Death Eater Takes a Holiday

Gwen, I didn't get a chance to reread this before sending it along






Chapter 22
Shocking Discoveries and a Shattered Teacup

 

Severus lowered the flame to begin the cooling
process on the pain potion he brewed for Harry. He was angry that it had taken
so long. Albus’ unexpected meeting had been over an hour; at least they
discussed which Death Eaters were more of a threat than others. This way,
Malfoy Sr. will think he's getting his job done, but in fact, the ministry will
be allowing some less dangerous DE's to get away, for an opportunity to ensure
a few other important people in Voldemort's inner circle do get the kiss. As
if it wasn't late enough, Albus managed to make sI stI stopped in the kitchens
on my way to my rooms. That's what I get for giving in to my sweet tooth. Severus knew that Albus was working hard
at getting his and Harry’s friendship off the ground.

 

For some reason, Severus never liked making the pain
potions very much. He seemed to be in a bad mood when making them for Pomfrey,
except for Harry, and knowing it would help him with the seizures or whatever
it was. He thought it was most obvious that whatever reason he'd been kicked
out of the infirmary that day was to keep Harry's secret about whatever ailment
he's suffering through. He was tempted to summon Harry's medical records. As the
potions master he had the right to check anyone's records to see if they ran a
risk of injury in class due to illness or allergies that may be exacerbated by
the fumes or handling certain ingredients in class. No one would question his
doing so, but he felt that would be an invasion of Harry’s privacy, since he
really only wanted to know for his own curiosity. Harry made it clear he wanted
a chance to get to know Sev, and he would probably tell him if he asked. Then
he remembered Granger's reaction to his ignorance on the subject. Why was she
so sure I already knew? Maybe she assumes I know where all my potions end up
after I deliver them to Pomfrey. I certainly never cared where they went. Only
that she seems to have horrible timing with her list. He realized, that was
why he hated making the pain potions. Her timing always sucked; when she
needed them he was too tired or busy to have to deal with extra work.

 

Sev realized he'd rambled on in his head for so long
the potion was long since cooled. He put the vial in a pouch and summoned a
house elf. In seconds there was a 'pop' and a frightened house elf stood
before the intimidating professor.

 

"Which one are you?" he said with a scowl.
The elf backed up a step.

 

"Excuse me sir?" squeaked the elf in reply.
Severus had little patience with these creatures and even less when he asked a
perfectly simple question.

 

"I'm looking for Dobby, are you he?" Snape
said tapping his foot, which only served to make the elf more nervous.

 

"I – I is not a he sir," she said, batting
her eyelashes. "Would you like for me to get Dobby for you sir?"

 

"Yes, at once," he said curtly; she left
quickly.

 

The workstation clean and ingredients put away, Sev
checked his watch once again. It seemed like eternity since he'd sent the elf
out. That was a she? After another fifteen minutes or so the elf popped
back in.

 

"Dobby?"

 

"No, I is still Effie sir, sorry" she said
apologetically. "Dobby is busy for Professor Dumbledore sir." Severus
sighed. It should be a lot easier than this.

 

"Will you deliver these to Harry Potter? Dobby
usually puts them in his side table drawer."

 

"Dobby is doing that right now sir. Would you
like these in the drawer too, or would you like me to deliver them to Harry
Potter? He is in the infirmary now, sir."

 

"What?" he shouted, grabbing the pouch
from her hand, accidentally grabbing her hand, too. He walked briskly through
the corridor, his robes snapping in the air. Severus heard a frightened squeak
when he rounded the corner. Only then did he realize that he was dragging along
Effie, whose hand was firmly in his grasp with the pouch of potion vials.

 

"Sir, do you need Effie for something else sir?
Effie is not wanting to hear Mister Potter screaming again, sir."

Severus dropped the house elf abruptly on the floor
and continued his trek to the infirmary, quickening his pace.

 

He opened the door to find a quiet room. Sev hurried
over to a bed with a privacy curtain obstructing his view. Pomfrey and Albus
were both buzzing around. As he neared the curtain, Sev could feel himself
passing through a strong magical barrier. The sounds behind the ncinncing charm
were deafening. Harry was screaming, his body racked with pain. Sweat poured
off his face as Madam Pomfrey tried to help. The pain intensified, causing him
to retch. Severus asked what had happened, startling Albus. When he saw an
answer wasn't coming too soon, Sev noticed Ron, sitting in a chair off in the
corner, looking miserable.

 

"What's happened to him?" Sev barked at
Ron.

 

"I tried to tell them, they wouldn’t listen. He
needs another vial, at least." Ron said dejectedly.

 

"What you told me Mr. Weasley,"
interrupted Poppy. "Is that you spilled some of the potion. I can not give
him more if I have no idea how much you've already given him!"

