Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 2

“Check and Checkmate, mate!” Harry stared sullenly at the chessboard the remains of his pieces scattered about the board like trash.

“Shit. I thought I had you that time.” Harry muttered to his best friend as Ron waved his wand triumphantly over the board repairing all their pieces and having the board pack itself away in its wooden carved box.

“Yeah right,” Ron laughed as he jumped over the back of the couch and fell onto the cushions beside Hermione who was buried, nose deep in her textbooks. “Don’t you ever stop reading ‘mione.” Ron attempted to close the book his girlfriend was reading but instantly received a stern glare from the brown haired girl.

“Ronald, reading is an excellent way of enhancing one’s general knowledge and vocabulary. It might do you good to do a little reading now and then.” Hermione looked pointedly at her lover before sniffing indignantly and returning to her book.

“I do read!” Ron protested as Harry made his way around the couch to sit on the single armchair by the fire. It was the first week back at school after the Christmas holidays and already Ron and Hermione were fighting again. Harry imagined that they probably even fought in bed together, and that thought made him smile cheekily to himself.

“Comic books, Quidditch magazines and Harry’s homework don’t count!” Hermione countered making Ron fold his arms over his chest angrily. Harry smiled to himself content to hear his friends bantering with one another; despite the fact they were clearly in love. “So Harry what do you reckon ‘you-know-who’ wanted with Snape this afternoon?” Ron, deciding that he had lost the argument with his girlfriend changed the topic. Harry shrugged his shoulders and automatically reached up to touch his scar.

They’d been in Potions class that very afternoon when Harry’s scar had begun to burn. Snape had just been demonstrating to the class the proper way of pouring ‘serpent vile’ into a potion when the professor had hissed in pain and dropped the entire bottle of vile onto the floor as he’d clutched his arm to his chest. Snape rarely made mistakes and such a disaster was almost unbelievable. Those students not in the know had assumed Snape had burnt himself on the edge of the cauldron but the rest of them understood the real cause of Snape’s upset. Snape had swept out of the classroom like lightning, instructing Draco and Hermione to take over the class. Snape had paused briefly beside Harry’s bench and sneered down at him as he spoke ‘You’re bleeding Potter, go to the hospital wing.’ Sure enough Harry had reached up to find a thin trail of blood dripping from his scar down his nose and onto the bench in front of him. Snape was gone from the room, and having insisted that Ron come with him Harry had gone to the hospital wing for treatment, leaving the class in the hands of the two brightest students in the subject.

“I don’t know but I’m sure we’ll find out. Dumbledore usually calls a meeting of the Order after Snape’s been summoned.” Ron and Hermione nodded, the red haired girl having put aside her book in favor of the conversation between her friends. It was nearing dinnertime anyway and students would start entering the common room soon on their way to the great hall.

“Let’s hope it’s not too serious an encounter, we’ve got a practice exam for Newts in potions next week.” Both Ron and Harry rolled their eyes at Hermione’s logic. Only she would hope for Snape’s speedy return. Ron and Harry were rather pleased when Snape was summoned as McGonagall often filled in for Snape if he was unable to teach lessons. Potions was far more exciting with their head of house, McGonagall making just as many mistakes with her potion as the students did.

“What ever Hermoine.” Ron groaned as he turned more seriously to Harry. “Just be careful tonight though Harry, incase you have another vision.” Harry nodded understandingly just as Seamus, Dean and Neville strode into the common room, exchanging jokes about the days lessons.

“You guys coming down to the hall, it’s pasta and ice-cream tonight.” Seamus enthusiastically read out the meal notice on the pin board in the common room. There were a few groans but most people seemed pleased with the menu for the evening. Harry rose from his chair; Ron helping Hermione up as well as they followed their friends out of the portrait hole and down the staircases towards the great hall.

The great hall was already filling with students by the time the sixth year Gryfindor’s arrived and took their usual seats at the banquet table.

“Hey Harry, how are you feeling? I heard about potions.” Harry looked down the table to smile at Ginny Weasley who was sitting with her fifth year friends.

“Yeah fine thanks.” Harry called back blushing a little as the young girl winked at him suggestively. In the past few years Ginny had filled out into a pretty young woman and more than a few admirers had noticed the youngest Weasley, much to her elder brothers dismay. Harry had been among those to notice the change in Ginny, especially this year and couldn’t help glancing at the youngest Weasley’s body in the locker room whenever they played Quidditch.

“Harry look.” Containing his blush at Ginny’s attention Harry turned to glance at Ron who’d elbowed him in the side. Ron was pointing at the staff table at the end of the hall and Harry craned his neck above those students still milling around to see Professor Snape being helped into the hall by Dumbledore. Harry frowned a little in concern as he saw how tightly Snape was clutching to Dumbledore’s arm, and he certainly didn’t miss the wince of pain that swept across the professors normally expressionless face as Dumbledore sat him down in usual chair.

“Damn, the git made it back yet again.” Ron cursed under his breath as the last of the students settled at their tables. Dumbledore clapped his hands for the feast to begin.

