A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 13

‘Come to me.’

‘Come to me.’

‘Come to me.’

‘Come to me!”

Harry sat up bolt right in the bed, panting heavily sweat dripping down his face as if he’d just run for miles in the hot sun. It was still dark in the Gryfindor dorm room, and it was cold. Taking a deep calming breath in Harry slide himself out of his bed and tip toed downstairs to the bathroom to wash his face. It had been nearly a month and a half now since the incident of the fire demon and everyone had all but forgotten about the incident except Harry.

Harry was no stranger to nightmares and visions but since the incident in the hall his nights had been filled with nothing but screaming visions of his potions master, writing in pain, and dying in bloodied brutal ways. While this wasn’t unusual with Voldemort visions the voice that accompanied the visions was far more out of the norm. The voice was commanding, strong and possessive, the three words it spoke echoing like a mantra, and wrapping around Harry’s body like tendrils of magic gripping his body. Harry fought in his dreams to stop the words from entering his mind but with each attempt he grew weaker, it was only when he woke up in a sweating, exhausted heap that he broke free of the mantra’s grasp.

Harry hadn’t spoken a word to anyone about the nightmares. After the last time he allowed Voldemort visions to affect him Sirius had died, and Harry wasn’t going to be fooled twice. It didn’t help either that everyone thought he’d gone completely nuts. The accusations about him cavorting with Draco and dark arts had begun to take their toll and slowly one by one Harry’s friends were beginning to distance themselves from him. Not that it bothered Harry much, he had far worse worries to ponder.

Much to his own inward disgust he’d found himself willfully seeking out his Defense professor. In class he’d unconsciously take a seat up the front, as close as he could get to the man. Between lessons he’d linger by the man’s rooms, and he’d take any chance at extra tuition even if he didn’t need it. It was like a drug. Harry had become obsessed with the man, almost craving his presence even when Harry tried not to. Draco had noticed it too and had mentioned it to him. Harry hadn’t an answer for the blonde boy about his actions and was becoming rather distressed himself over what appeared to be his complete lack of control over his own body.

His mysterious obsession with Julius was nothing compared to what was happening around the professor brother. Potions had become a nightmare; just being around Severus did strange things to Harry’s body. Harry often found himself staring at Snape mindlessly, the man’s voice flowing over him like a soothing waterfall. What was more disturbing was the touch. The first time it had happened Harry had passed out with the intensity of it. It was just a brush of the man’s hand against his arm as they’d passed in the classroom but it had been enough for Harry to feel the sensation that ran up the length of his spine before dissipating and leaving him swaying into darkness. Everyone had assumed he was just sick, even madam Pomfrey said his passing out was due to exhaustion. Harry wasn’t convinced though, and had pointedly avoided touching everyone, just incase it had the same affect as Snape’s touch did.

Harry was slowly becoming a recluse, avoiding contact with others and burying himself under his schoolwork. He’d quit the Quidditch team after the accident at the last game. A remarkably large lightening strike had hit the Slytherin stands, sending it toppling along with its Slytherin students and Head of house toppling onto the field. Harry had narrowly missed the flying debris, as he’d swooped down to catch Snape. No one else seemed to matter and even in the driving rain and mad screams he’d pin pointed his potions master in the falling mess with an accuracy he reserved only for catching snitches. From the moment his feet had touched the ground again the shocked potions master holding onto the end of the broom for his life, Harry had vowed to quit the team. Something or someone in the world was conspiring against him.

Accidents had become the daily norm, some more disastrous than others, some subtler than others. People had just put it down to Harry’s clumsiness but the boy had other thoughts. Thoughts that he shared only with himself and just recently had begun writing down in a spare potions diary he’d stolen from the potions classroom. Harry had tried discussing his fears with Draco but the boy despite his obvious will to help was skeptical of everything Harry told him. The blonde’s response to Harry’s theory that someone was out to kill him was a shrug of the shoulders. ‘Everyone’ wants to kill Harry Potter what’s new?’ The point was valid but Harry knew something about this plot was different and according to the evidence the plot had gone completely undetected by both the Order and the headmaster who seemed oblivious to Harry’s danger.

