Jigsaw

CHAPTER 14

‘Narcissa Malfoy?’ Harry pressed his nose carefully up against the corner of the cupboard intent on seeing a glimpse of this woman who’d just come in to the cottage through the slim gap. Sure enough Harry watched as the three figures stepped into the lounge. From what Harry could see the woman was tall and slim and she had long black hair, which was haphazardly, tucked beneath the most ugly pointed hat Harry had ever had the misfortune of seeing. Her robes were made of a rich burgundy colour that flowed elegantly down her slim frame, and she had long claw like nails, which were painted blood red and had little gold charms dangling off the end of them. Draco stood a step behind the woman, while Snape casually stepped over to the fireplace to warm himself.

“I’d offer you a seat Narcissa but like I told you last time you’re not welcome here.” Snape’s tone of voice had fallen icy, just like he used to use in school. Harry couldn’t see Snape through the little crack in the door but he could hear him, which was what counted. Harry watched the woman cackle nastily, her smile cruel.

“Not welcome? May I remind you Severus, Applegate is Malfoy property and you are living here because of my son’s generosity.” Harry wasn’t in the least surprised as he watched the woman smile across at Draco who was now leaning against the wall his arms folded across his chest.

“The manor maybe, but the cottage still belongs to me.” Snape mentioned calmly. Harry smiled as the woman’s lips pursed together tightly obviously irritated by this fact.

“Belongs to you? According to the ministry you own nothing Severus, the Snape family properties will remain impounded, Lucius made sure of that.” The woman smiled bitterly at Snape who for a moment Harry didn’t expect to reply.

“And how is Lucius, Narcissa? Still enjoying his stay in Azkaban? I hear they’re making plans to give the dementor’s power over executions this year?” Harry heard the sarcastic tone in Severus’ voice but the boy winced as he watched the woman stepped out of view shortly before a hard slap echoed around the living room.

“Watch your mouth Severus, it takes but a second for me to inform the ministry where you’ve been hiding all these years.” Narcissa’s tone had lowered ominously and Harry glared at the woman as she stepped back into Harry’s limited view, a smug satisfied smile on her face.

“And it would take me less time than that to give them what they want regarding your families escapades Narcissa?” Harry watched again as the woman’s lips thinned irritably, her claw like nails flexing dangerously, as he eyes narrowed.

”You never change do you Severus? I don’t see what Lucius saw in you. You will always be a sniveling, sarcastic, miserable, lonely old potions master, with not a single notable mention to your name.” Harry clenched his fists together in silent anger as the woman smiled cruelly at Snape. Harry was kind of glad that Snape couldn’t see the woman’s spiteful face.

“As much as I find this round of insults fascinating, I don’t believe you’ve come here simply to insult my existence.” Snape spat sharply obviously becoming quickly impatient with the woman’s presence in his home.

“No indeed. I’m here to see how far you’re getting along with finding a cure for this curse.” In his darkened little cupboard Harry frowned as he watched Narcissa sneer at Snape.

“And I told you before Narcissa that a cure is impossible. The wizard who placed the curse is dead, and without resurrecting the dead a cure will never be possible.” Harry smiled to himself as he watched Narcissa’ face turn to thunder her lips turning upward in a sour pout.

“And like I told you last time I don’t believe a word you say. You were there Severus, you saw his very lips move you know exactly what curse it was, and you know what the cure is, so don’t bother lying.” Narcissa began to pace the length of the living room, her robes swirling about her, mirroring her irritated stance. “If this is your way of compensating your sins Severus, it is a poor way. The longer you stay silent the longer you too suffer.”

“You can bite all you like Narcissa, the curse will remain as even I don’t know the cure. As for suffering, the loss of my sight is far less a burden than I would say the loss of a tongue in Lucius case, or in Draco’s the loss of…shall we say intimacy is?” Harry was stunned and stared open mouthed through the crack as he watched Draco narrow his gaze at Snape.

“The Auror’s came for a visit this morning. It seems the wizarding world’s savoir Harry Potter has gone astray, and they seem to think he might be here. Do you know anything about it Snape?” Draco for the first time since entering the cottage spoke up as he circled his mother before approaching Snape out of sight from Harry still looking through the crack in the cupboard.