“Ronald!” Hermione admonished as she stared at professor Snape. “He looks fragile and pale, maybe he’s ill.” Hermione spoke calmly as she began helping herself from the bowls of food that had appeared in front of her.

“He always looks like that.” Ron mumbled around a mouth full of spaghetti sauce splattering it all over the napkin he’d tucked into the neck of his robes. Harry hadn’t touched the food in front of him yet and instead continued to watch as Snape was handed some of the food, and poured himself a glass of water. Harry had never seen Snape look so shaken before, and it concerned him. Admittedly Harry still hated the evil bastard but there was something about knowing that Voldemort was hurting yet another person he knew that made Harry angry and concerned for his professors welfare. It was only when Snape looked up from his meal and locked his gaze with Harry’s that Harry finally looked away.

Turning back to his meal Harry began serving himself with the food quietly engaging in conversation with his fellow students, although all the while glancing up towards where Snape was sitting ensuring the professor was still there and still breathing.

Table talk consisted mostly of information about the big Quidditch match on Friday between Gryfindor and Slytherin. Harry was a little apprehensive about the first game of the season having seen the Slytherin’s training regime over summer. Unfortunately Draco was getting better at seeking and Harry was finding it harder to stick to the boy who had the advantage of a faster, newer broom. Still it gave Harry a little more competition and it spurred him to train harder. It also made his victories far sweeter knowing he’d worked for them. Dessert as predicted was ice cream and Harry proceeded to pile on his favourite toppings, from the bowls on the table. Chocolate and blueberry sauce, nuts, cherries, sprinkles and a large chocolate frog pushed right into the center of it all.

“Ew that’s awful Harry, I don’t know how your stomach can handle it.” Hermoine commented from across the table at the concoction Harry had created. Harry shrugged his shoulders and took a spoon full of mixture. It was as he was reaching for his second mouthful when he felt a presence behind him and he looked around, spoon still wedged in his mouth to see Professor McGonagall standing patiently behind him.

“Professor.” Harry muttered around his mouthful trying and failing to swallow. McGonagall rolled her eyes at the boy’s antics but quietly waited for Harry to down his mouthful before she spoke again.

“Mr. Potter, Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to see you in his office after dinner. The password is peppermint snaps.” McGonagall stared down at Harry warmly from over the tops of her half moon glasses and Harry nodded obediently. It was hardly surprising that Dumbledore wanted to see him, as it was usually the case after a death eater meeting.

“Does he want to see us too Professor?” Ron inquired quickly before McGonagall could leave. The professor turned back to glance down at the red haired boy who had piled his ice cream dish so high with ice cream it was currently melting over the edges of the bowl onto the table cloth.

“No Mr. Weasley, just Mr. Potter. You may wait in your common room for Harry.” With a curt nod McGonagall returned to the staff table and leaned across to speak with Albus.

“That’s strange he usually asks for us all.” Hermione spoke having finished her small two scoops of ice cream already. Harry nodded in agreement. The headmaster had come to understand that what ever he told Harry, the boy would usually report to his best friends about it afterwards, thus Hermione and Ron often accompanied Harry to meetings.

“Oh well we’ll wait up for you Harry, you can tell us when you get back.” Harry nodded at Ron who was again shoveling ice cream into his face.

Thinking very little about what he expected to be a routine meeting Harry finished his bowl of ice cream slowly. Lingering in the hall to talk with his friends Harry paid no attention to the staff as they all filed from the hall, Professor Snape carefully escorted by Dumbledore.

When his friends finally headed for the tower for the evening Harry split from them and headed quietly for the headmasters office. Harry knew he’d lingered a little longer than he was supposed to after dinner but the meetings usually began boringly with role call and general notices anyway, so he wouldn’t have missed much.

“Peppermint Snaps.” Calmly Harry stepped up onto the staircase and quietly hummed to himself as the steps wound up to the top of the spiral. Jumping playfully off the top platform Harry stepped up to Dumbledore’s door and rapt on it twice.

The door swung open easily and Harry smiled brightly as he stepped into the room. His smile however faltered as he took in the five familiar faces sat around Dumbledore’s desk in the center of the chamber. It seemed unnervingly unusual to have such a small group of people at this kind of meeting. For starters at least two Auror’s or so would usually be present if it was a routine meeting of the order. Five faces turned towards him as he entered and Harry automatically searched out his godfathers in reassurance. Sirius was sitting in an armchair by Dumbledores’ desk, his hands resting on top of one another on the end of his crooked walking cane.

It had been almost a year now since Sirius had fallen through the veil in the Ministry, but with the foremost experts in the country Sirius had been retrieved from the veils cold grasp. Admittedly he’d been scared for life and his body abused and broken beyond full repair, but Harry was simply happy he had his godfather back at his side. Sirius met Harry’s concerned gaze and smiled mildly at his godson, who seemed to relax a little and smile back. Perhaps this meeting would be routine after all.

“Ah Harry, we’ve been waiting for you.” Harry looked quickly at Dumbledore who was sitting behind his desk with a large pile of parchment scattered around in front of him.

“Waiting for me? Oh I’m sorry I was talking.” Harry whispered apologetically at the small gathering all of whom nodded in understanding.