 

"I told you he had just a tiny bit less than
one vial. It spilled only a little when he was thrashing." Ron looked
close to tears. Harry's screaming was unnerving everyone in the room. He
suddenly stopped thrashing as if whatever was causing the pain had stopped, but
he was left still gasping for air, and his body jerked in spasms. Severus
recognized those systems easily; he had all the symptoms of someone being under
the Cruciatus curse for too long.

 

"That still doesn't explain what happened to
the other vial. Did you spill them both?" asked Poppy.
"SEVERUS!" she yelled when he saw him pull a vial from the pouch and
pour it forcibly down Harry's throat.

 

"Ron didn't spill the other vial, it was gone
almost a week ago," admitted Severus. Albus looked up, surprised. He led
Ron out of the infirmary, looking back to his Potions Master. With Ron gone,
Albus returned to see Severus sitting at the side of Harry's bed, wiping a cold
cloth across his head. Relieved to see the green eyes were no longer rolled
back, but they were still rather unfocused. "Shhh, you're ok now. Try to
relax," Severus whispered.


"Sev?" cried Harry, unsure if he was real.

 

"Yes Harry," he said softly, and brushed
the hair from his eyes. Harry tried to answer but coughed, his throat raw from
screaming. Sev leaned in to hear.

 

"Hold me, Sev," his pitiful voice cracked
as he spoke. Sev was unsure if it was due to overuse of his voice, or his
emotions. Harry usually spoke with such confidence. This was worse than the
screaming. Well, maybe not.

 

Sev put his arms around Harry carefully, moving him
as little as possible. Not until this very moment did he realize how much he
missed this. Sure, he had been having some fine memories of their steamier
times, but to just hold him in his arms. Now he held Harry gingerly, wishing
his very breath on the boy’s shaking form would make it all better. Harry held
onto Severus tightly. It was normal to keep one’s hands clenched in a fist
while coming down from the Unforgivable curse, but Harry had managed to reach
one arm around Sev's neck, while the other held tight to the front of his
robes. Sev wasn't sure if it was a very comfortable position for Harry, but
didn't want to chance moving him again.

 

Eventually the shaking began to subside; only an
occasional tremor surged through his body. Severus didn't expect he could be so
comforting; it had been a long time since he'd had to comfort anyone. Harry
snuggled in closer as Sev gently rocked him, warm breath whispered words of
comfort into his hair.

 

The door opened to the infirmary. Severus knew at
once it was Minerva. She had come as soon as she heard, and was now heading for
Harry's bed. She was quite surprised to see her rival head of house comforting
her star student. Severus had straightened up somewhat when she neared the bed,
but Harry whimpered in pain from the movement. In the end he decided, what was
the difference if it were he or Ron being a comfort to Harry? Perhaps that
wasn’t rational, but he was alarmed at how much Harry had been hurt, and it irritated
him to no end that no one had yet told him how or why this has happened.
Obviously it's something they expected, since Harry kept his own stash of
potions in his room. Severus listened intently as Minerva and Albus spoke from
the other side of the privacy curtain.

 

"Why is Severus in here holding Mr. Potter? How
did he even find out?"

 

"Relax Minerva, I think it’s wonderful that the
two of them have formed a friendship over last week."

 

Severus smirked to himself; he could see in his
mind's eye the twinkle in the old man's eyes as he spoke, not to mention the
eyebrow Minerva must be raising at the statement.

 

"Friendship, Albus?" she said in
her most cynical tone.

 

"Yes, friendship. So, perhaps they may have
shared a kiss or two. I dare say that if you had actually caught one Ronald
Weasley you were chasing, you would be in no position to cast stones,"
stated Albus, causing his trusted Gryffindor head of house to blush.

 

"I just want what's best for the boy, Albus.
It's bad enough he has to suffer through these curses that evil man casts about
as if it were nothing. Poppy tells me this was the longest he's ever had to
withstand without receiving all the potions."

 

"You’re right Minerva, just as we've discussed
so many times; it saddens me that Harry must endure this. Poppy won't know
until he's had some sleep if Harry will have residual effects to contend
with," said Albus solemnly. Severus was trying to take it all in. Voldemort
did this to him? How long has this been going on? If he knew it could be like
this, why the bloody hell didn't he get that potion from Pomfrey?

 

Harry wasn't hexed for anywhere near as long as the
Longbottom's had been all those years ago, but he may very well be facing some
permanent damage. Once the mind is affected by overexposure to Cruciatus, it
worsens with each time the person has it cast on them. Even an infinitesimal
amount of damage poses a large threat since Harry will certainly be exposed
again in the future. Severus would be keeping a close eye on him for signs.

 

Harry's breathing leveled out, and he became limp in
Sev's arms. He was finally asleep. Harry whimpered when he was released, but
didn't wake. Sev tucked him in and brushed the hair from his eyes. The anger
that had been ebbing away as he gazed upon the sleeping face returned full
force when said face twitched from the pain. With his anger raging, Severus
went to talk to Albus, who was surely waiting for him.