“No. Although it hardly comes as a surprise, the boy was bound to go off the rails eventually, perhaps it’s best if we don’t know where he is.” Snape casually replied. Not a second later Harry heard the crackle of magic before he heard Snape gasp in pain and a thud as he hit the floor. Harry went to leave the cupboard but then remember Snape’s warning and instead stay where he was desperately trying to see the altercation that had happened out of sight.

“You know what Severus, you’re beginning to shit me. I told you I’d look after you on the understanding that you found a cure but you’re not even trying. I want it back, I want my Dad back and I want you to stop fucking around. Consider this a warning you slimy little git, the next time I’ll make it really hurt.” Draco strode back into view and Harry watched as the boy linked his arm with his mothers, guiding her towards the hallway. “Come mother, I think Snape needs some time alone to think.” Harry glared at the pair and waited impatiently until he’d heard the front door close before he flicked his wand at the cupboard door and burst into the living room. Snape was on the floor, shaking and clutching his hands to his chest. Harry quickly ran over to the man and gently eased his lacerated and bleeding hands from his chest. It was a razor hex that was slowly beginning to creep up Severus’ arms. With a flick of his wand Harry ended the hex and gently grabbed for the handkerchief in his pocket wrapping it carefully around the wizards hands.

“Are you alright?” Harry whispered as he helped his blind potions master up from the floor and sat him carefully in his seat in front of the fire. Severus took a deep steadying breath and nodded quietly.

“Yes, I believe I just panicked a little when I realised he’d hexed me and I had no means of stopping it.” Harry went into the kitchen and returned a moment later with some clean water, a sponge and a few torn up tea towels, which he could use as bandages.

“What was all that about? I thought Narcissa Malfoy was…”

“…dead. Yes I know, unfortunately she herself comes from a vampire lineage making her a little more durable than the average witch.” Snape hissed a little as Harry dabbed away the blood from the cuts and slowly re bandaged them securely.

“They’re holding you practically a prisoner aren’t they?” Harry whispered as he flicked his wand at the bowl, which returned to the kitchen. Sadly Snape nodded as Harry tucked his injured hands into the cuffs of the man’s robes for warmth.

“I’m afraid so. I am still a wanted wizard in acceptable society, and with my condition as it is and without a wand I wouldn’t survive a night on my own. The Malfoy’s know this, thus their threats to turn me in should I not present them with the cure for the curse their entire family now suffer from.” Harry was stunned and stared at Snape who quietly rested his hands in his lap.

“I thought you said there wasn’t a cure!” Harry whispered completely shocked that Snape had lied about something that could save his sight.

“There is a lot of things you don’t understand Harry, this is one of them. A cure for my ailment is sitting before me in this very cottage, so close I can touch and hear him. Yet without my sight I can do nothing to utilise it, and therefore my predicament.” Harry stared deeply into Snape’s clouded eyes for a long moment, watching as they flittered blindly about.

“It’s me isn’t it?” Harry whispered in realization. Slowly Snape nodded, as he brought his bandaged hands up to Harry’s face. Harry froze as he allowed the wizard to gently run his fingertips over his cheeks, his nose, his forehead and his goatee covered chin before the hands slid down to his neck where the white, raised and ugly scar sat milky against his skin.

“You’ve grown up Potter, since I last saw you.” Snape ran his hand back and forth inspecting across the scar around Harry’s neck before sighing and lowering his hands back into his lap. “I thought you’d gone from us when I found you in the field. I remember so much blood, and the sound of you choking. You were a mess but your eyes still held that determination. I could hear him laughing at you, laughing as he tightened the curse around your neck and I could do nothing to stop him. I felt truly powerless. As he drew nearer you went to get up, I helped you. I didn’t think you’d stand for long so I wrapped my arms around you waist, and linked my fingers through yours as you gripped your wand. I remember the curse, those words that tore from your lips even if no sound ever escaped. I don’t know where you found the strength from but I was knocked backwards with the force of it. I remember the pain that swept over me as the mark began to eat itself away and I remember watching you fall to the ground like a rag doll, his cloak falling over you like a veil of death. They came running then from miles around, and I would have crawled on my hands and knees to you as well if Draco hadn’t got to me first. He said they would kill me if they found me, so he took me away and that’s the last I remember before waking up with my arm like this, and my life held to ransom by a Malfoy and a Curse.” Harry watched as Snape rolled up the sleave of his robe exposing his forearm. Harry was horrified. Where the mark had been there was now a large chunk of flesh completely missing as if it had begun to eat the skin away.