“Not to worry Harry, you’re here now.” Dumbledore smiled in his familiar way. “Come and have a seat and help yourself to some tea.” Harry nodded and wandered easily over to the chair beside Sirius that Dumbledore had indicated to.

As he poured himself a cup of Dumbledores’ favorite lemon tea Harry took a moment to glance at the other faces in the room. Sirius was sitting to his left in one of the plush armchairs. Remus Lupin sat next to his best friend his arm resting strangely on Sirius’ arm almost in a calming manner. Professor McGonagall stood quietly behind Dumbledore who sat at the desk and to Harry’s right and a little out of the circle sat Professor Snape. Snape looked just as awful close up as he had at the dinner table earlier. His face was withdrawn and his tired eyes were sunken. His left arm was tucked protectively into his robe and he seemed to sit painfully in the chair, as if breathing was difficult. Harry looked away quickly though as Dumbledore spoke again.

“Well now we are all here, I think we should begin.” Harry crossed his legs up under himself as he snuggled comfortably into the plush armchair next to Sirius as Dumbledore cleared his throat and began the meeting. “I see there is no point in sugar coating this Harry.” Almost immediately Harry felt his heart sink as Dumbledore turned to look directly at him before continuing. “Professor Snape is officially re- calling his debts and has made a formal request upon your person.” Harry had no idea what Dumbubledore was talking about and looked blankly across at Sirius, for his godfather’s reaction. Sirius didn’t look up from the desk in front of him, although Harry saw the slight tightening of the man’s jaw and noticed the way Remus’ hand was now soothingly rubbing over the top of the man’s arm. Still in the dark Harry looked to Snape and scowled at him with a questioning gaze. Snape met the boy’s gaze momentarily but then rose steadily from his chair and walked silently over to the fire his back turned to the room.

“I don’t understand what debts? I don’t owe him money or anything?” Harry queried as he looked to his head of house and headmaster both of whom looked worryingly pale.

“Wizarding debts Harry are different from muggle debts and are not necessarily financially orientated.” McGonagall spoke calmly to her young charge, but Harry felt his heart rate pick up a little in concern as he glanced at Snape’s turned back.

“Then if it’s not money what is this debt about?” Harry inquired becoming a little panicked at what exactly it was he owed Snape for. The panic it seemed was well founded as Dumbledore spoke next.

“This debt is a life debt Harry and is both a combination of your fathers debt and your own. While I won’t get into the specifics about your father, I will however remind you that in your first year Professor Snape saved your life when Quirrel tired to kill you.” Harry frowned but nodded quietly, remembering all too well the mistake he and his friends had made when assuming it had been Snape trying to kill him during the Quidditch match.

“Alright so. I didn’t ask him to, and it’s not like I didn’t say thank-you even though it might have been three years late.” Harry was becoming irritated by his lack of knowledge. Having grown up as a muggle he didn’t understand the complexities of wizarding traditions and society and thus was completely clueless as to what was happening around him. Dumbledore smiled warmly and nodded understandingly at his charge, clearly seeing Harry’s frustration.

“Yes we are all aware of that Harry but wizarding debts are far more complex than simple gratitude.” Dumbledore paused and drew out a thick bound leather book from within his desk draw and placed it carefully in front of Harry before continuing. “Wizarding debts occur in all sorts of situations but the most common is that of one wizard saving the life of another.” Again Dumbledore paused this time indicating to the book in front of Harry. “When a wizarding debt occurs a record of it is sent to a department in the Ministry of Magic where it is catalogued and kept until such time as the debt is recalled and repaid.” Harry frowned a little in concern as Dumbledore continued. “Merlin designed the system to promote harmony between warring wizarding families, in that wizards and witches were duelly compensated for their selfless acts.” Harry remained silent all the while listening intently to what Dumbledore was explaining. While it was all a little complicated some of it was unfortunately starting to make a hell of a lot more sense. “While now days most wizarding debts are never repaid due to peoples selflessness a wizard or witch is still completely entitled to recall his debts at any time without question. Just as Severus is doing so now.” Dumbledore finished his little speech his gaze shifting across to where Snape was still standing next to the fire. Harry stared at Snape’s back in silence for a long time his hand resting on top of the dusty book on the desk. An awful feeling of dread swept through Harry as the question his mind now posed sat precariously on the end of his tongue.

“And what does he want from me?” Harry whispered his throat tightening in concern as he turned back to look at the headmaster. Harry watched as Dumbledore sighed and picked up a small piece of parchment and reached across to put it carefully in front of Harry on the desk.

“Severus Snape is recalling all three of his wizarding debts and in return is asking for your hand in marriage.”

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

(A/N) If you feel the need to review please feel free to do so. My muse adores hearing from you and after the last story I wrote I have booked myself into the gym so that all the edible gifts I receive don\'t go to my hips... I write quicker with enouragement and I truely do enjoy writing much better knowing my readers are enjoying it too. Email me if you want I\'m on the net 24/7 because I have no life. Again thanks for taking a look at this story and I hope you it keeps you occupied for at least a little while.

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