Dreams No Mortal Ever Dreamed Before

13. Good News


Two days later Harry was bored out of his mind, still not allowed to get up and therefore mostly stuck with either Snape or Dumbledore. Hermione and Ron were not yet allowed to visit Harry as he was still considered a danger to society.


He was reading a book about quidditch for the third time, even able to memorize some paragraphs when the door opened and Dumbledore walked in, his face satisfied.


“I have good news for you Harry,” he merrily said and with a wave of his hand the magical chains holding Harry were gone.

Quickly Harry wanted to jump up, just to get out the stupid bed when he got dizzy. Only Snape's hand kept him upright.

“You have to take it slow Potter,” he lectured. “Your circulation is not used to the change of position and you are bound to get dizzy.”


Harry rolled his eyes but patiently stood next to Snape even leaning a little against the wizard's tall frame. Dumbledore cleared his throat after a while and Harry and Snape jumped apart.


“Now Harry, as I said I have good news for you. The minister finally agreed that you are no danger at the moment, neither for yourself nor to others. However your freedom comes with several compromises on your part.”


Eagerly Harry nodded, determined to do whatever it took to keep his freedom of movement.

“First your wand will stay locked away in the ministry.” When Harry wanted to argue Dumbledore raised his hand. “As of yet there was no way to convince any of the people involved that you could be trusted with your wand but I will not stop trying.”

Reluctantly Harry nodded beginning to put on a jumper, shortly revealing his naked torso which the other two wizards noticed but did not acknowledge.


“Second, you are allowed back at Hogwarts under the condition that you do not take part in classes, you will stay confined with either me or Professor Snape and take your meals at your chosen place. However you are allowed to receive visitors so your friends can see you.”


Harry was just in the process of getting into his jumper and so he grunted in agreement.


“Third you will stay under a drug called Libertarium to prevent Riddle from possessing you again.”


Looking up at Snape Harry clearly saw that the potion master did not agree and had very likely tried to persuade the minister to not use it. But as he did not know what kind of drug it was and he desperately wanted to get out of here, he finally nodded.


“Splendid. Harry I want you to take a shower and then get properly dressed. Professor Snape will apparate you to Hogwarts which brings me to one more question- where would you like to reside for the time being?”


When Harry hesitated Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.


“I understand if you chose Severus my boy, I am afraid I have a couple of habits that can be quiet unnerving for some people.”


Once again Harry looked up to see what Snape had to say.


“Your decision Potter,” he stated.


“I stay with Professor Snape,” he finally admitted and the situation suddenly looked rather surreal. Four weeks ago he would have never chosen to stay in Snape's dungeons and willingly spend time with the austere potion master but back then he had not endured the boredom this room provided him with.


“I am glad this is settled then. Severus you are responsible that Harry returns to Hogwarts safely. I have dinner to attend with the minister to try to lobby for the return of Harry's wand.”


With that he turned around and humming a soft tune he walked away leaving Harry and Snape who shared a look.


“Do you want to take the shower here or in the dungeons?” Snape asked gathering Harry's few belongings from the room.


“Hogwarts,” Harry said yearning to return to the place he had called home for years.


Snape nodded and pointed to Harry's state of undress as if he was still in his pyjama pants.


“Do you plan to stay that way or do you want to change before we leave?”


“Please, just get me away from here;” Harry declared and was delighted when Snape pulled him closer to apparate to Hogwarts.


They had used a mostly unused entrance to the castle so that Harry did not meet any students. He dreaded how his fellow peers would react to him being back.


In the dungeons Snape pointed to a door that glowed blue.


“This is another entrance to my living room which you are free to use for the few times you may have to leave your new prison.”


Eagerly Harry nodded a silly smile on his face, glad to be back. Pushing the door open Snape walked in and Harry followed him.


Snape pointed to a door that had not been there the last time Harry had been here.


“This room was linked to my living room and your belongings should be in there. Now I want you to take a shower because cleaning spells can only do so much and after that you may invite your friends for dinner.”


