Jigsaw

CHAPTER 15

“I don’t think this is a good idea Potter.” Snape whispered as Harry led him through the brick entrance into Diagon Alley. There was not a lot of room under the invisibility cloak for both of them but it covered them head to toe.

“Do you want a new wand or not? Step down.” Harry whispered as he guided Snape down the step onto the cobble street. Harry noted acutely that Snape’s grip on his forearm hadn’t loosened an inch as the blind professor put his entire trust in his student beside him to guide him around obstacles. So far Harry had only managed to make him trip twice on the journey. At this time in the morning Diagon Alley was practically deserted and only a few early rising goblins scurried about the street. Slowly Harry made his way to Olivander’s, cautiously looking about him so that no one noticed the shifting air as they passed. Reaching the front door of the shop Harry glanced around them one last time before quickly pushing open the door and guiding Snape inside. The tinkle of the bell echoed in the deserted shop and Harry patiently waited as he heard a patter of feet on the floor behind the counter before a friendly, rose face appeared, although the wizard still appeared to be in his night things.

“Hello?” Harry smiled as Olivander glanced around his empty shop looking puzzled. Quickly Harry pulled the invisibility cloak off himself and Severus, watching as Olivanders smile widened considerably. “Ah Mr Potter, Professor Snape I was wondering when you two would be back.” Mr Olivanders eyes twinkled knowingly and Harry guided Snape to the counter where he let the man stand alone while he kept watch from the shop window. A few seconds later Olivander returned with four dusty wand boxes and placed them all on the counter in front of Snape. “Well I thought we might try maple this time around Professor, a little more supple than cedar but very durable.” Mr Olivander picked up the first wand and gently placed it in Snape’s waiting hand, as if instinctively knowing the wizard was blind. Harry watched out of the corner of his eye as Snape tried to perform a simple levitating charm on the parchment he’d found on the counter with his other hand but the parchment burst into flame. Mr Olivander shook his head and blew out the flame with a breath of air before replacing the first wand with the second. “Alright try this one, twelve inches Canadian ash, with lace beetle wing core?” Again Snape tried the wand but only succeeded in turning Mr Olivanders beard a purple colour. “Nope.” Olivander whispered. Harry watched as Mr Olivander looked from Snape to Harry before smiling strangely. “Let’s try this.” Mr Olivander disappeared into his shelves before returning a few moments later with another dusty box. Pushing aside the other wands the shopkeeper gently unpacked the wand and placed it into Snape’s hand. The affect was instant and Harry felt the floor of the shop shudder, and the candles flicker.

“Whoa.” Harry whispered as he watched Snape experimentally begin flicking his wand, each spell perfectly aimed and executed even if the man was blind.

“What is it?” Snape inquired as he ran his fingers up the length of the wand in inspection, having obviously decided on that one.

“9 1/2 inches of pure willow, with the heart of a water Imp as its core. Only one of its kind in the world.” Olivander whispered his gaze going from Snape across to Harry who was staring at the wand in Snape’s hand strangely. “It’s said that the phoenix and the Imp were lovers but that they were kept apart by circumstance. Water and Fire do not mix you see. The water Imp was broken and in it’s sorrow gave its heart to this wand in the hope that one day it would be reunited with its beloved phoenix.” Harry instantly looked down at his own wand which was tucked down the side of his jeans. Quickly Harry looked back up at Olivander who winked at Harry knowingly.

“What a depressing story.” Snape muttered completely unaware of the silent conversation just exchanged next to him as he put the wand down on the counter.

“Indeed Professor.” Olivander smiled as he packed the wand away in its box. Harry approached the counter and quickly handed over the necessary fee for the wand before tucking the wand into Snape’s cloak pocket for safekeeping.

“Thank-you sir,” Harry whispered as he guided Snape’s hand back to his arm before wrapping the cloak back around them.

“Good luck Harry Potter.” Olivander whispered as the pair disappeared and the only indication that they’d left was the door swinging quietly shut.

When they stepped outside back onto Diagon Alley the place was just beginning to come to life again and Harry had to dodge a witch on a bicycle that flew past them at a rate of knots.

“So Mr Potter, where to now?” Snape whispered his arm interlinked with Harry’s tightly as Harry led his potions professor slowly towards the apparition point at the far end of the street.

“Hogwart’s.” Harry whispered back in return as they made it safely to the point.

“Are you completely mad Potter?” Snape snapped irritably as they both stepped up onto the apparition platform. “I thought we were trying to hide?” Harry rolled his eyes as he continued glancing carefully about them so that no one noticed their presence under the cloak.

“We are, but we also have to find a place with enough potions supplies to keep even you a happy man, and the only place I know with that kind of stock is Hogwarts.” Harry glared pointedly at Snape and wrapped his arm around the professor’s waist awkwardly. Snape pushed Harry’s arm away quickly.

“I may be blind Potter but I can still apperate unassisted thank-you very much.” With a sharp Snape was gone and Harry tutted loudly and muttered under his breath.

“Idiot!” Harry mumbled as he too apperate after Snape.

The second his feet touched solid ground again Harry lunged for Snape, tackling him bodily to the ground and covering them both with invisibility cloak as quickly as possible. Not half a second later there were two large cracks and out of thin air two ministry Auror’s appeared and began searching the area. Harry and Snape had apperated just outside of Hogwart’s main gates and luckily for them they’d landed in the wet sodden grass on the side of the path. Snape struggled under Harry’s weight for a moment but Harry easily subdued the man by slapping his hand down over the potion professor’s mouth.

“Shhhh.” Harry whispered into Snape’s ear as he watched the Auror’s search fruitlessly for them. At length the Auror’s left with joint pop’s of their own leaving Harry to sigh heavily and roll off Snape’s body.

