Jigsaw

CHAPTER 19

“…and he can see nothing at all?” Harry shook his head and watched as Sirius sipped from his teacup, shaking his own head in disbelief. “My god, to think no one knew why Lucius Malfoy refused to speak in his own defence at his trial, when he was mute all the time.” Harry shrugged his shoulders having not been allowed to attend the death eater’s trial but having still heard the rumours about the man’s impossibly silent stand during court.

“…and you say Draco is affected too by this curse?” Harry looked across at Remus who was sitting in the window seat staring down at Hogsmeade’s main street below.

“Apparently so although I’m not quite sure how, Severus hasn’t discussed the others ailments with me only his own.” Harry reached for another pumpkin cookie not missing the glance that Sirius and Remus threw one another over his head.

“Severus is it now? A minute ago he was still Snape.” Sirius spoke cautiously carefully gauging Harry’s reaction to his comment. Harry looked suspiciously up at his godfather who was smiling at him innocently.

“Well that’s his name Sirius, what else am I going to call him?” Harry followed Sirius gaze across the room to where Remus was staring at him, a strange curious expression on his face.

“It just seems a little intimate to be calling the man by his first name Harry, I didn’t think you were on that kind of friendship with your ex professor.” Remus glanced from Harry to Sirius then back to Harry who frowned at his elder mentors in suspicion.

“Things change, I’ve changed and so has he.” Harry whispered remembering clearly the way Snape had held him in the aftermath of his flash back earlier in the day. “Why are you even asking?” Harry inquired pointedly suddenly getting a little defensive. Sirius raised his hands up innocently and shook his head at Harry apologetically.

“No reason Harry, just asking that’s all. It’s just strange you going out of your way to help the man who you despised so much as a child. You do know there’s a bounty on his head and anyone found to be helping him in anyway will face serious consequences.” Harry bit his lip and put aside the half of his cookie, suddenly feeling not very hungry. Harry had spent the better half of the day with his godfather and Remus, both men absolutely overjoyed at seeing Harry return to them. Harry had spent most of the first two hours explaining where he’d been and what he was now doing, and Sirius and Remus had been supportive but dubious. Now though talk had turned to Snape’s curse and the final battle and old prejudices were beginning to show their ugly heads.

“Don’t do that Sirius, I don’t want to hear it.” Harry glared at his godfather who pursed his lips together tightly and looked pleading across at Remus to continue on with the point he was obviously trying to make to his godson.

“Harry, surely you see our concern. While we believe you when you said he was your strength during the last battle and that he truly was fighting for our side, a mountain kneezle still can’t change its spots. Snape will always be Snape, and perhaps you should re think why you are actually helping the man, when so much else is at stake.” Harry stared pointedly at Remus who looked seriously at his younger friend. Harry took a moment to think about what Remus had just said but in the end shook his head sadly in reply.

“Sorry but I can’t just leave him like he is, my conscience wouldn’t allow me too. I don’t sleep as night as it is without knowing I’d abandoned him.” Harry watched as Remus and Sirius shared a look before Sirius sighed heavily and chewed the bottom of his lip in thought for a moment.

“This isn’t about your…crush is it?” Sirius ventured cautiously watching as Harry puffed his chest out in defence and shook his head determinedly.

“NO! I got over that a long time ago, it was silly and I just needed something to hold onto. This is entirely different!” Harry snapped irritated that Sirius had even bothered to bring up his secret crush, during the campaign against Voldemort.

“It can’t have been that silly Harry, you haven’t been in a relationship with a women or a man since it happened.” Harry blushed a crimson colour as he remembered the humiliation he’d felt the day his crush had been exposed. Harry wondered if Snape remembered it although he sincerely hoped not. “You still….you know ‘giving it a work out’ like that?” Sirius made the crude gesture in his lap and Harry turned his face away to stare at the fireplace in embarrassment. Utter humiliation was the only way Harry could describe what had happened that day. It had been the first year after school had finished and the order was still based at Grimmauld Place before the attack. Everyone, Harry had assumed had been on assignment leaving him alone in the house. He’d been stressed from all the physical training they’d put him through the previous day and he’d taken the opportunity to relax a little. How was he to possibly know they’d all come back at the same time or that he’d be caught with his trousers round his ankles, hard cock in hand and Severus name on his lips as he’d come. Harry thought he’d die in that moment as he’d looked up from his creamy hand into the eyes of his potions professor, who’d just stepped through the floo and stumbled onto the scene. Harry had never lived the moment down, and even now eight years after the incident it still made him cringe and his cock wilt if he thought about it during a session with his right hand.