“Really?” Harry asked not believing his ears.


“I am making an effort Potter, do try to make one as well.”


The shower was wonderful and Harry rinsed his hair and his body thoroughly until his skin was red from all the scrubbing. Satisfied he began to towel himself trying to squelch the strange thrill it was to be sharing quarters with his hated potions teacher.


Finding a pyjama that was obviously his Harry quickly dressed and then entered the living room. Snape was nowhere to be seen and so he trailed over to the couch and sat down there delighted when he noticed dinner.


He was halfway into his third sandwich when the door opened and Snape pushed Hermione and Ron into the living room.


“You may stay for a while as I will attend a meeting with the other heads of houses. Try to behave and do not touch anything.”


With that he left and Harry had trouble to squelch the nervous shudder that went through his body. But then Hermione ran over and evolved Harry in a warm hug, some tears running down her cheek.


“We were so worried for you Harry,” she softly whispered. “But they did not allow us to visit you or write a letter. How are you?”


Pulling away a little she took in Harry's frail form.


“You lost some weight but that is to expected after being in a coma for
over three weeks.”


Harry smiled at her and then looked up to hold Ron's eyes who still stood in front of the door. But then he grinned widely and gave Harry an affectionate smack on the back of his head.


“It is great to have you back mate,” he said as he sank down on the couch. “The ministry are stupid for blaming you for what happened. It was Voldemort who threw those unforgivables on us not you.”


Leaning back into the couch Harry pulled Hermione up as well and quietly sat between his best friends grateful that they forgave him so easily.


Pointing to the sandwiches Ron stared at the plate.


“So you think I could have one too?” When Harry nodded he bit into the meat sandwich the gravy running down his chin.


For a while they gave him a short account about what had happened in the last three weeks until Ron leaned back having finished the last sandwich.


“So you have to stay here, with the git?”


Hermione smacked him on the head.


“If it had not been for Professor Snape's avouching for Harry not being himself, he would still be stuck in that hospital.” Turning to Harry she blinked some tears away. “They wanted to send you to Azkaban first but thanks to Dumbledore and Snape they instead send you to St Mungo's.”


Hearing that for the first time Harry stored it in the back of his head to ponder on later.


“I got my own room though,” he happily said pointing to the door that lead to the spacious bedroom that was his for now. “And Snape is not so bad when you get used to his biting tongue. I am just glad to be back home,” he softly added.


Suddenly Ron got a magazine out of his bag, pushing it into Harry's hands.


“Mate, you missed the qualification matches for the quidditch world cup but Fred and George were kind enough to share their Quidditch Monthly with you.”


Happily Harry beamed at his friends feeling much better now that he knew the people who had been close to him, did not blame him. In that moment the door was pushed open and Snape walked in.


Hermione instantly looked up.


“We need to return to the tower, it's curfew soon but we will visit you tomorrow again if Professor Snape allows it.” She tightly hugged Harry and Ron gave him another smack on the head before they left.


“You need to drink the potion before you can retire to bed,” Snape said as he poured himself a glass of brandy.


Harry frowned remembering the potion he had never heard before.


“What is this Liberpotion?”


Snape snorted. “The potion Libetarium is not something I would recommend giving a young wizard but the ministry feels it is necessary. It blocks your ability to use legillemency and occlumency among other things.”


Yawning Harry snuggled into the couch, his lids getting heavy. Sighing Snape handed him the blue potion he had already taken in the hospital which Harry downed quickly.


“Now get some sleep Potter, just because you are not allowed take part in your classes does not mean you cannot read up so that you do not fall behind.”


Too tired to argue Harry rose but found his balance missing and was grateful when Snape steadied him.


Without another word the potion master led him into the bedroom and dropped Harry off on his bed. Instantly he snuggled into the sheets incredibly exhausted.


When Snape was at the door ready to leave Harry held him back.


“Thank you.”


Snape just grunted and left the room leaving Harry to fall asleep with a big smile on his face.