Jigsaw

CHAPTER 22

“Potter I do wish you’d slow down, I’m not as young as you.” Harry obediently slowed his steps as Snape struggled to keep up with him on the steep, slippery staircase they were descending. Harry had seen this secret passage on the Marauders Map many times before, but he’d never actually used it fearing it was too long a route out of the castle. They had been forced to abandon Harry’s invisibility cloak at the top of the darkened staircase, the passage just far to tight to allow them to walk side by side beneath the cloak. Instead Harry had taken the lead, and with Snape walking behind him, his hand on Harry’s shoulder as a guide the pair of them had descended into the damp stairwell. Harry had lit his wand but the gloomy illumination did nothing but accentuate the shadows. Harry wasn’t sure how long they’d been walking down the stairs but slowly the staircase levelled out into a larger flat corridor. At the far end of the corridor Harry could see a light, and he smiled to himself relaxing a little at the knowledge they hadn’t just been going in circles.

“Come on, just a little further.” Harry picked up the pace a little as they drew nearer the light, until the two of them were running unaware that ahead of them was a sharp, short drop. Before Harry knew what was happening he was falling, his body skidding away from him down a rough slide in the corridor. Behind him he could hear Snape careening after him, the man himself unable to stop. In pitch blackness the pair of them fell until with a great huff, and a thud Harry hit the grass out in the open. Blinking in the bright sunlight, Harry didn’t even have time to look around him at where he’d landed before Snape’s heavy body came crashing down on top of his, winding him breathless.

“Fucking hell Potter!” Snape snapped as Harry pushed the elder wizard off him, so he could breath properly. Surprisingly enough, Snape’s deceptively small thin frame was quite weighty, and had the man landed a little heavier he could have broken Harry’s ribs easily. Luckily though the pair of them both appeared to be unharmed and Harry sighed heavily as he collapsed back onto the grass. The pair of them lay in a tangled heap of arms and legs neither of them in any hurry to get up, despite their exposed position. “If you ever subject me to that kind of fall again Potter, I swear I will dismember you limb for limb….” Harry got up slowly from the ground, brushing himself off as Snape, swore and curse in the complete opposite direction to where Harry was standing. If Harry hadn’t thought Snape would make good on his threats, the wizard may have laughed at Snape’s bedraggled and ruffled appearance. It had appeared they’d been tossed out of the castle on the far east side, the whomping willow just visible through the arch of the courtyard. Harry could see Auror’s too, six of them patrolling the courtyard and surrounding grounds. Glancing about Harry made sure they’d landed undetected before turning back to Snape who was still carrying on, the man struggling to stand up and find where he and Harry were.

“I wish you’d be quiet someone might hear…” Helping Snape up from the ground, Harry’s comment died on his lips as he heard voices and the crunch of footsteps on the gravel path, which led around the corner of the wall they’d just been spat out of. Harry knew it was too late to do anything and grabbing his invisibility cloak threw it over Snape and spun around, wand in hand to face the figure that stepped into view.

“It’s probably just cats, or somethin’….” Harry recognised the red head immediately the petrifying curse dying on his lips, as he stared into the shocked expression of his ex-best friend, Ronald Wealsey.

The world at that moment seemed to stop for Harry, as he stared coldly into Ron’s eyes the red haired auror clearly shocked. The tension was thick and Harry wondered whom it was who would make the first move. Ronald Weasley was a talented aurora, but Harry was better and knew his best friends moves, far better than the red haired wizard probably knew them himself.

“Potter?” Snape’s whispered voice from behind him ruined the moment, as the potion master became confused and disorientated in the silence. With his wand still aimed squarely at Ron’s chest, Harry glanced back and stuck his elbow out for Snape to grab. The invisibility cloak had slipped sideways revealing the few inches of Snape’s boots and hem of his cloak. Harry knew Ron would recognise both the dress and voice of his old potion’s master. “There you are.” An invisible hand grabbed tightly onto Harry’s elbow as the boy tugged the shimmering material of the invisibility cloak back down over Snape’s feet to hide him entirely. Never once did Harry’s gaze waver from Ron’s who remained silently standing at the corner of the wall.

“Harry…” Harry straightened his wand in determination as Ron went to reach for his own wand. The auror paused in his movement knowing immediately that he was at the disadvantage.

“Just turn and walk away Ron.” Harry whispered in reply hoping against hope that the Ron he’d called his best friend once was still hidden beneath the desire for fame and money. When Ron didn’t move Harry took a step closer drawing his wand’s aim from the Auror’s chest to his temple. “Don’t make me do it Ron, just turn and walk away now.” Again Ron didn’t move but before Harry could speak again the red haired auror gave up and with his shoulders slumped slowly turned his back. Harry watched as Ron disappeared back around the corner of the castle that he’d appeared from, his voice calling to his company.

“Nah, nothing.” With a heavy sigh Harry lowered his wand, and with a quick prayer to thank Merlin, Harry ducked under the invisibility cloak and began to lead Snape quickly across the grass down towards Hogsmeade. Snape remained silent until they were well out of Hogwart’s grounds, the old professor having obviously felt their passing through the wards, just as Harry did.

“You’ve got balls Harry Potter.” Harry was surprised by Snape’s comment and glanced over at the elder wizard who had his eyes closed, obviously having given up trying to see as fruitless, unnecessary effort.

“Yes, well I like to think I’m a man considering the cock and all.” Harry replied flippantly unsure of how he was supposed to reply to such an ambiguus statement. Snape chuckled and shook his head, his fingers tightening on Harry’s elbow as they hit the coble main street of Hogsmeade.

“That’s not what I meant Potter.” With a strange glance Snape fell silent and Harry knew instantly the conversation had come to an end. Severus had said some strange things to him, in the past but that had certainly been the weirdest, and Harry wasn’t about to pursue the comment. Hogsmeade was full of witches and wizards bustling about and Harry had far more immediate matters to attend than Snape’s strange comment, like the two able bodied Auror’s standing guard outside Remus and Sirius’ shop.

TBC>>>>>>>>>