“No, and No.” Harry whispered quietly finally answering his godfathers questions. “And just because I haven’t had a relationship in….”

“Eight years.” Sirius supplied quickly before Remus jumped in as well.

“Never.” Remus spoke quickly earning a congratulatory nod from Sirius. Harry glared at his two mentors and flopped exhaustedly back onto the couch, his hands coming up over to cover his face.

“Does this really matter? I just want to help Snape all right? He helped me when I needed him the most and I’m going to return the favour so I can sleep at night knowing I at least tried to rectify the problem I created. How was I to fucking know it’d affect them all.” Harry muttered his brain stubbornly refusing to let up its secrets about the curse Harry had used to kill Voldemort with. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced cautiously up at his godfather from between the crack of his fingers.

“It’s okay Harry we understand.” Sirius whispered as he leaned down and pressed a warm kiss to his godson’s forehead. “We just want you to be doing it for the right reasons, and not simply because you feel guilty.” Harry nodded in understanding and hugged his godfather gratefully.

“Now are you sure you and he are safe?” Remus looked pointedly at Harry, who nodded in agreement. While he’d told his mentors about what was going on he hadn’t revealed to them where he and Severus were hiding.

“Good because we’ve had every sort of wizard in here looking for you.” Harry swallowed nervously as he listened to his godfather go on. “Auror’s, Ministry Officials, Bounty Hunters and most recently one Draco Malfoy.” Harry was not shocked to hear of Malfoy visiting his godfather. It was inevitable that as soon as Malfoy discovered Harry and Snape were gone as was the cottage there would be hell to pay. Out of all of them, Malfoy was the one Harry feared the most. The knowledge and power that one blonde Slytherin possessed was immense, and to Harry he was a formidable foe.

“Have you got everything you need, supplies, food?” Remus inquired cautiously watching as Harry nodded quickly.

“Yes, we have an aid helping smuggle stuff to us, including the potion Snape needs each week. The parcels are passing through so many different hands it’s untraceable by the time it reaches it’s destination.” Harry smiled at his mentors who nodded in understanding glad Harry was looking after himself.

“Also Harry, Ron’s been looking for you too, I believe he is quite distraught that you left.” Harry’s facial expression changed instantly at the mention of his ex best friends name. “I think he’s sorry.”

“He should have thought about that before agreeing to sell me out to the ministry shouldn’t he! I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.” Harry folded his arms across his chest. Just at that moment the chimes of the clock downstairs in the shop indicated that it was getting late and Harry slowly stood from the couch and picked up his cloak.

”I should be getting back, I don’t like leaving him alone he falls easily.” Harry didn’t miss the look that passed between Sirius and Remus had Harry’s declaration but the youngest of the three wizards ignored his elder companions. “Thanks for the tea, I really need to see you both.” Harry smiled at his godfather before hugging both Remus and Sirius tightly and stepping towards the stairs leading back down to the stop.

“Harry.” Harry paused at the top of the stairs, just pulling his invisibly cloak around his shoulders.

“There’s a broom downstairs beside the counter, I want you to take it.” Sirius looked sternly at Harry’s disembodied head seemingly floating in the stairwell.

“Sirius you know I don’t fly anymore…” Sirius held up his hand cutting Harry off affectively from another trying speech about why he didn’t fly.

“I know, but I’d feel better if you took it, so I know that if you need an emergency escape you’ve got it.” Harry sighed heavily but nodded in agreement, making Sirius smile in relief.

“Alright I’ll take it, thank-you. I might see you next week if I can managed to get a few moments away.” With a smile and a wave Harry disappeared down the stairs, sweeping the broom up under his cloak from the side of the counter as he rushed out of the door quickly and into the last rays of the dying sunset to being heading back towards Hogwarts.

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