“Does it hurt still?” Harry touched his own forehead where the scar had already faded and gone before reaching out to touch Snape’s disfigurement.

“No, I still had my sight long enough to stop the infection with some potions I made but the scaring will be permanent.” Harry helped Snape pull his sleave of his robe back down over his arm again. “I think you need to leave now Harry.” Harry was stunned that Snape was asking him to leave, especially when he’d just found out what had exactly happened in those last few minutes when he’d defeated Voldemort. All the shadow, snippets he remembered had all come fitting together, and Snape had brought them together for him.

“No.” Harry whispered determinedly as he stared into Snape’s clouded eyes.

“Potter.” Snape said warningly, his voice beginning to drop. Harry however ignored him and merely stood up from the floor where he’d been kneeling in front of Snape.

“You didn’t give up on me, so I’m not giving up on you. If I’m the cure for this curse then I’m going to fix it. “ Harry put his hands on his hips as he glared down at Snape who was looking very irritated.

“Oh and how are you going to do that Potter you don’t know the first thing about blood curses and you haven’t a clue what you’re doing.” Snape snapped as he too rose from his seat and began pointing accusingly at where he thought Potter was still standing in front of him. Unfortunately Harry had already moved and was now looking about the living room wondering how long it would take to secure the place enough so that Malfoy wouldn’t be able to get inside it, or even find it again.

“Then teach me!” Harry snapped determinedly back at Snape who spun around at the sound of Harry’s voice now coming from behind him.

“I tried teaching you for seven years Potter and I believe everything went in one ear and out the other! Why should now be any different!” Snape snapped angrily as Harry moved again around the room leaving Snape chastising the air.

“Because I’ve changed. I’ve grown up and because if you don’t teach me I’m just going to go and do it myself anyway and probably blow myself up spectacularly.” Harry said matter of factly as he began flick his wand at various points around the cottage hoping he was creating the right mix of charms and spells to have the correct affect on the cottage.

“Fine, but where do you suggest we start this little project Potter? I am a wanted wizard, we do not have the resources here to start creating potions and I believe I am void of magical ability without a wand?” Snape folded his arms across his chest and Harry smiled, wondering what Snape would say he if told him he was childish.

“All minor technicalities professor, now I suggest you go into your bedroom and begin packing while I ensure this little cottage remains out of Malfoy’s hands.” Snape huffed a contemptible laugh and turned to begin walking towards his bedroom, which led off from the hallway. Harry watched him go but called the professor to a halt. “Oh and take a step to the left and start counting again or you’re going to run into the wall.” In his frustration Snape had obviously miscalculated where he was in the room and was heading straight for the hall wall. Harry smiled as Snape did as he was told but glanced back over his shoulder at where Harry was still working on concealing and securing the cottage they were about to leave behind.

“You’re still a determined, self parading, arrogant arse Potter.” Snape snapped sharply as he stepped into the hallway easily after Potters’ redirection.

“And you’re still a stubborn, nasty git.” Harry whispered back as Snape began counting his way down the hallway out of sight. Harry smiled in success, a renewed sense of purpose in his mind he hadn’t had in eight years. He’d cure Snape, and then work on getting the man his liberties back, it was the least he could do after the last battle.

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

A/N Well hope that settles some speculation about the curse, although I wouldn\'t be hoping for a miricle just yet. There\'s always consequences of someones actions. *winks* Anyway drop us a review if you\'ve got the time and tell me what you think. I personally had a hell of time writing these two chapters and my \'Snape\' family tree has just been completely blown off the A4 page I started with. I think I\'m going to expand to A2 I think.

Cheers

RIFFRAFF