, "Please excuse us, Severus."

"What?" Sev couldn't understand why she wanted him
out. Harry had already removed his shirt. Why wasn't she asking Ron to leave?
Ron pulled his sleeve and led Sev out to the hall.
"Come on Sev, we’ll go get some lemon ice for the patient," said Ron,
conspiratorially. Harry yelled from behind the curtain. "I'm not a five
year old Ron!" said Harry jokingly. "And I want cherry flavor!"
Pomfrey rolled her eyes at the antics of her frequent patient. She would miss
him when he graduated in a few months.

"You'll need to take off the concealing charms Harry, I
need to check your ribs to see if they were bruised." Harry nodded and
took off the charms. Putting them on had become as routine as brushing his
teeth each morning. When the exam was over and Poppy was confident there were
no ill effects, he was sent off to meet the others in the hall.

 

Ron was working fast on his lemon ice, Sev held lemon and
cherry ices, red juices dripping down his fingers. Harry grabbed his treat,
holding Sev's fingers as well, licking the side of the paper cup to get the
dripping flavor before it hit the floor. Sev suppressed a moan when the hot
tongue laved over his fingers. Harry took his treat and turned around, walking
between the two. "Thanks, Sev."

"My pleasure," said Sev in his most deep, sexy
voice. Ron coughed and turned beet red. Harry had said that Sev had a sexy
voice, but he couldn't hear it, didn't quite understand… until now.

"Sev, how are you at charms," asked Ron "can
you cast Obliviate?" Harry rolled his eyes at his best friend.

"Prat."

 

 

 

Hours later, Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the entrance
hall to feel the sun on his face. Argus Filch was sweeping the step that led
out to the grounds. The Headmaster gave him a smile, then frowned in
realization.

"Argus, I thought I asked you to keep an eye on the
boys today? Severus in particular." The caretaker nodded and pulled a face
(as if his face isn't permanently like that anyway).

"I did what you asked. I watched them for hours playing
a muggle game, kicking a ball around the quidditch pitch. Don't know the point
Albus, the girls have been off in the back gardens with Poppy most the
afternoon." Albus was not about to explain the sexual preferences of his
professors to Filch.

"Where are the boys now, Argus?"

"Showers." Albus paled "They get themselves
sweaty and full of mud and then have the audacity to think they were going to
march across my clean floor. Snape put up a fuss, but I told him he could take
a shower, or go jump in the lake for all I care," said Filch indignantly.
The Headmaster gave a nod and hastily made his way to the locker rooms. Ron's
yelling could be heard from a distance.

 

 

"It's him or me, Harry!"

"Don't make me choose Ron, you'll regret it!" Ron
looked surprised at Harry and took aim at Severus. Michael came running out of
the locker rooms, soaking wet, practically running right smack into the
Headmaster. After questioning him, Michael explained that when they went to
take showers, Severus said he would rather shower in the Slytherin locker rooms
and have more hot water to himself.

Michael looked nervously at Dumbledore and back at Ron, who
was yelling and aiming into the locker rooms at Severus.

"Um…well, Harry made fun of Severus, telling him we
didn't want to see him naked anyway…" the boy trailed off. "Since
then, Ron and Severus have been at it." He finished with a smile, wiping
the wet hair from his eyes.

 

"You've not picked me for your team since I got here
Ron, you'll pay!" Sev yelled, but Ron had dove out of the way, avoiding a
direct hit. He rolled out of the way, returning fire, accidentally hitting
Harry square in the face.

"Harry!" Sev yelled, looking back to see Harry
falling from the blast. Sev turned toward Ron with an evil grin. "DIE,
RON!" Dumbledore could feel the magic radiating from the locker room.
Severus, while seeming only a teen, still had the magical strength of a
full-grown wizard.

 

Ron had been looking to see if Harry was alright, since he
had been aiming for Sev. Suddenly, his eyes were wide. Ron was in for it, and
he knew it. Ron was typically protective of Harry, so he knew the look in Sev's
eyes. Albus was there in a flash and pulled Ron away, thus getting hit himself
with all the power Severus had intended for Ron.

 

Severus, Harry and Ron gasped at he sight of their Headmaster
lying flat on the grass, soaked to the bone from the biggest water bomb Sev
could muster.

 

 

Ron and Michael ran to Dumbledore's side to help him up.
Harry picked up his soggy wizard hat, handing it back to the Headmaster.
Everyone was afraid to speak, especially Severus who had emerged from the
locker rooms, awaiting his execution. Albus put on his hat. Water trickled down
from his temples, disappearing into the long white beard. It was remarkable how
the man could be so wet and still pull off a distinguished appearance.

 

"Sir?" Michael dared speak. Albus took in a deep
breath, effortlessly waved a hand and he was dry, and Severus was gone. No one
dared ask where Snape had gone.

"Michael, you and Ron may go change for lunch," he
said, before turning to the only one left. "Harry, you may go give Severus
a hand." After a few seconds Harry called out to Albus, now heading back
up to the castle.

"Where is Severus, sir?"

 

Dumbledore turned around with a smile and winked at Harry.
"In the lake."