It was only in times like these, when he sat alone in the bottom of the shower cubical cuddled up in the corner that he felt relatively safe. He was going mad, he was absolutely sure of it.

The sound of footsteps and voices entering the bathroom reminded him that his dorm mates had finally begun to rise. Luckily it was the weekend and without classes to attend Harry could tuck himself away in the reading corner of the library and disappear.

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“The next order of business is our monthly student progresses.” Severus sat dully in his favorite chair in the staff room half heartedly listening to the meaningless dribble the headmaster passed off as news worthy. “Is there any problems or issues you wish to discuss about any of your students?” Severus quietly cocked his head up as he heard his brother clear his throat. Severus had tried his hardest to get along with his brother but old grudges die hard and so too had their cordial friendship over the past month. Julius had naturally become the teaching staff’s resident life saver, his uncanning ability to be present at any of the numerous accidents happening around the castle of late in time to prevent certain disaster had lent him the title of DADA hero. His sickly friendships with the other professors made Snape want to vomit every time he was witness to some act of kindness or caring from his elder brother.

“Actually yes, I’m rather concerned for Mr. Potter’s welfare.” Snape sat up straight immediately when he heard Harry’s name his eyes narrowing as he glanced at his brother.

“Indeed we are all concerned for the boy, he has managed to shut himself off quite affectively.” McGonagall adjusted her glasses carefully as she glanced at the headmaster who nodded gravely.

“Yes, although his grades are better than ever before I believe Harry has cut himself off from his social activities completely. I fear he is keeping something from us.” Dumbledore looked directly at Severus who sighed heavily and lowered his gaze. He himself had witnessed the change in the boy. Harry hardly ever spoke anymore and when he did it was only limited replies to direct questions. He seemed to still keep talking to Draco but as for his other friends they’d fallen aside. Snape had seen for himself that Harry was often hauled up in the library lost in his work, oblivious to anything else around him. Snape had thought that perhaps the stress had all become too much but something didn’t sit well with him and he’d spent many an evening trying to piece together the boy’s odd behavior in an effort to find the reason behind it. “Severus, he seems to have become quite fond of you, perhaps you would talk with him for us?” Dumbledore stared at him and Severus went to open his mouth to reply but Julius was quicker.

“From what I’ve heard headmaster Severus is Potter’s least favorite professor, and I believe I would be far better suited to discussing this issue with the boy.” Severus glared at his brother, half expecting the headmaster to refuse Julius offer. After all Harry was the headmasters golden boy surely he wouldn’t allow Julius to discuss such sensitive issues with Potter.

“Indeed thank-you for the offer I was under the impression Severus and Harry got along fine but as you are closer to the students than I, I trust your judgment in the matter. This weekend is a Hogsmeade visit but I am sure you will find our troubled Gryfindor in the library. If that is all this meeting is adjourned till next week.” With a smile the headmaster ended the meeting and Severus was left sitting stunned in his chair, watching as the other professors began to rise and leave.

“I do hope you agree with my decision brother, I believe I have formed quite a bond with Harry during my few short months as professor here. I can not see what you found so irritating about the boy and his friends.” Severus stared up at his brother the anger he felt inside just bubbling beneath the surface as Julius smiled at him brightly.

“What are you up to?” Severus muttered beneath his breath as he continued to stare at Julius, seeing past the fake smile and false sincerity.

“Nothing that concerns you dear brother.” Severus froze as Julius leaned in closer to him, his voice falling back into the old deep snarl Severus was more familiar with. With a condescending pat on the shoulder Julius rose again and having plastered the disgustingly wide smile on his face again disappeared from the staff room, leaving a fuming Severus in his wake.

Julius was up to something.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>