 

As he approached the entrance to the headmaster's
office, the gargoyle jumped aside, regardless of the lack of password. He
stormed up the rising steps to hasten his ascent. Severus didn't bother to
knock. Albus always knew who was at the door.

Albus sat at his desk, waiting for Severus. Both had
questions needing answers. Severus stormed in. The two chairs in front of the
desk moved back out of his way as he paced around.

"How long has he been feeling Voldemort's
curses?" demanded Severus. Albus sighed. "How long, Albus?" he
was shouting now.

 

"As far I can guess, around the time Voldemort
took up residence in Quirrell's head."

 

"Quirrell, that's six Years? Why was I not
aware of this?"

 

"What would you have done with such
information? Can you honestly say that you would have cared, even a month
ago?" Albus asked calmly. "Have a seat and some tea, Severus. We'll
discus this." Snape took neither
the tea nor the seat. He continued to pace around the office. If he were to be
honest with himself, he wasn’t sure if he would have cared if he knew of this
last month, unless of course if he were to see it for himself. It was terrible
to watch helplessly as Harry thrashed around, having to bear the pain of
others. That is what a savior does; bearing the pain of others, is it not? The
irony was not lost on Snape. "Severus, tell me what happens to the wards when
your dark mark calls you to a meeting?"

 

"The magical signature on the castle changes,
so that I no longer know how to break them." he said, almost irritated.
“What was your point?"

 

"So, if you were questioned under a truth
serum, you couldn't tell the Dark Lord how to get past the ward into
Hogwarts," Albus stated as a matter of fact. "What do you suppose he
would do if he found out that he can cause Harry Potter great pain simply by
cursing anyone else?"

 

"I was there when you told Fudge that Harry's
scar hurt when he was close to him, or if Voldemort was particularly angry. Why
did I only see Harry have one episode last week? The Dark Lord must cast Crucio
on Wormtail every other day for not having the right amount of sugar in his
tea." He was confused on how the whole thing worked. Albus explained the visions and the pain
Harry feels from the curses. Voldemort usually had to be very angry for that to
occur. He had not experienced that very often, thankfully. While it did happen
more often now, it still only happened when Harry was asleep. By now Severus
was sitting, rubbing his temples with his fingertips.

 

"I assume Ronald was trying to replace the lost
potion when he attempted to purchase it in the apothecary?" Sev nodded.
"Did anyone come to you for any potions?" he nodded again to Albus'
question.

 

"He didn't say what if was for, and I was
angry. I didn't give it to him."

 

"Yet you knew he had lost or spilled it last
week," stated Albus. Severus was getting angrier, mostly at himself, but
at Harry too.

"Why didn't they ask Pomfrey for more if they
knew how important it was?"

 

"Ronald explained to me that they didn't think
they could ask for more without reporting to me regarding a vision. They didn't
want to chance losing the privilege of keeping the potions. It was a poor
decision; they felt they wouldn't be considered responsible enough to keep the
potions if they were to admit to not taking proper care of the potions."

 

"Of all the idiotic…" ranted Snape. Albus
cut him off.

 

"I must assume some of the blame here. At one
time Harry saw a particularly bad vision, and he didn't want to repeat it.
Harry told Pomfrey that he had spilled the potion. She replaced it, but made
him come see me anyway. I coaxed him to tel wha what he saw. Relaying the story to me was enough to make
the boy physically ill. I believe that was last year, end of November."

 

Snape winced as he knew exactly which Death Eater
meeting he was speaking of. In fact, he was the one to receive the Cruciatus
curse that evening. Severus had been punished for carelessness when he killed
an eight year old. Snape had overdosed the child, to put him out of his misery.
He still had nightmares about the child. It startled him to think that he and
Harry may very well have the same nightmares.

 

"Albus, his future mental stability is at stake
now. I would have given him a new potion if he had explained to me that it was
important. I shouldn't have been such an arse; I should have given it to
Weasley when he asked." Hell I shouldn't of used it in the first place.
"This is all my fault, Albus! I wish I never went on your little
holiday!" he made holiday sound like blaspheme.

Albus picked up his teacup.

 

"Now Severus, you don't mean that," he
said, taking a sip of his tea. "I know you care for the boy. It's good for
you two to be friends, and maybe someday more."

 

"Maybe someday more? Albus you were a teen in
the eighteen hundreds! Things move along a little quicker these days. What was
that you told Minerva? Did you say a kiss or two?" Snape was irate, yet
Albus stayed calm, sipping his tea. "His pain potion was used as a
lubricant!" Albus dropped his biscuit in his tea. "Potter is in the
infirmary having tremors of pain because I used the potion on him when I
took his virginity!!"

 

Albus' mouth hung open and he didn't seem to notice
his teacup shatter when he dropped it. The hot beverage that didn't get soaked
up by his beard, spilled off his desk onto his robes.

 

 

 

This chapter was brought to you by my amazing beta xikum,
and the letter 'S'