“What in Merlin’s name do you think you are doing!” Snape snapped angrily as he sat up from the wet ground, all the front of his robes now damp. Harry tucked his invisibility cloak back into his pocket as he lifted himself from the ground to glance up at the castle he’d called home for seven years of his life.

“The Auror’s have the place under surveillance, and are monitoring all activity around the school, looking for me no doubt. I knew they’d do it, because I mean where else would I go?” Harry reached down and offered Snape a hand up from the wet ground, the man easily standing to his feet and uselessly brushing at the wet strands of grass stuck to his cloak.

“Great, so you knew the Auror’s were here but you still intend to use this as our hide-out? Very intelligent Potter.” Snape was being sarcastic and Harry rolled his eyes as he took hold of the Potion Professors arm and walked him slowly around the outer perimeter of the castle gates.

“Yes, what better place to hide than right under their very noses.” Harry muttered as he led Snape towards the edge of the lake, all the while keeping a sharp look out for watching eyes.

“That’s all very good Potter but how exactly are we going to get in?” Harry smiled back at Snape as he led the man to the edge of the water and glanced around the edge of the forest to where he could just see a rocky outcrop.

“The Weasley Twin’s may have been the bane of your existence professor but in something’s they very right. There’s a secret passage that leads from the rocky slope under the Gryfindor Tower, up to the headmasters room. Hardly anyone knows about it, and I guarantee it’s going to be completely unwatched.” Harry was sure if Snape had his sight the professor’s eyes would have burned straight through to his soul, as the man glanced sideways at the boy pointedly.

“And the catch would be?” Snape spat as Harry took off both his and Snape’s cloaks and stowed them in his pocket.

“We have to swim.” Harry chuckled as he waded into the shallows all the while leading a very reluctant Snape.

“Swim!” Snape snapped sharply as the shallow of the lake gave way into deeper water and the pair were forced to begin treading water.

“I’m assuming you can.” Harry held tightly onto Snape’s elbow as he turned on his back and began slowly stroking his way towards the rocky outcrop.

“Then you assume too much Potter.” Snape was floundering blindly in the water and Harry rolled his eyes as he easily helped Snape float on his back before sliding himself beneath the man so that he could swim them both over to the rocks.

“You mean to tell me you never learnt to swim?” Harry was amused as he easily paddled against the slight current caused by the wind whipping across the waters surface. Snape’s grip on Harry’s legs was like a vice and the man was clearly out of his element as he desperately tried to keep his head above the water.

“I didn’t think it a necessary skill considering I’m a wizard Potter.” Snape coughed a little as he got a splash of water in his mouth, his legs now kicking more regularly in aid of their forward movement. “Besides I couldn’t bear the thought of exposing myself to more unnecessary ridicule by stripping myself practically naked in public.” Harry sighed quietly to himself. It had taken such a long time for Harry to finally come to terms with the fact that his father had been the bully he was, and the pain he’d inflicted on certain people. Snape being one of them. It was times like these, and little comments the wizard made that allowed Harry to truly understand what hell his dad had made of Snape’s life.

“Well you’re doing very well.” Harry encouraged as Snape loosened his hold on Harry’s legs and little and began to paddle with his hands, getting the hang of floating on his back.

“Are we nearly there?” Snape seemed to ignore Harry’s flattery and Harry chose not to bring the subject up again. Glancing over his shoulder Harry smiled as he saw the approaching boulders, which marked the beginning of the cliff edge.

“Yep, just a little further.”

It was with some relief that Harry felt the hard stone beneath his feet as he paddled the last couple of meters to the rocky short beneath the cliff. Snape followed him easily up onto the wet rocks, panting a little with the exertion of swimming for the first time.

“Now where?” Snape muttered as he stood up on the rock, and spelled himself dry with a flick of his wand. Harry did the same before leaving Snape standing alone on the rock for a moment while he went to investigate. Harry had never used this secret passage before, and had only seen it from a far when George and Fred took him for a boat ride on the lake.

“It’s here somewhere, it’s hard to find because it’s camouflaged….” Harry’s voice trailed off as he went to step on another rock but found it to be an illusion and fell straight through onto a set of steps, landing on his arse with a thud. “Found it!” Harry stood up and looked over to where Snape was still standing on the flat rock on the lakes edge, looking extremely impatient. “Wait there I’ll come and get you.” Harry called back as he dropped his cloak to mark the entrance before scurrying back over the rocks to collect Snape.

“Tell me Potter.” Snape spoke suspiciously as Harry led him awkwardly over the uneven surface of the rocks. “You had a map didn’t you?” Harry bit his lip nervously for a moment, wondering if he should confess his secret. Snape remained silent waiting for an answer until Harry led him to the flat surface of the carved stone staircase of the secret passageway.

“Yes.” Harry whispered at length, having decided enough time had passed to finally let his secret out. “Mooney, Padfoot, Wormtail and Prongs, thank professor Snape for his inquiry but request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other peoples business.” Harry watched cautiously as Snape remembered the night he’d caught Harry in third year with what the professor had assumed was a joke piece of parchment at the time.

“I should have guessed, there was no way you could have got about the castle undetected so easily without help.” Harry smiled and reached for Snape’s hand, placing it carefully at his crooked elbow, how the man felt most comfortable in being led about.

“Be assure it’s still in good hands Professor.” With a cheeky smile Harry led the way silently up the winding staircase of the passage towards their final destination.

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

A/N Sorry it\'s only one chapter tonight, I\'ve had a shocker of a week and I really just need sleep but I will endeavour to get another chapter up tomorrow. Again thanks for the support, hope this little stories keeping you on your toes, cause you\'re never going to guess what happens in the coming chapters....

Cheers Riffraff